THE PROFIT PER HEN

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 114, 10 November 1934, Page 15

THE PROFIT PER HEN

A favourite question with novices is how much piofit can bo made per hen, and 'no satisfactory answer can be given. Feeding costs per lien run from 8s to 15s per hen per annum, according to management, whilst the average lelurn per dozen eggs varies from Is {til to Is Bd. at a <flock aver* age from pullets, and* hens of 12 to JA dozw per bird can be obtained, thpn tlie management can be considered excellent. The profits made depend vefry <nuch on the priu« of wJn»t «i»d v the pries reeeW«d for egg*, but when these ur» constant thft. proiits from two individual poultrymtn May vary verjr *anslderably/ just 41 they wtll in any bufu-' net t f , according- to the ability; of' the manager. It is a htiittke to'reckon thut because twenty or'»» Henn in * bacls; *yar4 show a profit of, tny %}, a, hit A, 1000 birds will show a profit of £IOPO. TTsuHlly one man and a- boy can lopk after 1000 to 1500 'layers and if a wage-incomo of £300 is earned the management'will not \>o sprlptisly at fault. , Sopie capital shpuld always be available for unexpected extensions. If, feed >■» purchased at cash rates |adiscount *>ll redues v costs, and reserve capital is always useful for cool storing or preserving eggs during the lOTfrprice senon, Jht clever breeder will

aoon build up a name for his stock, and stud sales will follow, making a useful sideline to the main business of commercial egg pioduction. Whilst practical experience is essential to sue cess, it is better that this be procured at somebody else's expense. Many" oi our leading egg producers have built up their flocks from a small beginning, working at their tiade unul suth time as thdy had gained sufficient experience to stnit out iv a larger wa>. It is always difficult to sell an estab hshed poultry farm at anything like cost puce, partly owing to tho fact that so many commence operations only to find that the supposed profits aie too difficult to earn.