Show If VALUE ALUE OF FLOCK OF LAYING HENS Flock of Seven in Washington D. D C. C Supplied Large Fam Family ily fly With Eggs 1 PRODUCED AT LITTLE COST Table Scraps and Kitchen Waste Which Would Otherwise Be Be Thrown Away Were Utilized Utilized- There Was No Cost of Equipment The value of a small flock of laying hens on a town or village lot or In Ina ina ina a city back yard should not be under under- estimated Even as few as sir six or eight hens should produce eggs eggs enough where used economically for a family of four or five persons throughout the entire year except during the molting period of the fall and early winter The product of such a flock both in inthe inthe the form of eggs and and fowls for the table may be produced at a relatively low cost because of the possibility of utilizing table scraps and kitchen waste which would otherwise be thrown away So many records of yard back-yard flocks have shown profit that there can be beno beno beno no question but what yard back poultry poultry poultry poul poul- try keeping is profitable under the proper conditions The record Of of a small fl flock ck kept In Washington during during dur duro ing the past year throws some light lighton on what can cnn be accomplished under conditions that prevailed during that time The flock consisted of seven hens which were bought December 18 1917 for This flock was carrIed carried carried car car- ried through the ensuing year Two were killed and eaten the other five were carried the rest of the summer and continued to lay until September 18 La the day on which the last egg was produced Contributory Causes to Success Two things should be kept in mindIn mind mindin in connection wIth this flock first that the number of hens hens was small and second that the family in the household concerned was much larg larger r than the average with the result that thata a considerably greater amount of table scraps was was available for feeding the the hens than would be the case In the peerage family or with a larger flock fiock The hens started laying In January the egg production by months being as follows January 21 February Februarys 74 March larch April May Muy June Tune July August September 43 This gives a tot total l egg production of or or 71 5 12 dozens The feed which was purchased d and fed to these hens during this period and in fact which was sufficient to carry the hens until December 1 1918 cost 7 There was no cost of equipment in coring caring for the hens During the winter winter win win- ter the flock ock was confined to a corner of the cellar which was was' partitioned off by means of old oid screens and screen doors A board was placed by a window window win win- dow which allowed the hens to get outdoors during the bright days On the rest of ot the winter days they were confined to the cellar During the spring and summer the henS were allowed allowed al 01 al- al lowed ved to run in the sm small U back yard and roosted in hi an ordinary goods dry-goods bor boX which was placed under the back p porch Small boxes were used for tests Actual Results in Figures Th Tb original cost of the hens was r o. o Added to this is the cost of feed making a total cost for acquiring and maintaining the flock fiock of 1281 The returns from eggs figured figured fig fig- tired on the basis of 40 cents a dozen which is very conservative amounted to 10 28 2850 O. O The two hens eaten were wereth th the largest of the flock fiock and averaged at least five pounds in weight At 30 cents a pound the value of these hens amounted therefore to 3 Thus the tile total Income from the flock was while the total expenses were 1281 i leaving a return over cost of fowls and cost of feeding of 1869 1860 This figure however does not take into account account account ac ac- ac- ac count the value of the five hens on band hand These would average at least four tour pounds J Ju n wel weight ht so that at SO 0 l. l if cents cents' a pound each hen would be worth This would add to the 1 credit balance 6 and would therefore therefore therefore there there- fore show a profit on the hens on s September September Sep Sep- p- p 18 of 2469 2449 It will be noted that the egg production for the nine m months involved was very good eggs a hen and It should be stated in inthis inthis this connection that the man of the house is a butcher and was frequently frequent frequent- ly y able to bring home horne scraps of meat which were fed to the the- hens and which undoubtedly contributed greatly to the favorable egg production t tIt It will b be noted that this city flock fiock was kept under adverse conditions in inso inso inso so far as shelter was concerned yard Back flocks should be properly housed and where possible should be provided with a covered run for use when the weather Is rough The small house with run attached shown in the illustration above is suggested as fillIng fill fill- I Ing lug the needs for a few hens kept under under under un un- un- un der town or city conditions TABLE SCRAPS MAKE EGGS GGS j X I j There is a certain aln amount of j t 1 table scraps and kitchen kitcher waste I which has feeding value but I j which if not fed finds Its way was j I into the garbage pall pail In every household no matt matter r how economical eco eco- S r II the housew housewife e. e E Poultry is the only class of y j domestic animals which is suitable suit suit- j l 1 able for converting this Waste aste I material right where it Is produced produced pro pro- i in IIi the city into wholesome wholesome wholesome whole whole- some and nutritious food in the form of eggs eggs and nd poultry meat t 0 0 0 n. n 0 Hints on Marketing Eggs Uniform products command the best prices Pure-bred Pure fowls produce uniform uniform uniform uni uni- form products Begin marketing the cockerels ad soon as they weigh one and one-half one pounds or attain a marketable weight Market white shelled and brown- brown shelled eggs in separate packages When sel selling ng eggs to the country merchant or ash buyer Insist that the transaction be on the quality basis I Ship or deliver eggs twice or three times weekly Small or dirty eggs should be used at home Infertile eggs will withstand mar mh marketing marketing conditions ns much better than fertile fertile eggs Kind of Fowls to Keep Householders usually desire not only ony eggs for the table and for cooking but also an occasional chicken to eat For this reason one of the purpose general-purpose breeds such as the Plymouth Rock Hock Wyandotte Rhode Island Red or Orpington Orpington Or Or- is preferable to the smaller egg breeds such as the Leghorns Not only do the mature fowls of these bre breeds ds because of their larger size make better table fowls than the Leghorns Leghorns Leg Leg- horns but the young chickens for the same reason make better friers and roasters whereas chickens of the the egg egg eggI breeds are only suitable for lor th the smaller smaller smaller smal smal- I ler broilers Cheaper Than Than Beef In many parts of r the country especially espe esper dally on farms chicken is p probably o much cheaper than beef beet as only the cost of production needs to be con con- When chickens and for that matter any poultry can be raised with little labor lubor and can find roost most of ot their food or use up otherwise Useless Useless use useless Use Use- less table refuse skim milk etc they ought to be a very economical and agreeable substitute for pork and b beef et and t could be used liberally Culling the Flock Cull out and prepare for market nil all fowls fowl old or young which appear weak slow or tor dull fowls with drooping droop droop- ing tails taUs rough plumage or crow crow- shaped heads all aU scrubs except tb these se which have laying points all 1111 liens hens which molt early and andall all nIl males except ex except ex tx those strong vigorous and mi of i a apure apure apure pure type desired for tor breeding Poultry More Popular The rapid Increase in th the amount of ot poultry raised for th the table in this tIlls country is strong proof that it la lu becoming be be- coming more and more more popular and although it may not deserve Its popularity popularity popularity larity on on the grounds of strict economy economy economy econ econ- omy it cert certainly does earn it if by i its attractive flavor easy Ut- Ut and aDd the pleasant variety It meat meal list t T- T r neg |