COST OF PRODUCING EGGS, CHICKS, AND FOWLS 237 



united strength and their organized plan of selling, they 

 buy at wholesale and sell at retail. 



Suppose, now, that it is true, as some say, that " pro- 

 cessed oats " cost only ten cents a bushel. Estimate 

 that three bushels of it will go as far as one bushel of 

 oats not processed. Add 25 cents a year for beef scrap, 

 and, if liberally minded, 10 cents more for grit, shell, and 

 charcoal, all of which are cheap when bought by the 

 hundred. To this you may add just what you please 

 in the way of expense for more variety. (Mr. Briggs, 

 of processed oats fame, says that he has kept hens for 

 six months at a time on nothing but beef scrap and 

 processed oats for feed, with most excellent results ; 

 though he does not recommend this as being the best 

 way.) What total do you get for a year's feed per hen ? 



What I am trying to get at is, how much are you, 

 friend Beginner, going to let your eggs cost you ? Shall 

 it be eighteen cents a dozen ? Shall it be fifteen? Four- 

 teen cents ? Twelve ? Eight ? Can you get it lower 

 still ? What is your caliber ? What your aim ? It is 

 your problem. The Utah Station has produced eggs 

 for 52 cents per hen, cost of feed for a full year. For 

 how much less, I do not know. But, at 52 cents, with 

 a yield of 1 50, the feed cost of the eggs would be about 

 four and one third cents a dozen. Some of the hens laid 

 more. I do not remember the average, if it was given, 

 and my figure of 1 50 is arbitrary. We need to remember 

 that not all, by any means, can make their hens reach 

 this average. . 



We have allowed above, on sprouted oats and beef 

 scrap, with the digesters, a total of about 75 cents per 

 hen. Remembering that the sponsor of this system 



