Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-26
The Future of the Poultry Industry
in Georgia

ill Georgia
Has the poultry industry in Geor-
gia a promising future? 1t certainly
has. What are the main obstacles
tG overcome?
1. We must teach our people to
increase the output of poultry pro-,
&ucts.
2 To improve the grade and char
acter of their birds.
8. To increase the number of hens
per flock up to at least fifty per
farm.
H. To guarantee the output so that
n Georgia egg, no matter where it
is sold, can be relied upon to be
fresh and prime as to quality.
5. To raise only one variety or
strain of chickens in given COM
munity. This is necessary that the
birds may be put on a quantity
production basis. Unless this can be
done, there will be an isolated farmer
here and there struggling to find
market. Buyers will naturally be
scarce and difficult to find and the
2Ereness will not prosper.
VThen poultry buyer desires to
d4tain a carlot of chickens, be they
bAoilers, friers, or hens, he would
like ito find locality where he can
obtain several thousand birds that
are upifol | as to size, color, and
finish. Points of this character do
not e--ist in our state at the present
time.
The facts recited above show how
comparatively little we have done
along the line of poultry husbandry
development. They indicate that we
have a long way to go, a whole lot
to learn, and many disappointments
to meet and overcome. On the other
hand, this resume of the situation
makes it clear that the field is prac-
tically virgin and the man who
brings acumen, skill, and enthusiasm
into the work will grow and prosper.
In addition to the things mentioned
above, We must teach our people
here at home to use Georgia poultry
products. This industry shows a
turnover, according to the best avail
able statistics, of about SAL 900, 100000
year.
The lowly hen and her product,
therefore, occupy position of great
commercial Importance in our state.
Unfortunately, we are still permit
ting about $19,000,000 worth of poul-
try products to be shipped into
Georgia each year. The states to
the north of us are the principal
benefactors. Each year sees a
stream of Georgia gold passed into
their Golfers from poultry and eggs
which we should produce at home
What can we do to change or anne
liorate this condition? A very great
deal, and it can be done in a COM
paratively short time. Primarily,
through the efforts of the extension
division of the Georgia State College
of Agriculture, the poultry products
of Georgia have been increased in
value by $1,500,000 in period of
one year. Next year we should be
able to make this 100000. How
has this been accomplished? Through
the organization Of poultry clubs,
egg circles, poultry sales, and edu
cational activities among the peo-
pie of the state in general.
The shipment of poultry on car
lot basis from our state may be said
to have begun in a practical way in
1922, and substantial progress was
made in this direction in 1923. Pre-
vious to July 1, 1922, [ am glad to
say that we had incubators in Geor.
gia with a capacity for Matching
IOO,UOU CSSS a. Ecil 10y ANONSlIIDSl
/, 1928, our incubator capacity had
been increased to 532, 300 eggs.
Forty-two counties have organized
poultry associations to encourage
the standardization Of production
and the development of the poultry
business on a community basis
Twenty-Five counties now desire to
organize similar associations. These
facts and figures show how this in
duStry is taking hold upon the
imagination Of our people and how
rapidly it Is spreading and develop
ing on a statewide basis. OF course
there are some people who think
that the incubator capacity is al
ready too great. If these machines
were operated all the time they
would only be able to furnish seven
chicks to each Georgia farm. We
will never have a poultry industry
of proper proportions until we have
: from so to 100 chicks per farm.
This shows that we still have a long
way to go before we will overdo the
poultry business, provided always
TT business is handled efficiently
~ the marketing done on a proper
&erative basis. If every man
wlio&tarts poultry business is to
operate as an independent factor,
we are not going to make very sub
stantial progress. Cooperation holds
the key to success in this business
as completely as any in which the
farmer may engage. The season of
the year Is at hand when we should
be thinking about gathering to-
gether the best eggs available and
having them Matched out so as to
insure plenty Of chickens to be i'd
out for market in 1924. On this &C.
count L am sure that every chicken
fancier will be interested to know
where incubators have been installed
and to learn something about their
capacity. 1t will be no trouble to
get in touch with the individuals
who are operating these plants,
many of which have been run sue.