POULTRY FARMING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9467, 9 June 1909, Page 8

POULTRY FARMING.

Many people imagine that it’s an easy matter to make a living out of fowls. They base their calculations on the profits shown on a few hens—probably a dozen like the top pens in some laying competitions. A pen of six may lay 1500, eggs per annum, value at Id each, £6 ss; cost of feeding at 6s per hen, £1 16s; profit, £4 9s. Six hundred hens at snob rate would return a profit (on paper) of £445. No allowance is made for houses, yards, and many other expenses incidental to poultry-keeping. The/ profit of £4 9s per pen of six only refers to the time when the pullets are in foil lay. No notice is taken of the previous six months’ feed bill, cost of rearing and hatching, etc. Then there is the difficulty of procuring 600 hens that will lay 250 eggs per annum—nn almost impossible feat. To obtain a flock with a 200 record is no easy task. Every trade most be learned. Some people imagine that no previous knowledge and less capital is required to embark on poultry farming. Such people will soon find out their mistake and probably pay dearly for it. Much better to spend a year or two with a practical man before venturing on your own. Go slowly. Handle a few fowls first, increase the number each year. Don’t spend a lot of money on plant, etc., before yon understand the business. Although poultry is a profitable auxiliary to any farm, only the smartest men can make a good living (from poultry alone. Much more money can be made by combining poultry with some other business, such as fruit-growing, dairying, or farming.