18 POULTRY FOR PROFIT 



already developed, it will cost more than this. If the 

 land is bare, houses and fences must be built. Stock 

 is to be bought and feed for the first year provided. 

 .These are expenses which the prospective poultry 

 farmer must look squarely in the face, and it is better 

 to overestimate than to underestimate. The figures 

 would be something like this : 



5 acres of bare land $1500 



Housing and fencing for 1000 hens, at 



about $1 per hen 1000 



Dwelling house (at the very least) 500 



2000 Leghorn chicks 200 



$3200 



It is not necessary to pay cash for the land, but a 

 heavy indebtedness is a most serious handicap, and 

 a payment of at least one-third cash should be made. 

 It is generally considered that the sale of the 

 cockerels as broilers will pay for the raising of both 

 cockerels and pullets, so we will assume that the 

 pullets at six months of age have cost nothing but 

 the $200 that was paid for the chicks. 



The beginner in the poultry business must expect 

 to lose money the first year and to spend two years 

 in bringing his plant to a paying basis. To be sure 

 the hens will pay their own way if they are bred-to- 

 lay hens, but there are many other expenses, and the 

 man who has not the money for necessary equip- 

 ment and supplies has a difficult task before him. 

 Probably more failures in poultry work are due to 

 beginning with insufficient capital than to any other 

 one thing. 



CHOOSING A BREED 



There is no best breed. This has been said so often 

 that it is axiomatic. Nevertheless, there are best 

 breeds for given purposes, and breeds which seem to 



