570 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Sept., 1919. 



THE COST OF A DOZEN EGGS. 



.4. V. 1). Riiitoiil, Assistant Foiiltrt/ Expert. 



Experienced poultry-fanners will readily agree that the abo-ve title 

 is undoubtedly an ambitious one ; so many points have to be considered 

 before the cost to produce a dozen eggs can be definitely stated. 



It must be admitted in the first instance that a capital of about 

 £1.500 is involved by the time a man has a 1,000-bird plant in full 

 running order. Interest on capital must be allowed for, also labour, 

 depreciation on plant, and rates and taxes. Food, litter, and water have 

 to be supplied to the birds as well as fuel for incubators and brooders, 

 and the revenue consists of sale of eggs and surplus stock. The market 

 value of eggs is very variable, being partly' seasonable, partly dependent 

 on the price of bacon, and partly on the question of supply and demand, 

 the cost of feed having little to do with the price, as the poultry breeders 

 have hardly yet combined sufficiently to insist on an honest price. With 

 wheat at about 5s. 4d. per 60 lb. bushel, oats 5s. 6d. per 40 lb. 

 bushel, maize 6s. 9d. per 56 lb. bushel, peas 9s. per 60 lb. bushel, 

 wheat pollard Is. 8d. per 20 lb. bushel, and bran Is, 8d. per 20 lb. 

 bushel to the poultry farmers, it is not possible to feed properly under 

 2d. per bird per week (8s. 8d. per annum). A poor layer will eat as 

 much as a good layer, but will lay only during the spring and summer 

 months, when eggs are cheap. 



The average production per bird in Great Britain is about 90 eggs 

 per annum, and in Victoria it is hardly over 108. Assuming 108 as 

 the Victorian average, these eggs at lOd. a dozeil would return 7s. 6d. 

 against a cost of feed alone of 8s. 8d. It is impossible, therefore, to 

 consider lOd. a dozen a payable price for eggs. 



With increased production there must be increased attention and 

 shedding. on the one hand, and an improvement in the average price 

 on the other hand. A bird laying 180 eggs lays some in the dearer time, 

 and one producing 280 eggs is laying all the year round, and is the only 

 bird really entitled to the average price, as at present computed. The 

 popular mistake is to add up the bi-weekly price of eggs, divide by 104, 

 and call that the average price. This is absurd. The only way to get 

 the real average price is to take the total number of eggs produced, 

 against the actual net returns from sales after cartage, freight, and 

 commission have been deducted. The eggs from Burnley competition 

 were last year sold for Is. 3d. a dozen, but that is above the average 

 net value. The ordinary consignor would have charges deducted, and 

 would net about Is. lid. per dozen. Assuming that he is running a 

 flock of 1,000 birds, only 850 of these could be pullets, the balance 

 would be older birds required to maintain the flock. For some weeks 

 their eggs would be required for hatching purposes, and the profit made 

 from the rest of their eggs during the year would be required to make 

 up the difference between tlie cost of chicken rearing as against the 

 ^ale of the adult birds after the laying season, which at present prices 

 shows a loss. 



It may be assumed that tbe average man will expect, with reason- 

 able housing and feeding, to get 168 eggs (fourteen dozen) per pullet 

 during her laying year. If he gets Is. Ud. net per dozen his revenue 

 will be 15s. 9d. against a cost of 8s. 8d. for feed, i.e., 7s. Id. per bird 



