94 OREGON FARMER 



No attempt has been made to produce fancy breeding stock and the 

 amount received from the poultry was made wholly by selling the 

 product at market prices, the price for eggs ranging from 45 cents a 

 dozen to 20 cents. About $1,100 worth of feed was purchased for 

 the fowls so that the profit on the feed purchased was over $2.00 per 

 fowl. The exact figures of food cost cannot be given because a small 

 quantity of feed was produced on the place. The owner's estimate 

 is $1.50. 



The value of the poultry and eggs produced in Oregon in 1912 

 amounted to about $7,250,000 which exceeded the values for fruit, 

 oats, barley, potatoes, wool, or hops. In spite of this there were 

 large importations of eggs from eastern states or from middle west 

 states. In 1911 there were over 200 carloads of eggs shipped into 

 Oregon. There has been great development of the poultry industry 

 during the past few years, and it is estimated that the production now 

 is between three and four million dollars greater than it was five or 

 six years ago. Notwithstanding this great increase in production 

 the prices remain about the same. In a few years there is no reason 

 why Oregon should not produce $20,000,000 worth of poultry and 

 eggs a year, and it is doubtful, owing to the great increase of popula- 

 tion on the Coast, whether with this increased production there would 

 be much, if any, decrease in the prices received by the producers. 



As has been explained in another part of this book, Oregon is a 

 large state in area and the climatic conditions are varied. In fact 

 most any kind of climate outside of a tropical climate may be found 

 in Oregon. Table A on page 86 shows that the Willamette 

 Valley produces a large proportion of the poultry and eggs in this 

 state. This shows that this valley, with its mild, though rainy 

 winters, is a good poultry section. It may not necessarily mean that 

 the Willamette Valley is the best poultry district in the state. It is 

 the oldest section of the state and being near to the Portland markets 

 naturally the greatest development has taken place here. There are 

 other valleys or sections in the state, I believe, that are equally 

 adapted for profitable poultry-keeping. 



To show something of the possibilities in egg production in Oregon 

 I may mention that at the Oregon Experiment Station some of the 

 highest egg yields in the United States have been secured. There is 

 a regularly organized Poultry Department at the Agricultural College 

 and I believe it has been fully demonstrated that Oregon is as good as 

 any other state as a poultry section. Egg records as high as 259 in 

 one year and 462 in the first two years of laying have been secured. 

 The College is endeavoring to help the poultry-keepers of the state in 

 various ways. It is furnishing farmers and poultry raisers breeding 

 stock and eggs from fowls that have been bred from heavy producers 

 for several generations. In another way it is helping the producers 

 by publishing and distributing poultry bulletins dealing with different 

 branches of the industry. Anyone wishing further information in 

 regard to methods of poultry-keeping in this state should write to 

 the Poultry Department of the Agricultural College and copies of 

 these bulletins will be sent free on request. 



