PROFITS FROM POULTRY 31 



better than men. Women are also proficient in rearing young 

 chicks, due in large part to their ability to look after little details. 

 In a considerable number of cases women have made remarkable 

 success in managing large commercial poultry farms. As a side 

 line or pastime poultry keeping offers to women excellent oppor- 

 tunities for work in the open. 



A Healthful Occupation. Poultry keeping, whether as an 

 exclusive occupation or as a side line, offers to any one engaging 

 in the work a healthy, interesting, and invigorating occupation. 

 The work is largely out of doors, is not exceedingly heavy, but is 

 constant and detailed. 



To persons of poor or injured health the care of a small flock 

 of birds offers an ideal opportunity to build strength and muscle 

 and at the same time secure a small income. Under such condi- 

 tions the work should be started in a small way and built up as 

 health improves. 



Increase Fertility of the Soil. Aside from the commercial value 

 of the poultry manure there is a great increase in the fertility of the 

 land over which the birds run. On a general farm it is probably 

 more economical to use all the poultry manure than to attempt to 

 sell it. The fertilizing constituents of poultry droppings in the fresh 

 state are about as follows: Nitrogen and phosphoric acid each 16 

 pounds and potash 8 pounds in a thousand pounds of droppings. 

 Poultry manure is the richest of all the farm manures. Compared 

 with commercial fertilizers the three ingredients mentioned make 

 fresh droppings worth about $7.50 per ton. The manure should 

 be carefully collected and used as a concentrated fertilizer for 

 farm crops. 



Utilize Waste Products. Poultry help to save many waste 

 seeds and grains on the general farms. They consume many of 

 the by-products which otherwise would be an entire loss. This is 

 true of inferior fruits and vegetables, and refuse from the table. 

 Many bisects and weed seeds are consumed. A market value can 

 be realized on these when selling poultry products. 



Disadvantages of Poultry Keeping. The business may at times 

 demand more labor and expenditure of money than the poultry 

 keeper can give. Even with modern methods of sanitation there 

 will be occasional outbreaks of contagious disease which will 

 cause a large loss of life and greatly diminish profits. 



Profits from Poultry. The first question asked of any business 

 is, "Does it pay?" It can safely be said that poultry keeping pays 



