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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. TDoc. 



RAISING POULTRY FOR PROFIT. 



BY MISS ANNIE HOLTZ, Blain, Pa. 



READ AT BLAIN INSTITUTE, PERRY CO., Feb. 2, 1901. 



Poultry riglitly managed takes little from the farm and yields a 

 larger profit than any other stock. The capital which the beginner 

 must have before he can expect to make the poultry business suffi- 

 ciently renumerative, need not be invested at once. It is an ad- 

 vantage with })ouitry keeping that the beginner can make his capital; 

 that is he can grow his capital if he will be patient. What is meant 

 is, that if one commences with fifty hens he need not be compelkd to 

 buy more stock immediately, as he can prepare one y^^ar for the 

 next. He may have 200 hens the second year and have all accom- 

 modations complete. The third 3'ear he may have a flock of 500 and 

 then increase every year if he desires hence, as the beginning is with 

 a few, the capital will be small, and as he adds to the number of 

 his hens he at the same time enlarges his capital. 



Now, that is a point in favor of the poultry business — this gradual 

 enlargement of the capital — which makes it so attractive to many 

 and which also makes the business possible to those who cannot 

 derive as large profit in proportion to capital invested in any other 

 pursuit. But the great difficulty is the fact that nearly all who turn 

 their attention to poultry are unwilling to wait a few years. They 

 are not inclined to build up a business, but endeavor to get into it the 

 first year, with a profit from a little capital and no experience. The 

 one who begins with few and increases his flock gains experience 

 as he travels along the road of progress, and while increasing his 

 capital, is adding to his experience and becoming more capable of 

 accomplishing the objects sought; the eggs and poultry sold being 

 the sources of income. The hens that molt early are the ones to 

 keep for they will lay in winter, when eggs are most in demand. If 

 the early chickens are to lay before cold weather sets in they should 

 be well cared for; give them plenty of food, plenty of room and 

 good air. 



Sell oft' the old hens before they begin to molt. The majority of 

 poultry keei)ers overcrt ^^d their yards and houses. As a rule the 

 smaller the flock the grea t* the average profit. It is also true that 

 the greater the number in o. flock, the more care must be given to 

 that flock to secure satisfactOi results. 



