16 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Poultry Situation. 



Undoubtedly, never has there been such a situation as has 

 developed in the poultry industry of the State the past year. 

 As the war ended it was generally believed by poultrymen that 

 there would be an immediate return to pre-war conditions, with 

 cheaper grain and materials. With this in mind, our poultry- 

 men got ready for a big season. Orders were place 1 for chicks 

 and eggs in larger numbers than for the past two years, and the 

 poultry business began to look up. Much of the poultry stock 

 held over on the poultry farms has not been as carefully se- 

 lected and cared for as during pre-war conditions; hence, there 

 has been a general deterioration of this stock, and chicks 

 hatched from it have not been as strong. Consequently, there 

 has been a heavy loss to persons purchasing day-old chicks. 

 Added to this loss was an increase in the price of grain, which 

 brought the poultryman to a point where, in June, he found his 

 young stock had cost him about double what he had counted 

 upon. Many decided to sell out at once, while others held on 

 for a while and then sold out, so it would seem at this time as 

 if there are fewer persons in the business than last year. Add 

 to this the almost total disappearance of the backyard flock, 

 and we are indeed in a very serious situation in regard to 

 poultry. 



A day's ride through the former poultry districts shows more 

 unused houses than have been noted for years. It is estimated 

 by careful observers that Massachusetts has probably lost 80 

 per cent of the poultry which she had before the war. This 

 situation has had the effect of forcing eggs to prices unknown 

 before, for few persons ever believed it possible for eggs to sell 

 for $1.25 per dozen, and yet this price was reached in Decem- 

 ber of 1919. It is a common saying among poultrymen now, 

 that any one who keeps books will not stay in the business. 

 There is not much in sight to encourage the return to the busi- 

 ness another year, for with high prices for all feeds, building 

 material and labor, to say nothing of the scarcity of stock, few 

 but the most venturesome will try their luck again. 



There has been a marked return to the raising of turkeys 

 throughout New England, and much credit is due to the New 

 England Turkey Breeders' Association and particularly to Miss 



