Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-07-08
POULTRY-kEEPlNG.

Profits Large In Proportion to the Amount
Invested In This Business.
But few fail to realize profit from
poultry, though often it is supposed
that loss occurs. In fact, it is almost
impossible to incur loss under good
management, and it requires but very
little management to give profit. If
one should invest ten dollars in flock,
including food and other expenses, and
realize eleven dollars, or only one dol
lar more than the outlay, it would give
profit of ten per cent Yet, but few
would be satisfied to expend ten dol
lars for food and receive but eleven
dollars from the hens, although in
some branches of business the proper
tionate profit from investments is
smaller.
fowls. yet they know nothing of the
merits of the different breeds. A
''chicken is q chicken" and the very
fact that there are so many colOrs,
shapes and sizes assists in the delusion.
There are at present two classes Of
poultry raisers, the one giving no care
at all. and the other pampering the
focks to an unnatural condition. Mis-
management arises in the one case
from not regarding the poultry as be-
ing of sufficient importance to receive
care, while in the other it is due to
overlooking and deprivation of exer-
else.
Yet we must include labor as an ele-
ment in the cost of keeping poultry,
and the excess derived over and above
the expense is not all really profit; but
it is safe to claim that all labor rightly
bestowed will be amply repaid if the
flock is large one. Small fOcks are
proportionately more profitable than
large ones, because they utilize much
of the waste of the house; but by cor
rect knowledge Of the proper conditions
for keeping poultry there is no reason
any number should not be kept. Here
tofore the drawbacks have been the
desire to keep too many together in
order to econOmize room, which entails
competition and inequality in allow
ance of food to each individual. Then
there is the failure to supply meat,
plenty of water and warm quarters, to
say nothing of neglect in cleaning the
houses and yards. When the hens are
as carefully attended to as the cows
and pigs, both as regards regularity of
feeding and labor Of cleaning the
houses, they viii give better results.
A large number who do not keep
accounts would be surprised at the val
ne of the eggs and carcasses consumed
in the family compared with the ex-
pense; yet, because large proportion
Of food has been purchased, the hens
are regarded as improbable. A strict
account of all receipts and expenses
would show a gain of one hundred per
cent in many cases. The profit from
poultry does not depend upon the gross
amount, but upon that produced over
and above the outlay, and such profit
may be but small sum, yet be a large
on the amount invested.
The markets should b. watched in or
der to secure the highest prices, and
business methods should prevail.
The reason why poultry-keeping y
sometimes apparently Improbable -
because, the average poultryman IS
not familiar with the breeds; does not
feed variety, uses no precaution
sgainst cats, rats, hawks and other en-
emies; does not keep the houses and
yards clean; does not provide plenty q
water; feeds too much concentrated
food, and keeps the. hens in an un-
healthy. condition. When these evils
arc rennedied and the poultryman win
compare his Investments With these Of
people engaged in other pursuits. the
will be In his tavoE. -
Rwrdg Ntsc Yorker.