Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-28
United States and Its Poultry.

C1rlStIIl3S turkey Is SOON 10 be u u L
dition of the gustatory past. that
the goose and duck may remain a
fixture for a short time longer, and
that the American must pin his faith
upon the diuturnal hen. te
With wire netting enclosing broad
areas, medium areas and back stoops,
and with barns. deserted houses, sheds
and dog-kennels turned into "scien-
tific" coops and breeders. 1t may be
| conservakvely remarked that the
poultry business is rapidly approach
ing the popularity it deserves. The
present high price of eggs cannot
help but lend further stimulation. and
the fanciers are reaping marvellous
| profits-thss record price being at
tanned, LAST week. at Chicago when
$500 was received for a eoekerel, the
new "Rose-comb Rhode Island
White" Domestic hencoops in Chi
cage are said to rest comfortably now
upon every available fire escape, or
in drygoods box, firmly braced, just
outside the dining-room window.
The statement from the bureau re-
lates only to poultry on farms, as no
enumeration was provided for by law
for cities and towns. Preliminary
statements by states have been pub
'l!shed.
r. The total number Of farms report
ing poultry in 1910 was 5,5S5,oS2. or
SIS per cent of all farms in eontin-
entail United States Only 6507 of the
farms reporting poultry failed to re-
port chickens. Turkeys were report
ed from 81, 123 farms. or 1871 per
cent; ducks from 503.704, or 10 per
cent; geese from G62,32i, or 10.4 per
cent; guinea fowls from S39,5SS. or 5.S
per cent; and pigeons from 109,4ot,
or IT per cent.
The percentage of increase in value
of poultry was over four times as
great as that in number, amounting
to S0.2 per cent The average value
per fowl thus rose from "a cents in
1900 to 81 cents in 1910.
The total number of fowls in the
United States increased from 25O.624,-
0eo in 1900 to 295, $4,000 in 1910, a gain
OF over Al. 900. 900, or ISL per cent. The
figures for the two censuses are COM
a oh. in lot
of enumeration, fowls under 8 months
old being excluded in both cases.
The number of turkeys, ducks. and
geese. however, decreased very ma
terially in nearly every section of the
country. The aggregate increase in
fowls was, therefore. due to the in
crease in the number of chickens,
which rose from 23S.566,0oo to 2s0,S45.-
900. or 20 per cent. The percentage
of decrease for turkeys was AL. for
ducks 1913, and for geese 21.s. Com
parable figures for the minor classes
of fowls-guinea fowls, peafowls, and
pigeons-are not available for 1900.
The number of ostriches reported in
1900 was only 6S4, or about one-eighth
as many as in 1910.
The number of fowls reported IN
1910 was 295,sS0000. and their total
value was sl54,663, o00., or an average
value of 81 cents. Nearly 50 per
cent. of all the fowls were chickens;
they numbered 2so,345.0oo, and their
value was sl4O,2e6, 600. the average
value being so cents. Turkeys num-
bered S,6Ss,0o0 and we're valued at So
sec, BOD, the average value being si79
The ducks reported numbered 1901
oee, and were valued at s1,567,00o. With
ar average value of 81 cents. OF
geese the total number was $1,000,
and the value So. 1885, 900. or an average
value of ~ cents In 1910 there were
also reported 1.765.000 guinea fowls,
valued at s6l9,000; 2.73l.0oo pigeons,
valued at s762, 900; and 6458 peafowls,
valued at $4,000. Ostriches to the
number of 1851 were reported, with
value of 81 1885, 900. or over $500 each.
The ostriches were reported from five
states: Arizona. Arkansas, California,
Florida. and Texas.
The poultry industry is distributed
throughout the United States. In the
several geographic divisions. how
ever, the number of fowls per 100
acres Of improved farm land. varies
considerably. The New England d.
vision shows the greatest relative
number, which is about 9S fowls per
100 acres 2 of improved farm land,
while the lowest relative number 1867
is in the Mountain division. The
Middle Atlantic and East North Cen
trail divisions also show large relative
numbers, amounting, respectively. to
SO and 81 fowls per 100 acres of i'm
proved land.
Iowa has the largest total value OF
poultry amounting to $12.270,00o, and
Missouri ranks second. with $11,S11,