Poultry-craft. A text-book for poultry keepers ...

Preface

For those who want to know about poultry keeping, for those who wish to learn poultry keeping, and for pottltry keepers who cannot always remember things they know at the moment they happen to need them, this book was written: to the small army of turiters of permanent and current poultry literature, nearly every one of whom has in some way contributed to its making, it is respectfully dedicated.

The growing interest in fine fowls and the widening of the field of profitable operations in poultry culture have created a demand for a book which will give to one who thinks of engaging in poultry keeping an intelligent understanding of its possibilities and probabilities, whether for pleasure or profit, and a comprehensive idea of the ways and means of production and distribution of this country's enormous crops of poultry and eggs. Following this demand comes another, for a book of elementary instruction in all branches of poultry keeping. Separate books to meet these demands would be, in large part, duplicates, because before beginning it is necessary one should know, though superficially, many things which afterward he must learn thoroughly if his work with poultry is to be successful. With systematic, logical arrangement of the text, and with a complete carefully prepared index it was possible to make a book of information for inquirers and instruction for beginners, also a book for ready reference on poultry topics. There has long been pressing need of such a book. For years the publishers have had frequent calls for a book to which a poultry keeper could go for information on any and every matter, and find it in an instant.

It is, perhaps, supei"fluous to say of such a book that it is essentially a compilation. This is measurably true even of the matter not credited to other writers. My work has been to condense and put in convenient form information which by reason of its abundance and the multitude of its sources has not been available for those who needed it most, — to give, as it were, the composite opinion of sometimes conflicting authorities on each matter treated. That conclusions should invariably be correct and every estimate unaffected by his personal opinion, would be more than a writer could hope, and more than a reader ought to expect ; but, as I have endeavored to state each subject iv. PREFA CM.

treated fairly, honestly, and (as I believe) in accordance with the best interests of those for whom the book is written, I feel confident that no one of them will find in it statements that will mislead, or advice which he will follow to his disadvantage and loss.

The matter of credits for borrowed matter in a book composed as this is, requires particular mention. Only a few of the more important direct quotations are fully credited. Matter which has been adapted, condensed, and rearranged in harmony 'with the scheme of the work, is credited generally to the author only — the name of the paper or book from which it is taken not being added, because in a number of cases a short paragraph is compiled from statements of the same writer in several different books and papers, and to give each paper credit would have detracted too much from the simplicity of statement sought. Food rations taken from contributions of writers describing the methods of others, are credited to the persons using the rations.

For the rest, while acknowledging a general indebtedness to the poultry literature of the day, I would here acknowledge special indebtedness to the books and paper consulted most : — to Poultry Culture, Felch ; The Practical Poultry Keeper, Wright ; Poultry, McFetridge ; Incubation and Its Natural Laws, Cyphers ; The Practical Poultry Grower, Myrick ; Broilers for Profit, and A Living From Poultry, Boyer ; Duck Culture, Rankin ; Farm- Poultry Doctor, Sanborn ; to files of Farm- Poultry for the views of a great number of writers on almost every topic treated ; to the Reliable Poultry Journal for matter pertaining to many subjects, but especially for information relating to the mating of thoroughbred fowls, and to turkeys, ducks, and geese ; to the American Fancier, Poultry Monthly, American Poultry Journal, and Poultry Herald for many valuable suggestions ; and to various national and state bulletins for information regarding foods and feeding.

The illustrations not otherwise credited were made for this book, or are reproduced from Farm.- Poultry .

John H. Robinson.

Waltham, Mass., 1899.

CHAPTER XIV.

Diseases, Parasites, and Enemies of Fowls ... 209

CHAPTER XVI.

Turkeys - - - - - - • -221

>33

Poultry Papers - - - - - -258

POULTRY-CRAFT.

CHAPTER I. Poultry Keeping and Poultry Keepers

1. Classification. — Business and pleasure are often combined in poultry keeping. This, and the complexity of the relations of the different branches of the industry, makes a classification of poultry keepers difficult. The outline presented here will, however, give the reader at a glance an idea of the relations of the different branches to each other, and of the principal combinations which occur.

Poultry Keeping.

For Profit.

As a business.

As an employment.

As an investment.

Market poultry.

High class breeding and exhibition stock.

For Pleasure.

2. Poultry Keeping as a is poultry keeping as

For family use.

For exhibition.

For fancy.

