May, 1932] Economic Study of Poultry Farms 13 



Table 8 — Farm products and estimated value used in home 



(Average 23 farms) 



Estimated 



Product value 



Pork $1.09 



Coal 1.39 



Wood 71 .09 



Poultry 5.43 



Fowl 27.09 



Broilers 2.93 



Roasters 2.83 



Eggs 43.70 



Milk 37.09 



Garden 46.09 



Miscellaneous 2.69 



Butter 6.96 



$248.38 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF MANAGEMENT 



In a general way in the group of 23 farms, flock management prac- 

 tices were fairly well standardized. However, the details of manage- 

 ment, which in many cases are the determining factors in success or 

 failure, varied on the different farms. 



Breeding Stock 



Most New Hampshire poultrymen have used pullets for breeding 

 stock for many years, and the enviable record of hatchability and liv- 

 abilty of chicks indicates that this practice has not lowered the vitality 

 of the stock. Increased egg production and size of bird indicate that 

 progress has been made in breeding under the pullet system. Of late 

 years, however, due mainly to prevailing lower prices of fowl and 

 broilers, more poultrymen are making a practice of keeping over the 

 best 20% of the birds for the second laying year and securing hatching 

 eggs from these pens. 



It has been estimated that 90% of the poultry population of the State 

 are heavy breeds with Reds greatly predominating. The 23 flocks in 

 this study were divided as follows : 19 Reds, 2 White Leghorns, 1 Reds 

 and Leghorns, and 1 Reds and Rocks. 



The New Hampshire Reds are an exceptionally early maturing 

 strain. They mature at from four to five months, and have a body 

 weight of 4!/2 to 5% pounds when housed, and usually 6 or 6V2 pounds 

 at the end of the first laying year. Certain strains exceed this weight. 



Management of Layers and Breeders 



The birds are housed in permanent quarters in pens of 100 to 300 at 

 about the time laying commences. Very few poultrymen have yards for 

 the lavers, and in most cases the birds are never allowed out of doors 

 after being placed in the laying pens. 



