30 



BULLETIX 716, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTUKE. 



Receipts from poultrj' and eggs varied on individual farms from 

 $G1 to over $300. Of the 25 farms 8 received less than $100 annually 

 from this source, 7 received from $100 to $'200, and 10 received over 

 $200. The number of chickens kept varied from GO to 330, with an 

 average of ICA per farm. Table V shows the average receipts per 

 farm and per hen from the different-sized flocks. Flocks of 201 to 

 330 hens, with such returns as shown in the table, did not of them- 

 selves make high labor incomes for their owners, but the sales of 

 chickens and eggs from these flocks constituted 23 per cent of the 

 farm receipts, and the fanners made fair labor incomes. The data 

 do not indicate that a flock of this size is the maximum-sized flock 

 that may profitably be kept in this are.a, for the flocks of over 200 

 hens brought higher returns per hen than those of fewer than 200, 

 and their owners realized considerably higher labor incomes. The 

 magnitude of the poultry enterprise may well be increased on prac- 

 tically all farms of the township. For those who at present have 

 small flocks it may not be desirable rapidly to increase their flocks, 

 but the}^ could well be gradually increased as experience and skill in 

 the management of poultry flocks is acquired, until every farm 

 realizes over $200 annually from the sales of chickens and eggs. In 

 fact, the flocks in Palmer Township could safely be increased so that 

 in a few years the income from poultrj^ and eggs would be doubled. 

 The poultry enterprise was the source of the largest item of income 

 on nine of tlie farms and of second larg'est on six farms. In addition 

 to this enterprise being one of the leading sources of income, it is 

 further commendable because its receipts are distributed throughout 

 the 3^ear. They are greatest during the spring and early summer 

 months, but there is not a month of the year without some receipts 

 from this source. Poultry is also of considerable importance as a 

 source of the home food supply. 



Table V. — Relation of nuviber of chickens kept per farm to receipts per Tien on 

 25 farms {Palmer Township, Washington County, Ohio.). 



Classification of farms. 



Number 

 of flocks. 



Average 

 number 



of 

 chickens 

 per farm. 



Receipts 



from 

 chickens 

 and eggs 

 per farm. 



Receipts 

 per hen. 



Farms keeping— 



60-100 chickens 



6 

 14 

 5 



88 

 156 

 274 



$82 

 157 

 295 



$0.93 



101-200 chickens 



1.01 



201-330 cliickens 



1.08 



All farms 







25 



164 



167 



1.02 







As already pointed out, 40 per cent of the farms realized annually 

 ove $200 from poultry and eggs, and this was accomplished with- 

 out serious interference with the other farm operations. 



