POULTRY. 1041 



XVIII. 



IS Poultry-keeping Profitable ? When a sensible person 

 is urged to engage in a new business, to extend a business 

 already established, or to do any thing that will involve an out- 

 lay of time and money, the first question he naturally asks is : 

 " Will it pay ?" This is just as it should be, for either in pleasure, 

 in cash, in health or knowledge gained, in the satisfaction derived 

 from the knowledge that we have benefited others, or in some way, 

 whatever we do must pay, or the pursuit will soon lose its charm, 

 and the whole thing be a failure so far as we are concerned. 



When the inquiry, "Will it pay?" is made in regard to the 

 poultry business I am glad to be able to answer in the affirma- 

 tive. I speak from several years of practical experience in 



* " BY FANNY FIELD." The writer of our poultry chapter has proved, by her long 

 continued success, her right to speak as authority on matters pertaining to the man- 

 agement of poultry. Her poultry farm contains sixty acres, on which is grown all 

 the corn, oats, barley, sunflower seed, potatoes, cabbage, etc., required for the stock. 

 The average amount of breeding stock kept is two hundred and sixty, mostly pure 

 Plymouth Rock, but a few Light Brahmas and Partridge Cochins are also kept, as 

 a cross of these breeds produces extra large cockerills for capons. About three 

 thousand chickens are raised each year, two-thirds of which are sold as broilers. 

 One hundred of the choicest pullets are selected each year to take the place of the 

 same number of old hens that are disposed of. The best cockerells are caponized, 

 and the remainder marketed early in the fall. 



Ten hens and one cock of the pure Bronze Turkeys are kept for breeding- 

 stock, and an average of one hundred and seventy-five per year are raised, and 

 all sold to private customers for Thanksgiving. About three hundred ducks pure 

 Pekin are raised each year and marketed as soon as they are large enough, and 

 are usually out of the way by the middle of September. The policy is to market, 

 every thing as soon as it can be sold to advantage. About twenty-five hundred 

 dozen eggs are sold yearly. The average annual sales from the farm for five years 

 past are $3,300, and the average expenses, including taxes, interest on capital, 

 hired help, etc., $1,800, leaving a net profit of $1,500 per annum. The farm is 

 valued at $7,000. 



DO 



