Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-02-16
Eggs or Market Poultry?

From the Farmers Review:-Very
often one is asked which is more profit
able, eggs or market poultry?
1t would be impossible to answer
such a question with any degree Of
accuracy unless one knew the con-
ditions under which the eggs or poul-
try would be produced. II one is sit
uated where they can receive a good
price for young chicks. say from to
121k cents per pound. and they can buy
feed at the rate Of 30 cents per bushel
for corn and 60 cents per hundred for
bran, they can certainly make a nice
thing Of 1t in raising market chicks
from such breeds as P. R., Dottes or
Light Brahmas. Unless one has very
inconvenient poultry arrangements or
IN unhealthy location / would unhesi-
tatingly advise one so placed to raise
as great a number of chicks for market
as possible, setting every hen and
every setable egg. One would need to
get not less than 1-3 cents per dozen
for eggs all summer to come any where
near making the same profit. You
huOW YOU uuSl ISluShpCi " Ioh0 AhsS
account the feed it takes to raise those
chicks, and the extra bother above
what it would lake to procure and
market the eggs.
II one is where they receive a week
'ly average OF 10 cents per dozen the
year through for eggs and feed is not
too high, it would be better to devote
the poultry business to egg production
unless the price for market chicks Is
as high correspondingly. 1t is, per-
haps. always best to raise enough
young stock each year to replace the
of some one cheaper than they can
grow themselves; every one must de-
eide such things tor themselves.
One who farms principally for eggs
will Tor should have) a steady weekly
or semi-weekly income, while one who
depends mostly upon the sales OF
chicks will receive his money but
few times per year, but then the sums
will be larger. 1t is necessary to have
many more hens if eggs are the aim,
than If one raises chicks, and of course
more houses and yards,
Sudden showers will have no ter?ors
and the fight against lice will not have
to be waged so steady, but against this
one will have broody hens to break
up" and some of them are very con-
trary minded, and should the hens so
on strike from no accountable and
G,l nrnHt for
year would be slim, if there was any,
and partly from having all your eggs
in one basket. If eggs are the aim, a
decided egg-laying breed should be
chosen, probably no better could be
found than Leghorns or Minocas, and
if you raise garden very tall fence
would be necessary to fence again
them, for they are high flyers.
j Keeping one wing cropped will les
sen the danger of them flying over the
fence. Where they are kept yarded
the yard could be covered with netting
and this is the least vexatious way to
.confine them. They will not bear con-
tinement as we'll as the heavier breeds. |
and are easier put out Of laying for a
time. Like the Jerseys in the |
dairy, they are very nervous and &C
tive breed so of course are more cas-
lily disturbed. Where market poultry |
Is the aim, choose heavy breed; per-
Naps Light Brahmas or Cochins are
preferable; Langshans are also
heavy weight, but they do not get
Eeighty as young as the other TWO.
These breeds are satisfied most any
where, SO they are fed, lay well IN
spring and are most excellent sitters
and mothers. But care must be taken
in preparing their sitting places where
they will be undisturbed and will not
need to hop down upon their nest else
they will break many eggs.
If healthy stock is used the eggs
hatch we'll and the chicks are healthy,
quick growers. If fatted they present
an attractive appearance when dressed.
No breeds are better for villagers.
With few exceptions both eggs and
chicks for market are the most salts
factory for the farmer; all the chicks
possible from the LIST of April until
the last of June, and all the eggs pos
sible the remainder Of the year.
For this business there is perhaps
no breeds so satisfactory as P. Rocks
or Wyandottes, any variety of either
of these breeds you most fancy. They
have most of the good points, with but
few bad Ones and are certainly very
attractive to the eye.
( EMMA CLEARWATERS.