ADVANTAGES OF POULTRY KEEPING 29 



Great Variety of Products. The poultry business is made up 

 of so many different branches that the beginner is enabled to 

 select the one which will best fit his own conditions. He must first 

 study market requirements and land conditions. The poultry- 

 man having only a small plat can go into the breeding of pure-bred 

 stock and the production of market eggs. The rearing of chicks 

 to be marketed later as roasters or capons requires a much larger 

 area and different conditions. On the average farm which is run 

 exclusively for egg production, there are a number of by-products 

 which bring in a large revenue. Next in order after egg production 

 is the raising and sale of market poultry, both the surplus males 

 and the old stock. Aside from this is the poultry manure, which 

 if properly gathered and stored can be sold as fertilizer to truck 

 farmers and growers of small fruits. There is also a revenue from 

 feathers if they are dry-picked and well cured. 



Products Easy to Market. With modern means of transporta- 

 tion, it is possible for the poultryman to put upon a special market, 

 many miles away, eggs which are not over twenty-four hours old, 

 and for which an extra price is easily received. It is also possible 

 to ship poultry products much farther, and yet have them reach 

 market in much better condition than many other farm products, 

 as market milk, perishable vegetables, and tender fruits. It should 

 be the aim of every poultryman to produce the best which is pos- 

 sible and then to market the product in the most attractive and 

 sanitary way. By so doing he may get a quick and sure market 

 for all his shipments. As soon as customers learn that a worthy 

 article is regularly produced, a great demand is immediately de- 

 veloped for that particular product from the same source. A 

 permanent market is easily secured in this way. 



With all poultry products a great value is represented in small 

 bulk. They are much easier to handle, both in preparing for 

 market and during shipment, than the bulky agricultural products. 

 Express charges are relatively small, considering the value carried. 



Poultry products, especially eggs, owing to their small bulk and 

 high food value, can be easily stored, and if properly handled can 

 be kept for from six months to one year in cold storage and still be 

 useful as human food. This practice of holding eggs from season 

 to season in storage is used for speculative purposes, and eggs are 

 sometimes kept much longer than desirable from the food stand- 

 point. It is very easy to hold them from spring, when large num- 

 bers are laid, until the next winter, when they may bring good 



