few weeks ago, he told me that he did not know the flavor of 

 strictly fresh eggs until he had kept a back yard flock; that he 

 had always supposed he was getting a fresh product, but evi- 

 dently had been eating western or storage stuff; that, after 

 becoming accustomed to near-by hennery eggs, he prefers to go 

 without if he cannot obtain them. This instance is a good 

 illustration of how readily the difference between fresh eggs and 

 the western or storage products can be distinguished by the 

 ordinary consumer when given an opportunity for comparison. 

 There are thousands of people in the State who have never 

 enjoyed the taste of a fresh egg. Again, the serving of in- 

 valids or very small children with eggs that are not strictly 

 fresh may prove a serious matter. 



Profit or Labor Income. 



The profit or labor income from a back yard flock varies as 

 much as that from any other line of work, and possibly more. 

 The experience and capability of the owner, the construction 

 and efiiciency of the house and yard, the vigor and egg-produc- 

 ing qualities of the birds, amount of waste utilized, and method 

 of care and management are all variable factors, and preclude a 

 definite estimate that would serve as a reliable criterion. No 

 doubt there are many back yard poultry keepers who do little 

 more than break even, or may sustain a loss, but such cases are 

 due primarily to lack of experience or interest, poor stock, in- 

 adequate equipment or poor management; in fact, we believe 

 in most cases of this kind that the main factor is carelessness 

 and neglect. Hens are not machines in the true sense of the 

 word, but living beings, and need some attention. The follow- 

 ing data have been sent us by successful back yard poultry 

 keepers, and we are presenting these merely as samples of 

 possibilities in this work, and caution the reader not to be 

 discouraged if he falls far short of these results: — 



A. On Sept. 23, 1916, purchased 12 pullets at $1.50 each, or $18; 

 cost of feed, $28.60; produced 150| dozen eggs, averaging 154.3 eggs 

 per bird, valued at $69.67; 10 birds sold July 21, 1917, at 25 cents per 

 pound, or $18.75 (2 birds died, 1 from disease, 1 from injury). Profit or 

 labor income for ten months, $41.82, or $3.58 per bird, no allowance 

 being made for the value of the poultry manure. 



