Norwich bulletin., 1917-08-02
POULTRY FARM MANAGEMENT.
By Roy E. Jones, Extension Poultry man at Connecticut Agricultural Col Ieqe.

lege.
 The labor problem is one that seems to increase in difficulty each year, both because of the increasing wage which all kinds of labor demands and the fact that good poultrymen are exceed ingly hard to find at any price. It seems to be invariably true that every pouHryman with a reasonable amount of knowledge of the business hos an overwhelming desire to get into the business. This desire Is perhaps a lit tie too strong, as the many poultry failure due to inexperience would indi- cate that longer apprenticeship should be served. As a rule the owner poultry work, for experience teaches that hired labor can often be better employed at other work. The question is frequently asked: How many birds must depend entirely on the kind of business done. whether 1t be strictly market egg ram or whether pedlgroed laying stock or exhibition poultry form a substantial part of the business. It is obvious that any kind of breeding work which requires small matings and detailed records must greatly increase the la abor cost. The efficiency of laoor on the 42 farms included in this sur vey is compared on the basis of the number of poultry units handled per man. A poultry unit is considered as a mature bird or it's equivalent. kept one year. On this basis two bullets or roosters raised to maturity or four broilers were considered one poultry unit.
 Relation of Poultry Units Per Man to
 Labor Income.
 Number of farms, 2; poultry units per man, 300 to 1000; average labor income. s25,
 Number Of farms, 10; poultry units per man, 900 to 1,500; average labor income, s1, 469.
 Number of farms, 15 poultry units per man, 800 to 900; average labor in come, $933.
 Number of farms. 15; poultry unts per man. less than 500; average labor income $225.
 The range of poultry units per man was from 319 up to 2,000, with the ighest efficiency point somewhere be- tween 800 and 1,500, depending on the system of care and management and craze g. man handling less than 500 poultry units is not doing enough busi- ress to make reasonable profit On the other hand a man trying to care for more than 1,5OO cannot give them sufficient care to produce results. The average number of laying hens on each farm was 592 and the average num- Der of poultry units necessary to main tain that number of hens was 866. This means a ratio of 100 poultry units to every 68 laying hens.
 Poultry Range an Important Factor.
 Ample range is very necessary fac tor of the poultry business and is to be put on a solid foundation. The health of the breeding stock and the condi- tion of the young stock in the fall de- bends largely on the range which they have. While some farms are doing a successful business on a small area of land it is questionable how long they can continue to do it unless they fol- IL -s.. -I- ing eggs or chicks outside from range grown stock. The number of poultry units per acre is used as a basis of comparison.
 Relation of Poultry Units Per Acre to
 Labor Income.
 Number of farms, Is; poultry units per acre, up to 126; average labor in- come. s1,024.
 Number of farms, IS: poultry units per acre. 126 to 200; average labor in come. s75S.
 Number of farms, g; poultry units per acre, more than 200; average labor income, s2S2.
 The range of poultry units per acre was from 34 up to 95S, with an average for all farms of 192. The better farms show much less than the average and he most advisable number would be less than 100. The type of soil is very important consideration. l If attempt is made to maintain a | green ranfe, a is most advisable, pro- 1 tuctive soil will carry many more hens l than sandy light soil. whereas if l close yarding is necessary, sandy soil | Is best because the filth has a chance | 10 leach away and sanitary conditions | ire more easily maintained.
 Where land values are high and soil | a double yarding system | can be used, alternating range and | crops to very good advantage. Orch ,rds, pasture or waste land can often l De utilized for poultry range with very good results. Any kind of low hanging rees or bushes are desirable in a poultry ranfe, particularly during hot