PROFITS FROM POULTRY 31 



Many women have been successful as fanciers and as poultry 

 breeders. As a rule, women succeed much better with the brooding 

 and care of little chicks, as they are willing to give them careful 

 attention during the critical period. To the extent of paying 

 attention to details, women make the best poultry keepers, and 

 are usually very successful in making small flocks pay. 



Invalids are attracted to poultry keeping in a small way, as it is 

 an occupation with much outdoor work. The work is not heavy, 

 yet the poultry keeper must be out in all kinds of weather. If the 

 sickness is such that this is impossible, the work should not be 

 attempted. An invalid engaged in poultry keeping may expect to 

 make some part of his living from it. If he increases in physical 

 strength, he may increase the plant accordingly. One may safely 

 enter the business feeling that he is not physically unfitted for the 

 work required, provided he likes it and has the perseverance to 

 push ahead. 



Increase Fertility of the Soil. Aside from the commercial value 

 of the poultry manure there is a great increase in the fertility of 

 the land over which the birds run. On a general farm it is prob- 

 ably more economical to use all the poultry manure than to attempt 

 to sell it. The fertilizing constituents of poultry droppings in the 

 fresh state are about as follows: Nitrogen and phosphoric acid 

 each 16 pounds and potash 8 pounds in a thousand pounds of 

 droppings. Poultry manure is the richest of all the farm manures. 

 Compared with commercial fertilizers the three ingredients men- 

 tioned make the fresh droppings worth about $7.50 per ton. The 

 manure should be carefully collected and used as a concentrated 

 fertilizer for farm crops. 



Utilize Waste Products. Poultry help to save many waste 

 seeds and grains on the general farms. They consume many of 

 the by-products which otherwise would be an entire loss. This is 

 true of inferior fruits and vegetables, and refuse from the table. 

 Many insects and weed seeds are consumed. A market value can 

 be realized on these when selling poultry products. 



Disadvantages of Poultry Keeping. The business may at times 

 demand more hard work and sacrifice of time than is agreeable to 

 the parties concerned. Even with modern methods of sanitation 

 there will be occasional outbreaks of contagious disease which will 

 cause a large loss of life and greatly diminish profits. 



Profits from Poultry. The first question asked of any business 

 is, " Does it pay?" It can safely be said that poultry keeping pays 



