30 
BULLETIN 716. U. S. DEPAEIMEXT OF AGEICTLTL'EE. 
Receipts from poultry and eggs varied on individual farms from 
$61 to over $300. Of the 25 farms S received less than 8100 annually 
from this source. 7 received from $100 to $200. and 10 received over 
$200. The number of chickens kept varied from 60 to 330, with an 
average of 164 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 farmers 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 area, 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 they could well be gradually increased as experience and skill in 
the management of poultry flocks is acquired, until every farm 
realizes over 8200 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 poultry and eggs would be doubled. 
The poultry enterprise was the source of the largest item of income 
on nine of the farms and of second largest* 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 year. 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 number of chieJcens kept per farm to receipts per hen on 
25 farms (Palmer Township, Washington County, Ohio.). 
Classification of farms. 
Average 
Number I number 
of flocks. 
of 
chickens 
Receipts 
from 
chickens 
and eggs 
per farm, per farm. 
Receipts 
per hen. 
Farms keeping — 
60-100 chickens 
101-200 chickens . 
6 
14 
156 
274 
s^2 
157 
295 
SO. 93 
1.01 
201-330 chickens 
1.0S 
All farms 
25 
164 
167 
1.02 
As already pointed out. -iO 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. 
