The Portland Daily Press

Poultry Raising.

When rightly managed, poultry raising is unquestionably a profitable business. There is always a good market for eggs and poultry, and at certain seasons it is not uncommon for those products to sell at prices fabulously high. The consumption of eggs is enormous. As an article of commerce they take a very respectable rank. The following not uninteresting figures taken from Prof. A. Carbeti's valuable work entitled "The Poultry Yard and Market," enable one to form some idea of the commercial aspects of the poultry business. In New York and Boston alone the value of poultry sold amounts $6,000,000. During the years 1872-3 the United States imported eggs from Europe to the value of $1,421,030. Yet nowhere is poultry raising regarded with more favor than by the French people. In no other country is it carried to such perfection as in France. In no other country does the business assume so large proportions and contribute so greatly to the commercial welfare of the nation. The value of eggs and poultry annually produced and sold by those people amounts to $80,000,000, or $2.22 to each inhabitant of France.

Such are a few statistics in regard to a business, which at first thought may seem small and insignificant, but which is really of great value and importance. Those who are specially engaged in raising poultry and furnishing the market with eggs, cannot find a more paying occupation. Its apparent smallness certainly need not be any objection to engaging in it, and those who can take hold of the business and conduct it in accordance with certain methods, which experience has proved indispensable, are not likely to fail of success. The greatest errors, however, prevail in regard to the matter of keeping fowls. The most absurd figures are often given to show how much can be made from a flock of hens during the year. It is generally supposed that anybody and everybody, who may own land of more or less acres, can keep them profitably either in large or small numbers without regard whatever to the size or condition of their apartments, and the amount of profit altogether, depends on the number kept. The total income of one hen for the year is thought to be small at $5.00; the total expenses of keeping the same is thought to be large at $1.00 per year. By using artificial incubators the profit can be doubled. The care and labor need not be very great, at least not enough to interfere at all with the various other departments of the farm. Such ideas are of no more value practically, than so many crooked pins. They only serve to show to what extent the "hen fever" will prevent one's sober judgment. It is estimated by those who are disposed to treat the question fairly, that a hen will lay about one hundred and fifty eggs during the year, which is fully as high an estimate as can be allowed. The best of hens under the most favorable conditions will hardly reach that number, and a flock will each average much less. There is no doubt but artificial incubators can be employed with good results, yet the greatest success does not by any means depend on their being used.

Fowls require a great deal of attention. A knowledge of their wants and habits is indispensable. Unceasing vigilance is the price of chickens. Upon the strictest observance of these points and many others seemingly small, depends success in raising poultry, rather than the employment of artificial incubators. Failures in poultry raising owing in most cases to causes easily ascertained, are of common occurrence. Some contend that the way to avoid all risks is to keep small numbers; that a small flock of fowls will pay better than one twice as large; that to employ much capital involves increased care and labor, and greater danger of loss from want of adequate accommodations; that in short it does not pay. It is true that in keeping a small number of hens the owner avoids a little risk, and at the same time it is equally true that he loses all chance of making anything. That it is unwise to keep large numbers of fowls and to employ much capital in the business, we do not believe. In fact, if poultry raising is to be made to pay at all it must be conducted on a large scale. The profit of one hen is not large enough to make the keeping of a small number of them profitable. It is nearly as much labor to care for twenty-five or thirty as it would be to take care of four times as many; with the necessary experience and amply provisions for their wants, it is better to keep not less than five hundred, than it is to keep one hundred. As the facilities for their management are enlarged the number might be increased to any desirable limit with a corresponding increase in the profits.

In order that this may be successfully carried out and made to yield good profits to the owner, the business must be made a specialty. It is by not making it a specialty, that accounts in nine cases out of ten for its failures, when conducted upon a large scale. In every case where it is attempted to make it subordinate to some other business, it invariably ends in complete failure. In every case where the owner has made poultry raising his chief interest, it has resulted in complete success.

Very frequently, claims are made that the farmer is the best fitted for engaging in the poultry business. The idea is absurd. That a common farmer can engage in poultry raising and follow it successfully and in the meantime do justice to his farm, is impossible. It has often been tried, and as often failed. Instances without number have occurred where a farmer being led to double or treble his flock of hens, already too large, has had occasion at a later period to repent of the undertaking, either by losing nearly all of his fowls or by finding that he has had his labors for his pains, so far as their paying him anything is concerned; or possibly he may have wisely determined to indemnify himself against further loss at least, by wringing their necks at the first convenient opportunity.

The fact is, successful poultry raising and successful farming admit of no connection whatever. The former does not, as is the case with raising beef and mutton, increase the productiveness of the farm or add to its owners' income from it. It is a business which, if made a specialty, would be highly remunerative, becomes in the hands of the farmer an utter failure in itself, and besides is positively detrimental to his other interests. A flock of forty or fifty fowls for the specialist would be too small; for the farmer it is too large. As ordinarily managed, such a flock do not pay the value of their feathers during the whole period of their lives; under the best management the profits would not be enough to warrant the labor and expense involved.

Fowls when allowed to range during the summer season, are the farmer's worst enemies. Nothing that is planted within hailing distance of buildings escapes their ravages. They are proof against all bribes, threats, or persuasive arguments. They bid defiance to anything short of a well-loaded shot gun. The amount of mischief they cause depends of course on their numbers. Twenty-five hens would be of less harm than forty or fifty, and eight or ten would be of little trouble. From eight to a dozen hens seems to be about the right number for the farmers to keep. Such a number would be likely to furnish the necessary supply of eggs and poultry for the table; and being of an improved breed would lend some ornament to premises without giving much offense to the feelings of the guest, or taxing much the patience of the farmer.-Home Farm.