IS THERE A PROFIT TO BE BADE BY POULTRY KEEPING?

New Zealand Mail, 20 August 1902, Page 47 (Supplement)

IS THERE A PROFIT TO BE BADE BY POULTRY KEEPING?

This is a subject of importance to all poultry keepers, and one which is understood much more thoroughly now than it was five years ago-. Tiiose who go in for poultry keeping on a large scale find three items of expenditure very heavy. These are (1) feeding; (£) rent, and (3) labour. In each respect the poultry keeper who has only a few birds and attends to them himself or they are looked after by his wife in his absence from home, has a distinct advantage over those who have to pay rent specially for the ground to accommodate the birds, and who has to buy most of the food they consume and to pay for labour. We have always advocated tlie value of poultry keeping as an additional source of income to those who either have spare time on their hands, or whose wives have time to attend to the birds, and have an inclination for this branch of work also. In exceptional cases where there is a good demand for poultry and eggs ail the year round, it pays to start a farm to supply this demand, charging all expenses to tliG poultry account, but this has always to be proceeded with in the most cautious manner.

Before commencing to put down a poultry plant one has to be thoroughly experienced in all branches of work in connection with it; to have sufficient capital to carry on tlie place for eighteen months before a regular income can be assured, and to be really fond of hard' work. It has been stated that at the present time there are not any poultry keepers who keep birds purely for utility purposes who are making a living by it. We personally know those who are doing so, but they do not come forward to refute the statements which appear from time to time. We advise all those who have space at their command to go in for poultry keeping on a small scale, and gain experience, and then, as their stock increases in number, they can form some idea as to whether it will pay them to maintain the increased number or not. The prices obtained vary considerably with the locality. In some places it scarcely pays to keep fowls, save for tho convenience of eggs and birds for one’s own table—as the prices are so low. Fortunately this is the exception, as in the majority of cases the demand far exceeds the supply, and this at very ' remunerative prices. The railway companies have for some time offered facilities to the bomb producer by granting good terms for

the conveyance of poultry and eggs and dairy produce at low rates to the cen. tres of disposal. Many of our readers are able to testify that poultry keeping on a small scale pays, and we all know that. quite a number of large connections commence with a very small stock, and are worked up. as the demand increases. «.e have known several people who have years ago worked a couple or broods of ducklings just to see bow they succeeded. They found the birds rvere very little trouble, and yielded a good_ return for the outlay, and this has induced them to go in for a larger number each year, until quite a business has been established. There is no doubt about the value of personal care and attention in the keeping of any class of live stock. The owner takes a greater interest, and does better for bis stock than anyone else can possibly do. and it .is not to large poultry farms that we must look in .the near future for the increase in production of table poultry and eggs, but to small producers, who are increasing in great numbers every year. There are amongst these people of different classes those who keep their" fowls simply as a hobby, and others who. while loving their birds find it essential to make them pay their way; and then there are those Avho must make them pay, or give up altogether. By understanding their requirements there is no reason why all classes should not make them a success, but where one goes in for fancy houses and beautifully fitted-up runs it would be unfair to expect the birds to pay for these. Those who indulge in these luxuries must be prepared to pay for - them, and it is a great source of delight to many wealthy people to encourage the younger members of their families in the keeping of poultry. This branch of industry provides much healthy occupation for those who have time, and we know of no other hobby which can be made so pleasant and profitable. There is a very contended look about a run of well-bred fowls, which are kept in good condition, and the hatching of the young birds and watching their growth is a source -of delight to many of the young people, as well as to their elders. There are several rules which must be observed by those who go in for poultry keeping, whether it be for profit or pleasure, if they are to make a real success of their birds. If .they require typical birds of the breeds they go in for, those of thoroughly reliable strains must be purchased, as it does not pay to breed from second-rate birds with the hope of improving them year after year, as even from the best there are sure to be a number of birds which do not come up to the desired standard. Therefore if one wants thoroughly representative birds they should go in for a less lumber, and have these of the very best, as there is more satisfaction in breeding from the birds of this class when form and symmetry, with beauty of colouring, are desired in preference to any useful qualities. Where bjrds are wanted principally for laying purposes they should be procured from the finest laying strains obtainable, as it does not pay to feed pullets from which eggs are wanted unless they • are bred from the right class of birds for laying. AVhen fowls are selected year after year on account of their splendid laying qualities they produce profitable progeny. This has been where many people have in years gone by made a great mistake. They have paid no regard as to the laying qualities of their birds, but have set eggs just as they have come, and then been disappointed when the winter has been passing away that their birds have not been laying. Too mnich stress cannot be laid oil the importance of the laying strain of birds. We have known many people who have purchased pullets in the autumn at from six to eight shillings each which have paiu for their food and for their cost by" Christmas, as they have averaged five eggs per week, which have sold well when eggs were scarce, and then during the spring they have continued to lay well, and after the purchase of a male bird have bred a few good chickens, which, in their turn have proved as satisfactory as their parents. We contend it pays better to invest in six or eight pullets of this class than to purchase a dozen for feeding, and in return yield a very small percentage of profit, and in many cases do not even pay for their food. Thus it will be seen that selection of layers is very necessary. When table birds are to be bred it is also very essential that good layers are purchased of the breeds most suitable for breeding table poultry, as unless eggs are obtained in the aufiumn and early winter they cannot be set in time to produce the birds for the best sales, as the early birds fetch much better, prices than the later ones—and in order to get these, early eggs must be obtained, and for these good layers are not only essential but absolutely necessary.