Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-04-18
POULTRY PROFITABLE.
OREGON OFFERS ADMIRABLE,
CHANCES FOR BUSINESS.
Present Supply Is Small and State
Does Not Supply Its Own
Needs.

% Present Supply Is Small and State
It Does Not Supply Its Own
. Needs.
. Oregon presents splendid opportuni-
u ties for the raising of poultry accord
s ing to Professor Alfred G. Lunn, lee
Y turer on that subject at the Oregon
y Agricultural College, Corvallis. AL
8 though the value of the states poultry
: products has more than doubled in the
last 10 years, in his estimation, still
: there is not sufficient for home con-
sumption, necessitating the importa-
ton of eggs and other poultry prod
ucts from the East and Middle West
at highest prices.
Comparing the statistics of the
three decades, we may assume that the
report of the recent census taking will
show Oregon to be producing over $4,-
100000 worth of poultry and eggs
However, with this growth, the pro-
duction does not keep pace with con-
sumption, and as a result thousands
of dollars are being sent out of the
SNe"SS CoNh year. anu CdI1OdQS Oh eBRSI
and poultry are being received in Port
land from the farms of the East and
Middle Western states. This increase
in consumption over production may
be due to the fact that colonists are
I coming into the state in large num-
bers, and although the poultry inter-
ests grow, the population increases
even more rapidly.
Importance of Poultry.
Again we find that the greater
share of the importing is carried on
during the season when products are
| highest, and as these high prices are
usually brought on by hens not laying
we naturally have to buy from our
Eastern brothers or cold storage when
our hens refuse to lay when prices are
highest. Thus we realize the import I
ance of the poultry industry; not only {
to the state at large but also it's citi- !
zens. {
During the past few years greater I
interest has been shown in the hen 6
than ever before. Letters are received
every day at the college asking for in s
formation regarding some phases of |
industry, and from people in other sec S
tions of the country who desire to en- {
ter into poultry raising in Oregon. a
This interest may be due to a num- C
Der of causes, among which may be n
mentioned: close study of condi- r
tions existing in the state; the great
cry of back to nature; publicity etc. c
Probably one of the most common S
questions asked is: Can poultry be Il
raised profitably in Oregon?' My an a
swer to such a question is: If poultry S
raising can be made success any, n
where it can be done in Oregon. Here k
we have all classes and conditions of
soil and climate. If one desires high =,
latitude, we have it in Eastern Oregon U
"a low one in Western Oregon A
warmer climate in Southern oregon. A
Differences may be found throughout
the state in rainfall, varying from 10
inches to over 100 inches in one year.
Soil conditions vary likewise, from the
sticky adobes to coarse sandy Soils n,
Western Prices Good. ms
Throughout the whole country in
there are few markets offering poultry sr
and poultry products at as high a fig in
ire as those of Oregon and the Pacific a
Coast; Notwithstanding this fact, our in
markets are undeveloped. There is ad
great room for increase both as to de
quantity and quality. Our markets are m
and the average chicken ev
'ffered for sale would be classed as In
Gull in some of the more advanced av
markets. Our people are willing to pay q,
premium if they can be assured of ex
eceiving first quality products in
eturn. -,
Aeepine poultry as specialized ciI
usiness has been made a success OF hr,
y some put It is not get-rich-quick thi
cheme and should not be looked upon tn,
8 such. Our poultry journals and ba
gricultural press print glowing ad- trr
ertisements of systems and meth Tn
ds' and secrets in such a way that m,
ne temperature of those having
light attack of hen fever is brought Tre
} the boiling point. A business man va,
no under normal conditions would be ba,
in the investment of his 90,
apl'ai III other hnes OF business be- mu
)mes infected with hen fever and ,r,,
unges into the business with little saw
and usually lasts but He
tort time. nra
Experience Needed. wa
ITO successfully carry on a CONNER 70
al poultry plant requires a thorough ron
Of the business. On the ale,
her hand. where poultry is kept as br,,
e branch of the farm It pays and pays nov
ell. a.,
Division OF poultry keeping: The Tn,
seping Of poultry will naturally fall thi,
to several divisions such as poultry sim
'eping upon the farm, specialized doIi
ultry farms and the keeping Of small s,o,
'cks upon the town lot roo
Keeping fowls upon the farm is The
thOut doubt the most important y,y.
anch Of poultry production today. cos,
d viii be for a great many years to rem,
me- II is the farmer to whom we oar
e forced 10 look for the great supply T
poultry and poultry products. not lor
thstanding there are farmers who no.
Il look upon the hen and treat her IN,
a necessary evil upon the farm. The
'wever, where records have been a,
pt the hen has shown herself to be -,
iong the leading. and In many cases met
ieaue' in.oii'e maker OF the iarm- tisir
Hens Averages Shown.
According to the census for 1900.
? hens upon the farms Of oregon
sraged y eggs apiece per year. This A
a small amount and II II were in peni
ased BY one dozen per hen. II would inst
an thousands OF dollars annually 10 cleo
state. However. with care and ana
ID management. the fowls upon our er.
ms should be producing from 100 of /
l5o eggs per year There are enough mot
products upon the average farm 20 IL n