352 



COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



Costs. — Leghorn breeders will do well to take advantage of 

 this market whenever possible, since it means a very fair profit, 

 and it also offers an opportunity to relieve any congestion in the 

 colony houses. It is comparatively easy to bring Leghorns to 

 weigh a pound in six weeks' time, and under normal circumstances 

 the cost of production, including the original value of the egg and 

 its incubation, together with the labor and expense of dressing 

 and shipping, should not exceed twenty-five cents. This leaves 

 a net profit of twenty-five cents per bird — nothing to brag about, 



^*t.t t,,i^tn 



^California Experiment Station) 

 Fig. 228. — Plans for a 2-compartment fattening crate. 



perhaps, yet all things considered it is a very fair return on the 

 investment. This profit will defray the expense of maintaining 

 a pullet for two months. 



When Prices Are Low. — When prices on young chickens fall 

 below twenty cents per pound live weight, as they do in July and 

 August, there is very little profit to be had over the cost of pro- 

 duction, especially for Leghorns weighing about two pounds each. 

 The market is usually so glutted that buyers can afford to dis- 

 criminate in favor of the heavier breeds. At such times, rather 

 than sacrifice the shipments, it will pay the poultryman to fatten 



