A Proof that Fowls will Pay.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 183, 18 December 1886, Page 7

A Proof that Fowls will Pay.

An Auckland gentleman, who, we believe, keep* Black Hambitrgs, aupplioa us with the following account of his poultry keeping operatiooß during last aeason :— " Although only an amateur with fowls, i and this only my second year's exporionce, the result has astonished me. Of course I had some excellent advice from an old experionced hand which often served me in stead. I did not keep an account the tirat year, but am certain the fowls did not pay me so well. I started with fifteen hens in a small place not more than 50 x 37ft, ai tho allotment iv as only 99 x 37tt. They hnd very little green feed, but I used to cut a little gtass from the road or an empty allotment near at hand, and I never allowed them out of my own small ynid. They laid me well when eggs were at 2s per dozen. I kept a daily account, and valued the oggs weekly at retail price. Foi the year I had one hundred and seventy seven dozen and a half (177-J doz.) eggs, which amounted to £10 9s 6ri, or on an average Is 2d per doicn. I sold ten hens for 12s (3d, or an average of Is 3d each, and hud on hand at the end of the year, out of chickens reared, &c., 27 hens. Tho principal food I gave them wab maize and wheat, but to foice on laying when the eggs wero at Is 6d and 2s per do/,. I fed them hugely on bran and ahaips with a little Cayenne pepper and boiling water. Of course all tho scraps out Of tho kitchen they had as well, which I teckon cost me nothing. I may say they wero almost vegetal ian birds, as> they got very little flosh meat. The total cost for feeding for the jcar was £4 G=< ; so that you can readily they were a source of gieat profit, even if you allowed a big uiaigin for the food from the kitchen. i Expenditure. £ a d 15 hens to emit, at 2s 1 10 0 Maize, wheat, &c. for j ear .. _ i GO 5 16 0 Income. 177J doz eggs at Is LM 10 9 0 10 hens sold at la 3d 12 6 27 hens on Land at 2a 2 14 jj 13 1G 0 Leaving a nett profit of £8, or 10s Sd por head •I tie onginKl stock.