Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-10-27
ARE EQUAL TO
POTATO CROP
CHICKENS RAISED IN IDAHO ARE
WORTH HALF OF DAIRY
PRODUCTS VALUE
STATE MAY LEAD IN INDUSTRY
Commissioner of Agriculture Says
Poultry Raising Is Profitable.

Value of poultry and eggs produced
in Idaho each year exceed five million
dollars, which equals the amount re-
ceiyed for potatoes, at least half of the
income received from dairy products
and as much as is received for all live
stock, beef cattle and mutton except
ed, according to a detailed inyestiga-
ton of the poultry industry in Idaho
given the Statesman of Boise by Miles
Cannon, state commissioner of agri-
culture.
While the beef cattle and mutton in
dustries have, according to Mr.. Can
non, reached their maximum it is i'm
possible to estimate a maximum pro-
duction from the poultry industry if
Idaho people were to take advantage
of the manifold conditions favorable
to this industry.
Idaho produces each year about one
and three-fourths million chickens
and sells a little less than one-half
million, which indicates that it re-
quires about three chickens for each
man. woman and child in the state
In 1920 there were 1,654.771 chick
ems in Idaho and their value was
slightly less than 81 per head, or ST.
$4,000 These chickens laid in that
year 9,552,7S0 dozens of eggs of which
3,555,O0O dozens were sold, leaving
approximately six million dozens for
home consumption, or 144 eggs for
each and every person in the state.
If the total number of eggs pro
duced in Idaho each year was laid end
for end, assuming each egg to be two
inches lnnU fhnu L.
tinuous string of eggs 361S miles long
or reaching from San Francisco to
New York and about 500 miles out into
the Atlantic ocean. These 1l4.633. .360
eggs would also give every man.
woman and child in Idaho one egg for
breakfast every day for 229 days.
"Climatical conditions, together with
the productiveness of the soil, will in
time, Mr.. Cannon thinks, unite in
placing Idaho at the very top of poul-
try producing states. The size of the
average poultry farm is from five to
20 acres. A 10-acre farm can accom-
modate from 1000 to 5000 adult fowls
and allow for the growing of green
food, young stock and maintain the
flock, buildings, yards and garden
space. On some commercial farms.
as many as 1000 fowls per acre are
kept but not more than 500 per acre
IS greatly to be preferred. Poultry do
well on practically any well-drained
agricultural soil though the lighter
sandy and gravelly loans are pre-
ferred.
'In the matter of feed it is quite
probable that the poultry men. at the
present time, can buy this cheaper
than he can raise it. The money
needed to make a successful start in
poultry raising may be estimated at
80 per laying hen which would. ac-
cording to one authority, be distrib
uted as follows 80 per cent in land.
40 per cent in building and fencing.
20 per cent in stock, per cent i'm
equipment, per cent in feed and
supplies and per cent in cash. This /
indicates that $4,000 will equip a pouI- |
try yard capable of maintaining 1000
laying hens, paying cash for every
hing and with $3.50 remaining in |
ready cash."
THE net profits will range from so
cents to $1.50 per laying hen, depend
ng almost entirely upon the iudg-
nent, knowledge and experience of the
poultry raiser. California records
where 5000 White Leghorns are used
IN a ranch frequently reaches $4,000
let profit per annum This profit is
carried into the daily receipts, which
places the poultry raiser in an inde-
pendent position.
1T might be stated, however, that