The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-07-26
POULTRY ON DRY FARM
Works in SpIendidIy as a Profit
able Branch.
Gives Farmer Something to Fall Back
On In Case Of Failure Of Grain
Crops = Little Required In
Way Of Outlay.

(By NJ c. HERNER, Manager Poultry
Department, Manitoba Agricultural
College)
With the opening of the new era in
western agriculture comes the oppor-
tunity for the poultry industry to de-
velop into a distinct branch of diver
sified or mixed farming This method
of farming seems to be the only hope
for future prosperity We need scarce
ly refer to the effects of crop failures
for a few successive years on the
general welfare Of certain sections Of
country In which they occur To re-
lieve this situation farmers must en-
gage in something more than grain
farming, so that in case crops fail they
may have something else to fall back
on. In diversified farming they could
draw on the proceeds of the dairy and
poultry products to meet the current
expenses.
Poultry raising works IN splendidly
as profitable branch Of dry-farming.
Very little is required in the way of
outlay, and the returns in proportion
thereto are a good many times larger
than in any other branch. The poultry
houses need not be expensive, Just
so long as they are of the serviceable
kind-the kind that give results.
There is much waste in grain and
other things on our farms every year
that could be converted into poultry
and eggs very easily at a handsome
profit. Only about four pounds of
grain are required to produce one
pound of chicken, which is less than
Is required to produce one pound of
beef, mutton or bacon. The labor re-
quired to successfully manage a flock
OF poultry is proportionately small.
The market demands are practically
unlimited, and the price of dressed
poultry and eggs is sufficiently high
at all times of the year to make poul-
try keeping a paying business, even
when prices are at their lowest. From
these facts we see that poultry can
be made very profitable branch of
farming, with but very little In the
way of initiative expenditure.
To begin poultry raising on dry
farm would prefer to start with a
few settings of eggs the first season
and hatch chickens from the eggs, and
then have my own stock the second
season. This way of starting Is the
cheapest. When a person wants to
invest little heavier a better start
can be made by buying 10 to 20 birds
and Matching chickens from these the
first year This means, Of course, a
heavier expense, but then one would
be a year ahead in getting returns
already the first year.
The poultry house should be located
fairly close to the other farm build
ings, and should be protected from
the north Winds or 1t may be built as
a lean-to against the barn. The idea
is to have the poultry house well
lighted. dry, well ventilated and free
from draught, and also fairly cheap
One of the best houses for this climate
Is the straw loft poultry house, built
Is feet wide and any length desired
This house has peak or gable roof. Is
seven feet high from sill to plate, ant
has the south side made of one-thirt
boards and the remainder one-hal
glass and one-half curtain. Such {
house is not very expensive and an
swers the purpose very well for thu
average farmer.