384 BROILERS, ROASTERS, AND CAPONS 
the condition of the bird, the character of the range, and whether 
it furnishes an unlimited amount of the best green feed. 
The estimated cost of the average farm broiler during the 
natural season is here given: 
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COB EOF NA OR ae. cies 5 jeccpcenandee Maen e witha 2-8 Dieeriune due Stank ones .02 
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It will be noted that this great reduction in cost is due to the 
lower price of the eggs and the cheaper feed. The comparison 
shows that profit during the winter season depends upon low cost 
of production and good market prices, and that during the natural 
spring season the profits are not remarkable, but the idea is to dis- 
pose of surplus products without loss, and usually with a slight gain. 
There are certain risks which even the broiler grower of es- 
tablished reputation and experience must always run, and these 
are largely beyond his control: (1) A loss from poor hatches due 
to low fertility, and this increases the cost of hatching chicks. 
(2) Loss by death, which may be due to poor management or 
carelessness, or, as is often the case, to white diarrhoea, or some 
inherited weakness or lack of vitality. (3) Losses may be caused 
by fluctuation in market prices; this is especially true if the 
poultryman has started rather late and runs his season too late. 
The usual spring drop in price may catch him with a considerable 
number on hand, which must often be sold below cost. 
Market prices, however, are much more steady during the 
season than formerly, and it is now possible to forecast market 
conditions far ahead of the time for shipment. The chief cause 
of many disappointments and failures in the specialized broiler 
industry lies in the attractive possibilities,—attractive to people 
of limited capital and still less experience,—a combination bound 
to result in failure. The business requires a considerable fixed 
investment of capital in buildings and in incubation and brooding 
equipment. To be profitable the birds must be marketed in prime 
condition. A few days earlier or later than the proper time for 
marketing means either increased cost for feed and labor if they 
are kept too long, or a lower price if marketed too early. 
Many broiler raisers, especially in Southern New Jersey, and 
more especially those who take up the business as a specialized 
