The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-12-21
PROFITS OF POULTRY RAISING.

The interest in poultry culture is ever
on the increase, and now that many
of our farmers are looking around for
more profitable work than the produc-
ton OF milk, many of these may turn
their attention to poultry raising, and
may feel anxious to know whether it
will pay to increase the size of their
focks. That the ordinary amount of
poultry kept by the farmers pays better,
comparatively, than any other stock on
the farm, has been figured out for us
time and again. Whether the same
amount of profits will be realized by
raising poultry on very extensive scale,
is questioned by many, and it is left to
most of US to find out where profit
ceases and loss begins.
We would certainly caution novice
not to begin with more than fifty hens,
and by slowly increasing the number,
as his experience grows, he may get to
keeping thousand with the same good
results. 1t has been proved by many
that hens will lay more eggs if not al
lowed to run at large, and if person
will take the necessary care to keep the
houses clean and the runs spaded up,
and will provide everything for the
fowls that they would find were they
running at large, they will probably be
more profitable if yarde1. Where many
hundred or thousand fowls were kept.
it would be absolutely necessary to
provide large runs or yards for them.
For breeding srock, however, we should
certainly prefer unlimited or a very ex-
tended range, where 1t can be had.
The person who has 500 to 1000
hens to care for especially if they are
yarded, must expect to give them all
his time and attention. A few COWS
might be kept, as the poultryman will
| find skim milk and butter milk valuable
food Tor his hens. What our poultry
man must give the most attention to, is
the production of eggs in the fall. He
who succeeds in having good supply
in October, November and December,
will not have to go begging for custo-
mers. Poultry and fruit ought to re-
ceive some of the farmers interest, that
the dairy has usurped. 1t is true that
the New York market is often over
stocked with both fruit and poultry, but
our home markets are but scantily sup
piled with the former, and we have
made many unsuccessful attempts to
buy fruit when we happened to have
none of our own.
Fresh eggs are always scarce in the
fall months, and the farmer who learns
to manage his hocks SO as to get eggs
at that time of the year, will not have
to complain of small profits.
Dressed poultry must be of good
quality and fine appearance, and the
man who ships this kind to the market
will soon win reputation, and will
have no trouble in finding a customer.
Where more than so or 100 hens are
kept it is absolutely necessary to divide
them into different focks, and if you
can arrange it so as to have more than
IS in one yard 1t will be to your ad-
vantage. By so doing there will be
less danger of some fowls getting too
much and others too little food, and
you will be able to keep a record, if
not of each individual hen, at least OF
the different pens, and can select the
most profitable ones for your breeding
stock.
We heartily recommend the poultry
business to all who are willing and
able to give their fowls all the care and
attention they require, but it is business
that must be learned just as every other
work, and the only safe road to sue
cess is to travel slowly and surely. One
years experience is not enough to
teach you all there is to be learned
Orange County Farmer.