Arizona republican., 1917-02-15

StlNtu lO llltIGdSt Interest III llit commercial poultry business.
 Another of the stimulants to the poultry industry in the valley has been the work of educational institutions, including the city and county schools and the state university. While experts assert that more poultry should be raised for sale and export, as such WondSbe easily possible, they do not believe that great domestic consump ton of the state. is d -oss to it's own citizens. They take the stand logical ly, that it is a saving to table expense. To this end the states schools have lent their aid in making for greater production and better conditions. and for the improvement of the quality and enlargement of the quantity of pro- duction. The University of Arizona. through it's extension service and through the graded institutions is con ducting q campaign in which poultry breed and breeding, incubation and breeding, housing, egg production, marketing Of poultry plodu.Is and the preparation of poultry products for the table are given emphasis. Feeding for production of eggs and for production of the best table birds is also given much attention in these instructions It is in connection with this line of en- deavor that the institutions have ex- erted their influence for betterment of the enterprise and have opened up a field of competition for the Doys anu girls of the valley.
 Many varieties of hens are found in the valley. White leghorns seem. how ever, to be- the most popular of all varieties and most of the largest chick- en ranches are stocked with them American breeds are next in populai1Ly. with the Rhode Island reds high Among the others which have fonnd favor are plymouth rocks including both white and barred. wyanuottes. orphingtons and leghorns The latter are poor packers but great layers and are chosen for the valley ranches largely on this account The rocks. orphingtons and wyandottes are the best Packers.
 The cost of installation Of modern and efficient ten-acre chicken ranch in the Salt River valley is not great Figuring literally for land and all ap- purtenances necessary for operatioh the resident -wishing 10 enter this line of industry can generally obtain good |, start in business with less than 5000 ! according chiefly to the class of lant. and the district in which he buys. AL l lowing S259 an acre for the land in the 1 better parts of the valley the prosyec- ! tlve egg raiser o,fd have to be f. 1 nanced about as follows to begin his | production career
 ] Half payment on ten acres
 i land ..........-......S l2JO
 Water system, including pump.
 engine, tank, pipe and install
 iatIon 500 Sheds following S1 to each hem. 100 i Fencing following Sl to each
 ] hen) ..-........... 100 ] One hundred laying hens at Sl 100 i - | TOTAL ..................... s2sOO
 This total however. is liberally esti-
 mated. A pumping and water system ! which will do quite efficiently for d small chicken rancn may be installed ' for less than one-half of the estimate i The fencing, if no cross fences are , built, can be cut by one-third, and the sheds and other structures for the ! housing of poultry can he practically eliminated at the outset.
 i The cost of the upkeep of the farm 1 after installation Of the brood and i other necessities is comparatively
 small as compared with the production revenue Various estimates one of i which will be quoted further on in this article, have been given, but most con-
 form to about the same price as the ! one cited. At any rate, the cost of maintenance is tow as compared with the profit even when the cost is esti-
 mated at the highest fign-a vt
 straight feed off the market is figured for the entire rations of the flock. Turkeys thrive Tn the s5al. ..- val
 ley because it s-their nature to thrive
 in the warmer and dryer climates
 where sunny days and green feed such
 as alfalfa and grains are always avail able According to the most ;.uinenL. .c
 figures which have been available the
 cost of the production of turkeys in
 the district is about S1 each The
 average weight of the birds when ma .
 ture, is about 14 pounds, and the aver
 age price per pound for the past year
 was well above 20 cents in the valley. In point, throughout the state. especf- ally in the mining camps, prices re- , ceived around the Christmas season
 were in excess of 30 cents
 The greatest care is taken with the
 young birds from the time they are
 matched until they are old enough to
 foreage for themselves. Then the |, responsibilities of the owner are prac- tically nothing, the ores running at
 will. feeding on alfalfa and insects
 which they catch ahturr rho Jarp and