May, 1932] Economic Study of Poultry Farms 25 



There was apparently little correlation between the size of the flock 

 and the mortality since both large and small flocks are well scattered 

 in all the mortality percentage groupings. 



The actual weekly mortality per farm did not vary greatly through- 

 out the year. Losses were slightly heavier during March, April, May 

 and June, the period of heaviest production, averaging over 5 birds per 

 farm per week during that period. At other seasons the losses averaged 

 less than 4 birds per week per farm. 



Estimated at meat prices, the average loss of 218 birds per farm from 

 the laying flock would amount to about $300. The actual loss in many 

 instances may be much greater than the value of the birds for meat, 

 since heavy losses early in the laying period reduce the potential earn- 

 ing capacity of the flock. 



Mortality in old hens, based on number of old hens kept over for a 

 second year, was 18%. Mortality in pullets was 16.2%. The difference 

 is slight and probably not significant. 



Culling 



Out of a maximum number of birds per farm of 1290, culling during 

 the year removed 850, or 66%. Mortality removed another 17%, leav- 

 ing only 17% of the original birds to be inventoried at the end of the 

 year. Heavy culling started about June 15 and reached its peak about 

 October 1, when housing room was needed for the new crop of pullets. 

 Culling from November to May was low and nearly constant, averag- 

 ing about 11 birds per week per farm. 



It is quite probable that too heavy culling of the market-egg birds 

 is practiced on many farms. Such culling during the winter and spring 

 leaves the poultryman with a greatly depleted flock in July and Au- 

 gust. But on the other hand, many poultrymen cull too little. A careful 

 daily check on the condition of individual birds is advisable, as certain 

 birds in good flesh can be taken out and marketed as poultry meat 

 which otherwise in a few days would show marked evidence of decline 

 and would later appear as a loss. 



Culling of healthy birds merely because their production is below 

 certain standards can be carried to extremes. Their removal from the 

 laying flock does not decrease the general overhead. Depreciation, in- 

 surance, taxes and labor usually continue about as before. On a farm 

 that is housing birds to capacity, culling would have little effect on 

 expense except to reduce the total cost of feed. The decision of whether 

 to cull or not can be made largely on the basis of returns in relation 

 to feed cost. For instance, a pen of 100 birds would consume approxi- 

 mately 200 lbs. of feed in a week, which at present prices would cost 

 about $3.50. When eggs are worth 35 cents, ten dozen or 17% pro- 

 duction would pay for the grain ; at 25 cents, fourteen dozen or 24% 

 production would be needed to balance. As long as the equipment, 

 buildings and labor are available, something above feed cost may be 

 better than nothing. 



Or based on a year's production and assuming that a low producer 

 will lay most of her eggs during the low priced spring period, if she is 

 able to lay more than enough to pay for 104 lbs. of feed, this small in- 

 come may be better than none. 



