322 



POULTRY CULTURE 



it is best to use returnable boxes very substantially built, with 

 covers held in place with bolts and nuts, and with handles on the 

 ends for convenience in lifting. For long-distance shipments and 

 for lots which it may be desired to hold in storage, such light boxes 

 as the poultry packers use are more suitable. Packers making many 

 grades of poultry and assorting carefully as to size use boxes of 

 different dimensions, to fit one or two dozen birds of each size. 

 The producer will usually find it more satisfactory to use a few 

 standard-sized boxes adapted to the sizes of birds of which he ships 

 most, putting fewer large birds, and a large number of small ones, 

 in a box. While the dozen is a convenient numerical division, 

 poultry nearly always is sold by weight 1 and even when the trade 

 prefers one- or two-dozen lots, an occasional package containing 

 less or more than the round number will sell as readily as the rest. 

 Styles of box packing are shown in Figs. 326-328. 



STANDARD SIZES OF BOXES 



Inches inside 



For 1 2 broilers, 24 Ib. and under per dozen . . . 1 6 x 1 5 x 3 \ 



For 12 broilers, 25 to 30 Ib. per dozen 17x16x4 



For 12 chickens, 30 to 35 Ib. per dozen . . . . 18x17x4 



For 12 chickens, 43 to 47 Ib. per dozen . . . . 21x19x4! 



For 12 roasters, 48 to 59 Ib. per dozen . . . . 19x16x8 



For 12 fowl, 54 Ib. and upward per dozen . . . . 19x16x8 



For 12 ducks, 54 Ib. per dozen 19x16x8 



For 1 2 fowl, 60 Ib. per dozen 18x17x9 



For 12 fowl, 38 Ib. and under per dozen . . . . 14 x I2| x 7 



For 12 chickens, 30 to 40 Ib. per dozen . . . . 151 x 14 x 6\ 



For 1 2 average turkeys or geese . . . . . . . 24 x 1 9 x 1 1 



Boxes for the smallest birds may be made of 1-inch stuff for sides, and 

 ^-inch for ends ; boxes for birds of medium weight, of -| inch stuff for sides 

 and | inch for ends ; those for heavy-weight birds, of \ inch stuff for sides 

 and | inch for ends. If many boxes are needed, it will pay to buy regulation 

 sizes in knockdown bundles, or, if there is a box factory near to have stuff got 

 out to measure there and put it together as wanted. Sometimes empty packing 

 cases of suitable material can be bought so cheap that the poultryman can afford 

 to cut them up and make his own packing boxes at odd times. 



1 There are a few places where birds are sold at so much apiece, or so much a 

 dozen, without regard to weight. 



