^5 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



In the meantime, however, the average dairyman needs an additional 

 income to add to the small profits for his dairy. An industry that re- 

 quires but little outlay, and one that returns a large and constant per cent 

 -of profit should be selected, and in this connection "Poultry as an adjunct 

 to the dairy" seems to fit most adn: : rably. 



Poultry culture is succeptible of being made a profitable business 

 "by itself, but it requires as aptitude for the business and considerable 

 special training besides, for one to embark in the field of poultry cul- 

 ture, to the exclusion of other wo 't k.There are, however, several very 

 good reasons why it is especially adapted to chink in as a very profitable 

 aid to the dairy. First, because it is on a farm where there is always 

 plenty of room for a free range. As a dairy farm is also a grain farm 

 for the production of food for the cow, there is always more or less waste 

 of grain that poultry would gather and convert into one of the most nec- 

 essary- and luxurious products, without expense. Innumerable insects 

 are also converted by poultry into the same valuable product. Skim 

 milk, a product of the dairy, when fed to poultry has been made to pro- 

 duce more than 40 per cent more profit than grain fed alone. Many dairies 

 require more milkers than are necessary to do the other work, and the 

 utilizing of such labor can be made a valuable factor of profit, by its be- 

 ing systematically used in caring for poultry. The cost to the dairy far- 

 mer of installing a poultry plant would be little, because of the many 

 learns, sheds, cribs, stacks, etc., upon so many dairy farms. They make 

 Ideal places for biddy to deposit her egg, and I believe tend to a large 

 production. 



The natural instinct of the domestic fowl to hide her nest is nohyet 

 entirely eradicated, and I am not sure but that it should be observed as an 

 important factor in egg production, and in but few places would the op- 

 portunity be so favorable as upon the dairy farm. When such excep- 

 tional conditions exist, and the systematic care is given the hen, that 

 should be given the cow, the dairy farmer may reasonably expect a much 

 larger per cent of profit from fiis fowls than from his cows. 



