The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-02-16
MONEY IN CHICKENS.
Some Men in AbbeviIIe May Get Ricf
on Hiqh Bred Fowls,

! AT various times since the war 1eW
men at Abbevlle have taken more or less
interest in raising fine chickens. Just
now the enormous profits In chickens Is
attracting more than the usual attention
For instance:
Mr.. James F. Bradley bought stock of
fine Orpingtons about two years ago. We
have no account Of his experience the first
year, but of last year, his second year in
the business, we have some notes. From
the sale Of ten Orpingtons he received
$3.50 piece, or S25 for the lot. He sold
SIS worth Of chickens and eggs from
twenty hens-makins net profit Of about
50 per hen.
Besides the money profit his family had
no lack Of eggs at any time during the
year.
Mr.. Dewey, our most excellent barber,
takes some interest in fowls, and raises
some Of the finest specimens Of orpingtons
He took some Of his stock to the recent
fowl show in Atlanta, upon which chickens
he won the prize for the best fowls. He
raised pullet for which he was offered
S75, which offer he refused. Instead OF
selling his fine pullet for s75 he bought two
cockerels at S25 each and added them to bis
fowl yard. He has two pens in which he
keeps fowls. The eggs from one pen he
sells for IS per setting Of fifteen. The
eggs from the other pom he sells for 81
per setting Of fifteen. He has booked
orders for fifteen settings at S. per setting
and four settings at 80 per setting.
Mr!Dewey estimates the cost Of feeding
chicken at 81 a year, whether 1t is OF q
high bred variety or Of cheap kind. He
estimates that common hen will lay
from so to rs eggs in a year. Fine bred
chickens, he thinks, will lay from 200 to
$50 eggs In the same time.
He believes every body should keep
thorough bred chickens, the cost Of feed.
ing being the same as for low bred chick.
ems, while the number OF eggs and their
market value, are very different.
The profitable experience of the above
named gentleman reminds the writer Of
his own Improbable investment in eggs
and thorough bred rooster.
On one occasion he bought setting o1
fine eggs from Mr.. j. F. c. DuPre. and
sent them to his sister, Mrs. Hutchison
On going to see her few days afterward
she was very profuse in her thanks for the
eggs, as they came just in time for supper
| NJ ~ ha
ever attempted.
At another time this writer secured a
fine specimen Of high bred rooster. he
tied it, and put it under the seat OF his
buggy when going to see another sister,
Mrs Howard. Immediately on arrival
and before Mrs. Howard knew OF my
presence I turned loose the rooster OF
which I was 80 proud. While walking
about the farm great commotion was
heard among the fowls. MIR. Howard
chasing the strange old rooster" to kill
him and to get him ready for supper.
II I had been three minutes later my
fine rooster's head would have been thrown
on the scrap heap right there and then.
have always thought that Mr.. Howard
regretted my interference. The rooster
was dead failure.
Since writing the above We met Mr.. W.
NJ. Barnwell. He says he has been In the
chicken raising business for years, but up
to this time he is not ready to make def
mite statement as to financial results.
Mr.. w. W. Bradley has sold his fine
chickens, and is out Of the business now
and forever He declines to make state
ment as to profits. He wouldn't discour'
age his friends.
My Own CALCULATIONS: II one hen lays
26O eggs, or II settings that sell for IS q
setting, the income from that hen would
be $s5. If the feed Of that hen cost only
800 then she is the most profitable manu-
facturer on earth. The idea Of converting
dollars worth Of chicken feed into $s5
worth Of eggs is most remarkable.
Great as has been the success Of these
gentlemen, they are evidently not reduced
to extremely Of the old Greek general who
could find no other worlds to conquer.
If these eggs had all been Matched into
s25 chickens, the reader who probably has
more paper at his disposal can figure out
for himself the amount Of the profit.