Business. — This

carried on by those who invest in it their capital and give it their time. The last mentioned condition distinguishes it from poultry keeping as an investment. Only in recent years has poultry keeping taken a place among recognized industries. The bulk of the country's enormous crop of poultry products comes from many hundreds of thousands of small producers. The number of poultry keepers making a living from the production of eggs and poultry is very small compared with the great number of small producers, but is rapidly increasing. To make the business successful a man must be an expert in the management of fowls, and must have good business judgment, with enough business training to make him accurate, methodical and prompt in his work and dealings. Many of the successful poultrymen of today were not experts when they began. Many learned business methods as their establishments grew. One who would make such examples of success the excuse for giving his capital, time and labor to an occupation he does not understand should remember that, when these men began, the problem of profitably keeping fowls in large numbers had not been solved, and successes with fowls in small numbers were mostly matters of chance. With rare exceptions they began with very limited capital. Lack of capital made it

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quite impossible for their plants to grow beyond their ability to manage them. These men were pioneers in poultrying. The records of their progress are found in modern books on poultry, and in the files of the poultry journals. The results of their work may be seen in up-to-date poultry plants, and in the methods in use on such plants. The beginner of today finds sources of information and instruction to which his predecessors could not resort. He would be foolish, indeed, not to take advantage of such opportunities. A man should learn the business before engaging in it on his own account. Books and papers are within the reach of all. Practical instruction is more difficult to obtain — the difficulty being to some extent due to the fact that those who want instruction are so often unwilling to pay for it. Too many have thought a few months of their unskilled labor on a poultry farm would amply pay for time devoted to teaching them, for losses and damages due to their inexperience, and for the opportunity to draw at will on the accumulated knowledge of an expert poultryman. Those qualified to give instruction will not take pupils on such terms.

3. How Much Income. — Business Risks. — A living from poultry is surer to one who makes it his business than are profits from poultry to one investing in a poultry plant to be conducted by another. To give a definite idea of the amount to be annually realized from a plant of any given capacity, would be as impossible as to estimate in advance the annual profits in any business. People do make such estimates ; but, how often are they right? It may be said, however, that except in a few rare instances, poultry keeping is not a lucrative business. Very few poultrymen are making more than a good living. Whether one can make a living from poultry, will depend on his fitness for the business, his judgment in choosing a location, and on the effects of influences by which, like every other business, this is affected. The poultry keeper is subject to all ordinary business risks. Those who go into this business should not fail to consider ; that,

Success, the success that brings a living from poultry, means work — hand work, head work, and hard work. This is a condition not peculiar to poultry keeping ; that',

Prices fluctuate, and profits vary accordingly ; and that,

Causes beyond a 7nan , s control may cause his failure, or delay his success.

Those points need to be emphasized, because of some serious misconceptions which have arisen in regard to poultry keeping as compared with other businesses. It is unique in some respects, but not in being exempt from influences affecting business in general.

4. More About Profits. — More detailed statements concerning profits can now be given. Having read the last paragraph, no one need misunderstand the statements in this. Experienced poultrymen know about what they can count on under favorable circumstances. They also know how to make the best of unfavorable circumstances. If they see loss coming in one place they make special efforts to offset it by securing extra profit in another. The average profit on eggs, at market prices, is one dollar per year per hen. This is what a skilled poultryman considers a safe figure. One dollar a head is approximately what skill secures from large flocks — for eggs alone. The best authority on broilers places the average profit per bird at not over twenty cents. On eggs for hatching, sold at two dollars a sitting, the profit will rarely exceed a dollar a sitting; often will not reach that figure. A breeder whose trade is in stock birds selling at one to five dollars per head, will average about two dollars per bird. If he has managed his stock right nearly all of this will be profit. It is easily seen that at these figures there is no "big money" in the business. In fact, in market poultry alone one does not find it easy to make a living unless his" plant is large and much of the work is done by cheap labor. The profitable combination for a small plant is one which with a stock of thoroughbred poultry averaging for the year three hundred to four hundred hens, yields a profit of $300 to $400 for market eggs ; about $100 for eggs for hatching ; $150 to $200 for market poultry; and $200 to $300 for breeding stock — in all $750 to $1,000.

