22 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



all, for birds at liberty can pick up the greater portion of 

 their living, and we are sure every cottager might make a 

 considerable addition to his income by the keeping of fowls. 

 In France the small farmers and cottagers are they who 

 keep the poultry, and supply the vast numbers of eggs 

 and chickens, not only sent to Great Britain, but consumed 

 at home, for it is estimated that in Paris 160 eggs for 

 every head of the population are used each year. A 

 cottager can easily attend to the birds himself, without 

 interfering with his other work, can feed his birds cheaply, 

 can realise the produce quickly, for there is always a good 

 demand, especially if large houses are at hand, or if in a 

 thickly populated district, and he will find himself a happier 

 and better man for his efforts. 



We have now seen that country and suburban residents, 

 great and small, not only may, but should keep poultry, 

 and next we come to the farmer, who may be regarded as the 

 most important of all, for with him it will be a matter of 

 business, and he may produce upon a large scale if he goes 

 into it at all. He has advantages which no one else 

 possesses, having plenty of room for the birds, food for them 

 at first cost, means of utilising their manure which no one 

 else can have, and can graft poultry keeping on to his 

 other work without any great extra expense. He has also 

 means of getting his produce to market at once, and can 

 make contracts with large consumers, hotels, &c, such as 

 a smaller man cannot. But, of course, the business to be 

 really successful will require thought and attention, which 

 many of our farmers have heretofore refused to give ; but 

 they are at last coming to see that " there is money in it," 

 and it shall be our endeavour to help them in every way, so 

 that they may succeed in their efforts. 



We must not conclude this chapter without answering 

 the question so often put, " Does poultry-keeping pay ? " for 



