Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-06-24
MOUNTAINEERING.
Profits Largo In Proportion to the Amount
Invested In This Business.

Profits Largo 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 1t requires but very
little management to give a profit. If
one should invest ten dollars in n flock,
including food and other expenses, and
realize eleven dollars, or only one dol
lar moro 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
tionatc proit from investments is
smaller.
Familiar as somo are with barn-yard
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 delusiou.
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 II is due to
overlooking and deprivation Of oXor-
else.
Yet we must include labor rs an ele-
ment in the cost Of keeping poultry.
and the excess derived over and above
the expense is not all really profit; but
il is safe to claim that ali labor rightly
bestowed will be amply repaid ii the
flock Is large one. Small tlocks 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 10 keep too many together in
order to economic 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, 10
say nothing of neglect in CLEANING the
houses and yards. When the hens are
ms carefully attended to rs the cows
and pigs, both as regards regularity Of
feeding and labor OF cleaning the
houses, they will give better results.
A largo number who do not keep
accounts would be surprised ~ the yal-
ne OF the eggs and carcasscs consumed
In the family compared with the cX-
pensei vet, because large proportion
OF food has been bprchascd, the hens
are regarded as unproiitablC a strict
account Of all receipts and eXpon scs
would show a gain Of one hundred per
cent. in many cases. The proht from
poultry docs not depend upon the gross
amount. but upon that produced over
and above tho outlay, aud such profit
may be but small sum, yet be large
percentage on tho amount invested.
The markets should b. watched in or
der 10 secure the highest prices, and
business methods should prevail.
The reason why pOultry-keeping Is
sometimes apparently Improbable is
because the average pOuitryman Is
not familiar with the breeds; does not
feed a variety. uses no prccautiOn
against cats, rats, hawks and other en-
cmies; does not keep tho houses and
yards clean; does not provide plenty of
water; feeds too much concentrated
food. and keeps the hens In an un-
healthy condition. When these evils
are remedied and the poultryman will
compare his Investments with those Of
people engaged in other pursuits, the
comparison will be in his favor. 80
Rnrdl AeW YORKER