Something like this is what a fairly skillful poultryman without special reputation as a breeder of high class stock may expect from a plant on which he can do all the work, and which, if he constructs the buildings himself, will cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 in addition to the cost of the land and the first cost of the stock. It is not safe to figure an income on the basis of the large profits sometimes reported for single flocks, or for a season's work under exceptionally favorable conditions. Nor is it wise for a beginner to count on profits as large as those of the more successful poultryman, which are often much greater than the figures here given. When one begins to see the big prices and big profits coming his way it is time enough to begin estimates with the big figures. Though not to be used as bases of estimates, the prices of high class stock merit attention as showing what is possible when ability to breed good stock, and reputation as a breeder, have been acquhed. Prices for eggs range from $3 to $5 per sitting; $5, $10, $15, are quite common prices for fowls for breeding and for the smaller exhibitions. Prices of birds "fit" for the larger shows range from the figures given up to $25, $35, $50, $100. Single birds have been sold as high as $250. Just how much of these various amounts is profit, it is not possible to even approximately average, for this class of breeders never make their accounts public as market poultry men so often do. The expenses of exhibiting and advertising are considerable. Yet the proportion of profit to price is greater than when sales are made at small figures, and, generally, the higher the price the greater the proportion of profit. To the limited number who can get these prices, poultry keeping, whether an exclusive business, a side issue, or a recreation, is very profitable. The beginner, while disregarding them in his present calculations, may look forward to them as the rewards of special ability.

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5. Is There Danger of Overdoing the Business? — The United States imports annually about one million dozens of eggs. This fact is often cited to show that the business is in no danger of being overdone. It is assumed that, as long as eggs are imported the domestic supply must be inadequate. A comparison of the amount of imports with the total home product, shows that this assumption is a fallacy. A million dozen is less than one-tenth of one per cent of the (estimated) total annual egg crop. In effect the nation produces all the poultry and eggs it uses, and consumes all it produces. During a considerable portion of each year the markets are glutted with stock of inferior quality. The kind of poultry keeping which produces such stock is already overdone. On the other hand, the demand for stock of superior quality is in advance of the supply, and there is every reason to believe that this condition will continue for a long time. A poultryman making a wise choice of location with reference to this demand, and producing articles of the grade it calls for, need have no fears of overstocking his market. In the trade in breeding and exhibition stock, conditions are different. Successful sales depend much on reputation and skillful advertising. Lacking these, breeders often fail to sell really fine stock of varieties in good demand.

6. Comparison of the Different Branches of Poultry Keeping. —

Attention has already been called to the advisability of combining branches of the industry. As a matter of fact, poultry keepers doing an exclusive business cannot keep to one branch. A living from poultry requires combinations, and some branches depend on others. The egg farmer who rears his layers, as nearly all do, has large quantities of poultry to sell. The broiler farmer who produces on his own plant the eggs for his incubators — and this is the only way to get reliable eggs in quantity — has eggs to sell during a part of the year. Besides, broiler raising is a business for a season. It has never been made profitable on a large scale as an exclusive business. In connection with an egg farm, or as winter employment for those whose regular occupation leaves them idle in winter, it pays. Sales of eggs for hatching are limited to a few months in the spring. The bulk of the trade in breeding stock is done in the first three months of the year. Expenses keep steadily on through every twelvemonth. So it comes about that, though one may start business intending to confine himself to a single branch, he is obliged to make a combination like that suggested in ^[4, in order to handle his stock to best advantage and have a regular income. He may give relatively more or less attention to the various branches than is suggested there, but that combination, in some proportions, is the one to which a poultry business, large or small, inevitably tends.

7. Poultry Keeping as an Adjunct of Another Business. — The

greater number of those deriving a considerable income from poultry keeping conduct it as an adjunct of another business, as farming, fruit growing,

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gardening, dairying. The reasons for this are similar to those which lead to diversified farming. It is often found that a stock of poultry can be handled, in connection with some other occupation, with greater profit than would come from giving more attention to the other occupation, or from an exclusive poultry business. A good example is where a milkman finds his income too small for his living, and the demand for milk not great enough to justify increasing his herd. In such a case a man of judgment combines with his established business another, profits from which will round out his income. Poultry keeping is well adapted to such combinations, and is well woi'th the consideration of anyone so situated that he must combine two occupations. It should be added that such combinations ought to be made only in the extreme cases ; that is, where the business is so small that one can give personal supervision to every part of it ; or where, as on some large stock or fruit farms, there is an opportunity to keep fowls on ground used partly for other purposes, and on a scale large enough to warrant the employment of a skillful poultry man. Attempts to combine poultry keeping with other occupations when there is more work than the proprietor can personally do or oversee, and less than will make it worth while to engage an expert poultryman,, almost uniformly result in losses.

