Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-03-06
the KEEPING OF POULTRY
On tho Farm q Most Profitable
Industry.

Compared with the other branches
OF farming the keeping OF poultry
ranks bigh in value. Ii is said to be
worth $3.50, 100000 year in the
United States. To many this will ap'
pear a large statement, as the av.
erage valve to each farm would not be
a very high figure, but it should be
! remembered that many Others beside
farmers engage to some extent in this
business.
OF course this total value of poultry
products would include that which is
consumed on the farm and at home,
as we'll as that which is sold. On
many farms the keeping of poultry
amounts to a speciality, while on
Others it is simply an adjunct, but
still amounts to quite an item at the
end Of the year.
Some arc particularly interested in
the raising of turkeys, others prefer
fowls, while now and then one is in
terested in ducks and geese.
A few weeks ago the experience of
farmers wife with turkeys was given
in this paper, and now the results of
some with the keeping of hens will be
entitled to place.
A Sheldon farmer claims $500
profit each with small flock, which
is indeed doing remarkably well.
Another Sheldon farmer sends in
the following report: Kept 30 Ply.
mouth Rock hens during 1899: sold
299 dozen of eggs for $54.S6, and poul-
try to the amount of $500: total,
1926; and have 35 pullets left to
begin another year with.
This would be an average Of 1918
per hen; but out of this must come
the cost of keeping. The eggs and
poultry used in the family with the
% cents per hen should little more
than pay this, leaving something over
$500 as the profit from each of the
80 hens.
A Franklin farmer beats the record
thus far: Started Jan. l, 1899. with
IS hens, mostly pullets; sold s49.o5
worth Of eggs; raised about 100 chick
ems, Of which $50 were marketed for
1850, making a total Of s124.74, or
an average income of 1886 from
each hen.
I have forty left to commence the
year with. No account was made of
eggs and poultry used in the family,
nor of cost of keeping, but the net
proceeds must amount to at least
81. IS per hen.
What branch of farming will pay
better than this, taking cost into ac-
count, at current prices.
This business is carried on in con-
lection with general farming, often
~ the women and children, and the
outlay for stock and accommodations
S comparatively small.
Like everything else, it requires
kill and attention, and to be most
profitable the arrangements should be
UGH that there can be a fair produc-
ion OF eggs in winter, when prices
re so much better than during the
est of the year.
In the last report given above the
1come was equal to three good cows,
two extra ones, while the cost of
eeging is in favor of the poultry.
In connection with dairying the
eeping of poultry can be protitably
as a considerable amount of
<im-milk can be used in the feed TO
vantage.
But to be successful in this bust ;
ess, as indeed in other branches of
lrming, there must be good accom-
odations, feed and care. No other
lsiness will perhaps show more plain
the effects of careful management
ian this, and unless one is prepared
give it the needed attention, there
Ill be little use in engaging in it,
1T to those who will do this, it can
made very satisfactory and profit
de.
e. r. TOwLE.