Happy Hens in NC Demonstration Flocks, 1947

By F.H. Jeter, Extension Editor, N.C. State College, as published in the Charlotte News, April 15, 1947

Hens in 1,848 poultry demonstration flocks, in every section of North Carolina, last year laid about 75 more eggs per bird than the average hen in the state, says C.F. Parrish, poultry specialist, in his annual report to Director I.O. Schaub of the State College Extension Service.

The farmers owning these demonstration flocks followed approved practices of breeding, feeding, and management outlined by the Extension and made monthly reports of all costs, sales, and production.

There were 35,671 birds in the demonstration flocks and they produced more than 6 million eggs at an average cost of 24.3 cents per dozen. The birds ate 98 pounds of feed each and the cost was $3.56, much higher than for the average hen.

Many of the flock owners sold eggs for hatching purposes and this helped to establish an exceptionally high average sales price for the eggs—48.3 cents a dozen. The 1,848 flocks produced more than a quarter of a million dollars worth of eggs, or an average of $7.06 worth of eggs per bird. The average return above feed cost was $3.50 a bird, or an average of $811.38 per farm.

One after another, poultry records in North Carolina were broken in 1945. Chicks hatched jumped from 29 to 38 million. With 1.25 million fewer hens and pullets, approximately 110 million more eggs were produced than the year before. Broiler production increased about 40 percent. More turkeys were raised to maturity than ever before in the history of the state.

Through the years the Extension Service has emphasized better breeding practices, improved feeding, correct buildings and equipment, disease control, and other factors leading to maximum poultry production. While average egg production has continued to climb in North Carolina, the greatest progress has been shown in the demonstration flocks that have co-operated with the Extension Service. The average production per bird was 152 eggs in 1935 as compared with 175 eggs in 1945. This meant an extra million eggs in the demonstration flocks alone on only 1,848 farms.

The hatcheries have been encouraged to get pedigreed males to head their supply flocks. Last year 2,545 R.O.P. cockerels were placed in key breeding flocks, and 2,261 R.O.P. chicks and 796 pullets with leading poultrymen.

Today there are 16 breeders and hatcherymen furnishing U.S. Certified chicks for sale as compared with eight breeders in 1940. These 16 hatcherymen produce about 3 million chicks a year. As a result, very few mongrel flock are found in North Carolina at this time.

While much remains to be done, still North Carolina is showing rapid progress in breeding better chickens. In 1944 a total of 3,297 birds were entered for R.O.P., and 1,089 qualified, while last year 4,388 birds were entered and 1,732 qualified. Tar Heel R.O.P. breeders are making outstanding records as they attempt to breed into their birds such characteristics as larger eggs, better shell texture, uniform color, early maturity, high rate of lay, rapid feathering, and livability.