8. Poultry Keeping as an Employment. — As an employment poultry keeping offers, to both skilled and unskilled labor, opportunities similar to those afforded in other lines of animal and plant culture. Wages for skilled labor vary, depending on the size of the plant, the ability of the man, the amount of responsibility assumed. A fair average of the wages paid poultrymen who attend to and partially supervise the work on a plant, but have nothing to do with financial management, is $60 a month, or $40 and board. Those who take complete management receive more — sometimes much more. Unskilled laborers on poultry plants are paid, in any given locality, about the same as farm and dairy hands in that locality. One wishing to estimate the ins and outs of poultry keeping as an employment, may consider it in this way : In a year an expert poultryman will earn about the same as the average mechanic of the same relative degree of skill. He will have steadier work at a lower rate of wages, will work longer hours, have less leisure. Thei'e will be little danger of his being at any time long out of work. The demand for expert poultrymen is likely to continue in excess of the supply.

9. The Poultry Business as an Investment. — Many people are looking to poultry keeping as an investment for surplus funds. The profitableness of such ventures will depend — first, on the judgment shown in selecting a location, determining what branches of the business are to be followed, and choosing a manager ; next, though to a less extent than in the case of one whose all is invested in his business, on the influence of the conditions mentioned in ^[3. The man who has capital to back him can weather adverse storms which swamp the poultryman of limited means. No one should invest money in a poultry plant until he has enough general knowledge of the business to enable him to make an intelligent estimate of the advantages and disadvantages of different locations, considered with reference to the branch of the business to be followed ; of the qualifications of applicants for the position of manager ; and, of the probabilities of his investment proving satisfactory. Most of those who have made losing investments in poultry have put their money out first, and acquired the knowledge that would have enabled them to invest wisely afterward. Many have been led into rash ventures in poultry keeping by the belief that large profits would be realized from the outset. It usually requires several years to thoroughly equip a poultry plant and place it on a paying basis. The history of most large plants shows that this has been the case, even when abundance of capital was at command. The man with capital makes large plans, which it requires time to carry out. Practical poultry keeping as an investment must be on a large scale ; on a small scale, even a prosperous business could not be expected to do more than make a living for the manager and his assistants. Some of the most" profitable plants of this class combine market and ' ' fancy " poultry breeding. There are numerous instances of persons of means breeding fowls both for pleasure and as an investment, taking a very active interest in the stock, but leaving the actual management of the poultry in the hands of a manager. An investment of this kind is probably the most profitable that can be made. A study of the subject of poultry culture as set forth in this book will give a good basis of knowledge of the matters one needs to know before investing. Further information should be sought in current poultry journals. The information derived from these sources should be supplemented by careful examinations of up-to-date poultry plants, and a study of the conditions, both general and local, of production and consumption of poultry products.

10. How to Learn Poultry Keeping. — Poultry keeping must be learned just as any other trade is learned — preferably by going to work for a poultryman. Opportunities to learn in this way are not numerous. One finding such an opportunity must expect to begin as an apprentice or unskilled laborer. If diligent and faithful to his employer's interests, he will soon be advanced to work involving responsibility and giving practice in poultry management. While thus engaged he should be a close student of poultry literature, and should make the most of every opportunity to visit the plants and observe the methods of other poultrymen. This course is recommended even for those who have the capital to put into a small plant. Two years of practical work under a competent instructor are worth more to anyone than a period twice as long passed in gaining experience independently. A very important consequence of taking this course is that the man with small capital risks none of it, (and may even add to what he had), before learning how to use it to best advantage. After two years of practical work, a bright man of

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mature mind ought to be in a position to know how to make best use of his capital, and also how to make a business which he managed alone or with a little cheap help, pay expenses almost from the start. The course just outlined is that by which expert knowledge and skill are obtained at least expense. It is not always practicable. There are other ways. A partnership may be formed with an expert poultryman who thus becomes his partner's instructor. An expert may be engaged for a time as manager and adviser. After such arrangements as these the next best plan is to begin keeping fowls in a small way, increasing the flock as ability to manage larger numbers profitably is developed. In this one needs to be careful not to overstep the limits his experience places to profitable work. To those who have the capital the temptation to go too fast is very strong. Until one has thoroughly mastered the elements of poultry keeping, until he is "fit" to succeed, he ought to proceed as cautiously as if he had no capital but the profit from the flock.*

