Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-26
ASE FOR THE HEN-By Frederic j. Haskin

per capita is fourteen dozen eggs a year, and
the average consumption of poultry is two and
one-half fowls per capita. Thus, if family CT
three keeps six hens it may in theory get more
than the average number of eggs. When the
hens quit laying, they can be eaten, so that each
member of the family will be only half hen be-
hind allowance of poultry. If the birds have been
fed on the table scraps the only expense of the
whole operation will be the difference between
the market value of the birds when they
bought and when they were killed. There may
even be a favorable balance of trade. Such would
be the with hens bought in 1915.
Of course, this theoretical operation is subject
to many practical difficulties. Tho neighbours
dog may cause an abnormal mortality among the
flock; they may get the pip or fly over the renee
But the thing be done. 1t may be profitable,
and if it isn't, you comfort yourself with the
thought that it. is patriotic.
1t will be noted that there is chicken-rais-
ing connected with this backyard hen-keeping.
This inspiring phase of the chicken business is
rendered impossible for the city by the I'M
fortunate vocazations of the rooster. The egg is
the only increase possible from a single parent
OF course. it is possible to buy fertile eggs in the
country and hatch them in an incubator But in
that case every youthful chanticleer would have
10 be disposed of before he reached Growing
age. Otherwise both the law and your neighbors
ing is a matter of letting the farmer raise the
chickens, and the giving those of the gentler sex
the proveroal good home.
The case Of the man who lives in the suburbs
or the country is different. He is urged to raise
birds and to keep larger flock raising feed for
them the premises.
This embarrassing and hen-keeping on
small scale is really necessary to the situation.
The nigh price of chicken feed has caused thou,
sands of farmers to kill all their chickens, thou
sands of poultrymen to cut down the size Of their
focks. Corn, for example, which is an excellent
fattening feed largely used in the poultry bust
ness, doubled in price between the summers CT
last year and the year before. You can see that
such an increase that has wiped out the profit
for many a poultryman. But it does not mate
rally affect the case of the who feed
small flock garbage and perhaps raise little
green feed for them. 1t is a case of the amateur
coming to the rescue of the professional.
The department of agrculture's poultry ex-
perts are now making estimate of the amount
of poultry in the country so that they may
intelligently direct their campaign for its in
crease. Although no exact dependable results
that the poultry supply has been greatly cut
down For example, receipts of poultry and eggs
in the New York market only two-thrds OF
normal.
Furthermore there is always a heavy NOR
tally of chickens about this time of the year,
owing to certain religious holidays which prevent
large classes of people from eating other meats.
Chicken usually goes up from five six cents
pound and with the additional fact against the
fowl that 1t costs a fortune to feed him, his
chances of escaping the this year simmer
than usual.
That is why it would be patriotic and also
ward-looking act for you to go out and rescue
a few of these hens. Remember, any old hen will
Law pretty we'll for the next three months And
after that II she fails to live up to her duty, she
will still make good stew.