Profit of Poultry. 33 



than sulphur, or anything except " Persian powder," the price of which latter is its only objection 

 to the poultry-keeper. 



We have said that the very rudest contrivances answer for nests ; but these must be regularly 

 attended to, for if they become offensive the hens will often drop their eggs on the ground rather 

 than resort to them. We have seen nests in which the straw had been left till nearly rotten, and 

 swarming with vermin. Fern-leaves are disliked by insects, and make a good nest; and sassafras is 

 best of all in localities where it is indigenous; but the staple filling will of course be straw in most 

 instances. Oat straw is best; but whatever it is, it should be well crushed or broken up before 

 being used, and be changed as often as it becomes foul or musty, the dirty straw being thrown 

 along with the manure. 



This last is of very great value. If saved and kept dry in old casks, under cover, it is equal to 

 guano; but very few people will pay a fair price for it, and if there be a garden it should, therefore, 

 be used. It must always be diluted, being either mixed with earth, or put in water and used in the 

 liquid form, and is excellent for almost any crop, but especially green vegetables. The fair value 

 is about seven shillings, or two American dollars, per hundredweight ; but this will seldom be 

 obtained. Nurserymen and gardeners are the most likely purchasers ; but when none such can be 

 found, the droppings can often be sold at about a shilling per bushel to morocco leather-dressers, 

 and this offers the most promising market in a large town. Some definite arrangement should 

 always be made, if possible, regarding this item, where there is no garden to consume it ; as at 

 seven shillings per hundredweight (weighed dry) the droppings of a large-sized fowl are worth 

 about one shilling per annum, and really are worth that to a garden or a farm. 



Feathers are not worth saving in small quantities, but where many fowls are kept they become 

 of value. All may be used, the webs of the larger being stripped from the quills, and the small 

 ones left as they are. The whole must then be placed in paper bags, quite loosely, and hung a 

 few days in a warm place to dry. They should then be baked four times, for half an hour on each 

 occasion, in a cool oven, drying for two days between each baking, when they will be perfectly 

 cured. Half the cheaper feather-beds now sold are made of hen feathers ; and after they are once 

 put in the bags the process is little trouble. 



Respecting the profit of poultry-keeping, opinions — and real experience, too — will somewhat 

 vary. Pamphlets written by those ignorant of the subject have achieved a momentary popularity^ 

 but done much real harm, caused much disappointment and disgust, and occasioned much doubt 

 in many minds as to any profit at all, by the sensational statements that the profit is equal to 

 500 per cent. ; that eggs may be produced at one penny per dozen, and cliickens at threepence 

 per pound. We need hardly say that such statements are preposterous ; they are no doubt 

 very popular, but they are also very inaccurate.* But we never knew poultry, kept judiciously, 

 and systematically looked after, that did not yield a good return, varying perhaps from 25 to 100 

 per cent, according to the circumstances. These differ greatly, and will affect the amount of 

 profit. Where a few fowls are half kept on the kitchen scraps, if these are not charged and no 

 extra expense is incurred for attendance, the profit is very great, and may exceed even 200 per 

 cent, on the actual outlay. On an average, where all the food has to be bought, a large hen 

 will cost from five shillings to six shillings per ai.ium, and she ought to lay 150 eggs in that 

 time, supposing she is chosen, housed, fed, and managed as we have directed. At one penny 

 per egg — a very moderate price now — this would give rather over 100 per cent., not including 



* Thus a pamplilet now particularly in view states the cost of keeping fowls at from one penny to three-halfpence per 

 week, and even at tlie lower figure it will be seen that the bird must lay a dozen eggs J>er week to produce them at the cost 

 stated. 