11. Beginning With Small Capital. — Without Capital. — A poultry business may be started on a very small capital, practically without capital, if one has other occupation which, while furnishing the means of living, leaves him time to properly care for his fowls. By careful management the gradually increasing income from the flock may be added to the capital until the operations are large enough to make poultrying the principal thing. The combination of circumstances favoring a growth of this kind is rare. For those who think of beginning in this way the caution : Be sure of yozir ground before making any move involving expense, needs to be repeated. In small beginnings of poultry keeping as an adjunct to dairying, gardening, etc., it is not usually difficult to make time to care for the poultry, and the poultry plant can easily make rapid growth. The important things in developing a plant begun in a small way, are :

Keep no more stock than can be given proper care.

Keep out of debt.

12. Poultry for Pleasure. — For Family Use. — When fowls are kept for a definite purpose, and that not the profit to be made from them, it is not wrong to say they are kept for pleasure. This statement holds good even when fowls primarily kept for pleasure afford some profit. Most "family" hens are kept for pleasure, the pleasure their owners get from producing their

* Note. — Those who, wishing to learn poultry keeping, do not meet favorable opportunities, are advised that it is in their power to materially assist the movement for special instruction in poultry keeping at the agricultural colleges. This they can do by showing those in charge of these institutions that a strong demand for such instruction exists. At the Rhode Island State Agricultural College a course of study in poultry culture was given in January, 1898. This was designed as the initial step in a movement to make instruction in poultry keeping a feature of the work of that college. Other states will follow the example of Rhode Island as fast as those interested make it clear that a course, once established, will be sustained.

own eggs and poultry, and having these articles strictly and reliably fresh. In many instances family hens are from a dollars and cents standpoint unprofitable. It costs more to produce the eggs and poultry used than it would to buy them — a state of affairs for which there is no good excuse, for very little skill in handling fowls is required to make such small flocks pay their way. Not many families are so situated that, wishing to keep a few fowls, they are unable to do so. As will be shown in succeeding chapters, there are breeds of fowls specially suited to close quarters. A little plot of ground, a little poultry house, a little flock of hens, and a little love for domestic animals, make a combination which will give the poor man in a city, at trifling cost, luxuries for which his rich neighbor is glad to pay liberally.

13. Poultry for Pleasure. — For Exhibition. — For Fancy. —

Though not the most important, this is the most prominent feature of poultry interests. It is so intimately associated with the business of breeding high class stock that it would puzzle many breeders to say whether they were in poultry for fancy or for business. The majority of fanciers, however, are in "the fancy" for pleasure. Pleasure means to one, winning at the exhibitions ; to another, the possession of fine fowls ; to others, the acquisition of knowledge of the laws of breeding and the exercise of skill in mating for special results. Many keep fowls simply that they may have some restful pursuit not in line with their regular work, to occupy mind and body in leisure hours. Poultry fancying is more than a mere amusement ; it is a useful amusement, a recreation having a recognized moral and educational value — and, aside from the fact that it makes "business" for many people, the poultry fancy has an industrial influence in giving the initial impetus in the development of economic poultry interests. Everywhere general improvement in common fowls, and increased profits from fowls, have followed the introduction of " fancy " fowls. The claim of some fanciers that this improvement was due to the diffusion of the blood of their high class stock, can be only partially admitted. Undoubtedly new blood has done much, but practical illustrations of the advantages of good care and systematic breeding for a definite purpose, have done more. The "fancy's " best contribution to the growth of industrial poultry culture has been along the line of suggestive teaching. The real usefulness of pleasurable poultry keeping needs to be better and more universally understood. It is equally desirable that fanciers should not make public extravagant estimates of the benefits they confer, and that the true value and dignity of poultry keeping for pleasure should be recognized by all poultrymen and by the general public.

14. Women as Poultry Keepers. — The bulk of the supply of poultry products comes from flocks cared for principally by women. On farms the cai-e of the fowls is usually left to the farmer's wife or daughter. In towns the absence of the men from home during the working hours leaves the care of the poultry mostly to the women, even when the men take an interest in it.