The Delta independent., 1911-03-03
The Profits in Poultry.

llt III
1t was forty years ago when I,
semi-invalid tenderfoot, alighted
from a Kansas-Pacific train in Colo
rado. Among other things l was
much impressed with the high price.
for poultry and eggs Requiring
some light outdoor employment that
might bring fair remuneration l
made many inquiries around Denver
as to raising poultry for the market
and was uniformly told that 1t
wou'd not pay. Some said owing to
the high altitude and alkali water
that poultry died like flies, and from
the same cause women become bald
beaded and horses tails dropped
out.
Although | could not see the con-
nection and was somewhat discour-
aged l finally got together 800 COM
mon hens and few choice White
Leghorus and Light Brahmas i'm
ported from Ohio. | made many
mistakes and suffered losses but was
not long in finding out that I was
still making a net profit of from 81
to Sl-5U a head | would not have
known had l not kept a strict ac-
count with my flock When a man
tells me that poultry does not pay,
that they eat their heads of. | find
he never keeps account. As the
years rolled by, knowledge gained
with improved stock and better con-
veniences. l cleared for many a year
from a flock of three to four hun
$3.50 a head at commercial prices.
But l sold my produce direct to the
consumers.
During late years | have been en-
gagged in raising choice breeding and
exhibition stock at what is usually
termed fancy prices and of course
fewer in number. 1t is a question
with me now if | were raising 1.200
to l.500 birds as formerly and at
present market prices if it would
not pay better than what l get from
he limited output, considering the
Extra care and long time necessary
TO hold them. But here let me say
20 the newcomer or novice. notwith-
standing the flashy advertisements
y marvellous profits now SO fire.
Iuently published in many poultry
journals and magazines, that going
into the poultry business legitimate
y is no get-rich-quick proposition.
have known of more failures right
here in Colorado than of any other
rural occupation with which l am
acquainted. The larger the capital
he quicker and more complete the
failure.
The most successful poultry rails
'rs-and there are many of them
gan in small way. increasing
their business no faster than they
could make it pay. There is an
opening in Colorado today for thou
sands of energetic men and women
who are willing to work and it is
not hard work. Those who can stick
TO a thing who have the aptitude to
do the right thing at the right time
can make poultry raising a part of
or all of their business. Since |
came to Colorado | have followed
farming. dairying, pork raising veg
etable and fruit raising and at all
tines kept large flock of poultry.
Today, If | We're young and were
compelled to take up but one of my
former occupations, poultry would
be my choice. Poultry raising can
be advantageously combined with
any of the occupations have named.
Most of the utility breeds of poultry
can be bought from reliable breed
erS in this state-Plymouth Rocks,
Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, Or
phingtons and Langshans and for the
uon-sitters Leghorns in White Brown
and Bun and Minorcas.
Make your own choice for what
ever the purpose in view, but get
the pure breeds and keep them pure
for the best results. Never mind
what the books say about feeding
corn and n balanced ration. etc.
supply one-third of cracked corn.
the same of wheat. another third
rf oats or bald barley, with n liber-
al feed twice a day and the fowls |
will balance their own ration. AL |
ow plenty of green food. sprouted |
pats. alfalfa, raw vegetables. some |
neat meal. oyster shell and char !
'oal. not forgetting a plentiful sup
rly of clean water and the flock will
get along alright. In Colorado with
roper care diseases of poultry are 4
are. No cause to worry over the .
professors coccidiosis. cercomion-
asis or aspergillus fumigatus. but