Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-01
COST OF FRESH EGGS.
Scientists Figures of 10 Cents a
Dozen Too Low.

In. an address at the last meeting of
the National Capitol Poultry and Pigeon
Association one of the scientists of the
Department of Agriculture, connected
with the poultry work of the division
of animal husbandry, asserted that the
cost of production OF eggs was 10
cents dozen. So far as can be learned.
the statement was not qualified in any
manner. the speaker merely making the
declaration that 10 cents a dozen was
the cost to the farmer. Not a great
deal of enthusiasm was created among
the practical poultrymen present at the
meeting by this declaration, and prac-
teal men in the poultry business have
taken occasion since the meeting to
question the accuracy of the scientists
figure.
At present prices OF feed of all kinds
II costs slightly more than cents a
week properly to feed one hen. Four
years ago the cost of feed per hen was
minor fraction more than 1 cent a
week These figures are based on local
prices for feed. including wheat, corn,
oats bran. mixed mashes. beef scrap.
and all the materials that enter into a
properly balanced ration for laying
hens The flocks for which the figures
were prepared averaged $50 fowls.
kinds have advanced to a marked ex-
tent -Four years ago corn could be
bought for so cents a bushel; 80 cents is
low price now. Wheat sold four
years ago at around so cents a bushel:
today the price runs as high as S1.40.
oats sold at 60 cents bushel four
years ago; the price now is close to so
cents. The same advances have &C.
Cured in mill feeds and in beef scrap,
etc.
These nricas ara thu onas +b,+ no,,l
trymen have to pay today for grain.
etc, and the prices they had to pay
four years ago for the same feeds. They
are not the quotations that are printed
buying prices, while the poultryman
buying feeds has to pay retail prices
An exceptionally good pullet. at the
height ot her first laying season, will
lay four eggs a week. The feed cost
of these four eggs, at today's prices
for feed of ali kinds would be ?
cents, or at the rate of cents a dozen,
feed cost alone, for the eggs such a
pullet laid. Add to this the items of
labor, housing. depreciation, insurance,
and see how far 10 cents a dozen goes
in covering the cost of producing a
dozen eggs.
Furthermore, the pullet that lays at
the rate of four eggs week during her
first laying season will lay not more
than 200 eggs in her first laying year.
If she lays that many she is an extra
ordinarily good pullet. The chances
are that her first years laying will not
total more than $50 eggs; the average
for the United States. according to the
Department of .Agricultures figures, is
something like seventy five. And more
the puliet will be at least five months
old before she lays her first egg, and
during that five months she has been
fed and cared for at a cost of not less
than / cent a week; 80 that she starts
| In her first years laying burdened
with a debit charge of not less than
| 20 cents for feed and maintenance, to
say nothing of the cost of the egg
| from which she was Matched, the cost
of incubating that egg. etc.
Farmers who produce all the grain
that is fed to their poultry effect a
marked reduction in the cost of produc-
| ing eggs. But even so, If they make
any money from their poultry. they are
| compelled to buy the millfeeds that
| enter into the composition of mashes
they have to provide comfortable quar-
tiers for the fowls: they have to do a
certain amount of work in caring for
| fair return on all this outlay.
When all the items Of expense enter
| ing into the production of a dozen
strictly fresh eggs are taken into con-
! sideration, the production cost is con-
| siderably in excess of 10 cents, even
when none but pullets in their first
! laying season are used as the basis OF
! calculation. Statements such as the
| one credited to the departments expert
| are misleading and are calculated to
make it anything but easy for the
farmer of the poultryman to get a fair
return for his labor and capital when
he tries to market his eggs.