10 Dec, 1918.] Does Foultri/ Farming Pay? 751 



DOES POULTRY FARMING PAY? 



By A. V. D. Rintoul, Assistant Poultry Expert. 



Tlie fact that this question has appeared at some time or other in 

 most poultry journals published in every corner of the globe is, of itself, 

 sufficient reason why a careful analysis of the prospects of the industry 

 is, at this crisis in the world's history, eminently desirable. Primary 

 production must form the basis of our future success, and no nation 

 can afford to neglect any branch of the rural industries in which profits 

 may accrue. 



It is desirable, in the first instance, to determine what is actually 

 meant by the term " Poultry farming." The main source of income 

 undoubtedly should be derived from the production of eggs for com- 

 mercial purposes, and while this end is being achieved considerable 

 profits may at times be made by those meeting the requirements of 

 certain branches of the industry, but these side-lines must remain per- 

 manently subsidiary to the determining point — Does egg production 

 pay? Failures must be accounted for more fully than successes require 

 to be. Considerably more than a competence is gained by those engaged 

 in the following branches: — ^Stud breeding (which includes the sale of 

 baby chicks, &c.), custom hatching, the sale of proprietary foodstuffs^ 

 the manufacture of articles of equipment, such as incubators, brooders, 

 and the like, literary work in connexion with the industry, and lastly — 

 though none too remunerative — instructional and advisory work. All 

 these sources of income are, however, in the long run dependent upon 

 the success or otherwise of the endeavour to produce commercial egg^* 

 profitably. Failures are all too frequent, and their causes and methods 

 of prevention are therefore entitled to a close analysis. 



Failures are almost invariably due to one or more of the following 

 causes :— First and most important, lacJc of experience; second, laclx: of 

 capital; third, lack of health ; and a fourth cause may be added, lack' 

 of aptitude for the business. Quite recently a well-known institution' 

 desired to have one in whom it was interested started in poultry keeping, 

 largely on the ground that the mentality of the individual concerned 

 was too low to permit him to take up any other work. ISTo greater 

 mistake could be made than to consider poultry keeping the proper 

 outlet for the fool of the family. Apart from the aptitude to carry 

 on any commercial undertaking successfully, there is required an- 

 ingrained love of live stock with the ability to get the best return from 

 them, besides a general knowledge of food values, building construction, 

 bookkeeping, and banking, together with some elementary anatomical 

 and medical experience. 



Lack of experience in any of these matters may prove the poultry- 

 keeper''s undoing, yet, fired with enthusiasm, which is perhaps a polite 

 way of expressing " through foolhardiness," the beginner rushes in, 

 and may be, owing to the blandishments of some agent, buys land in an 

 unfavorable situation, proceeds to erect unsuitable housing, acquires' 

 stock from an undesirable breeder, or makes a start at the wrong time 

 of the year. Failure results, but this does not mean that the query^ 

 "Does poultry farming pay?" is to be ansAvered in the negative. 



