Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1919 — VALUE OF FLOCK OF LAYING HENS [ARTICLE]

VALUE OF FLOCK OF LAYING HENS

Flock of Seven in 'Washington. D. C.. Supplied Large Family With Eggs. PRODUCED AT LITTLE COST Table Scraps and Kitchen Waste Which Would Otherwise Be Thrown Away We re Utilize d—• There Was No Cost of Equipment. The value of a small flock of laying hens on a town or village lot or in a City back yard should not be undef--estrmntrd. Evetras few :t* six nr -ci-ghr hens should .produce eggs enough, where used economically. for a family of four pr five persons throughout the entire year, except during the moitinu -period of the fall and early winter. The product of spelt a flock, both in the form of eggs and fowls for the tablv. may l»e produced nt n reterttvtdy’ low cost, because of thp possibility of utilizing table scraps and kitchen waste A' Inch woitkl.._ otherwise . b" thrown away. So many records of back-yard flock* have shown profit that there can be no question but what back-yard poultry keeping is profitable under the proper conditions. The record of a small flock kept in Washington during the past year throws some light on what ettn be -accomplished updor conditions that prevailed -during thill time. The flock consisted of seven hens which were bought December 18. 1917, for §5.80. This flock was carried 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. the day on which the last egg was produced. . Contributory Causes to Success. ' Two things should be kept'Ln mind in connection with tins~Tlbck; first, that the number of hens-was small; a»«<- second, that tjie family in. the household, concerned was -much larger thati the ft vera ge vi t h 11 te ■ resn+c t hat a considerably greater amount of table scraps was available for feeding the hens than would be the case in the, average, family or-with a larger flock The hens started laying in January, tfie egg production by months being as follows: January. 21; February. 74; March. 132; April. 120; May. 140; June 112; July. 1071 August,> IOS; September.. 43; This gives a total egg production of $57. er 71 5-12 dozens.— The feed’which was and fed. to these hens during this period, and in fact which was sutiicient to carry .the hens until December 1. Tel'', cost $7.01.0 —There -was no cost of equipmflny in caring for the hens. During jive winter the flock was confined to a cbrner of the cellar, wlmh was partitioned off by means of old screens and screen doors. A board, was placed by a-sxvin-dow which allowed the liens- to get outdoors during the bright days. On the res: of the winter days they were coufiued t<> the cellar. During the spring and summer the hens were allowed to run in.the small back yard, and roosted in an ordinary tlry-gooiD -box which was placed under portdirSmall" boxes' -were used 'for nests. ‘ Actual Recults in Figures. -A The original .cost of the tens was $5.80. Added to this is the cost of feed, $7.01. making a total cost for acquiring and maintaining the flock, of $12.81. The returns from .eggs figured on the basis of 40 cents a dozen, which is very conservative, amounted to $28.50. The two hens eaten . were the largest of the flock and averaged at least five pounds in weighty At 30 oents a pound the value of -these liens amounted therefore to $3. Thus, the total income from the flock was $31.50, while the total expenses were $12.81, leaving a return over cost of fowls and cost of. of /$18.69. This figure, however, does not jtake frito account the value of the five hens on hand- These would average at least four pounds W weight, ao that, at 3(1

ec ii.r s u poundeach hen wimld bc ■worth- s+;2tf.= 'Phis’ wotfld ndd to the <r< slit balance s(>. and would therefore show a profit on the hens on September 18 of $24.69. It will be noted, that the egg production for the nine mon: 1/s involved—was—very goxal, 136 eggs 'a lien, aml it should be sfinted in this connection that Hie im.fi of the ■flbfise 'D a hotelier, amt was Treqiicntly able tn bring home scraps of meat which were fed t<> the hens, and which, undoubtedlycontributedgreatly to the -frrvtmrbic egg production. - ■ It will be noted that this city flock was kept under adverse conditions in so far as shelter-was concerned. Hack-yard flocks should be properly housed, add where~possible, should beprovided with a covered run„f.or use -when tire went tier is rough, 'flic small house wilii rim attached. shown in the illustration above. is suggested as fitting for a lew hens kept under town or city conditions.