342 BuRKAU OF FAiniKRs' Institutes. 



A Farmer. — We bepin witb bread and milk, which is continued 

 about four weeks. Then we feed grain, beginning with wheat. 

 Later on other grains are fed. 



A Farmer. — If you wait till to-night I will bring my wife down, 

 who will tell you all about it. She is at home to-day, picking 

 turkeys. It is a trick to raise them, and do it well, but she 

 knows how to do it. 



What is the best food for young turkeys? 



Dr. Smead. — My wife raises turkeys. She has fed bread, but 

 occasionally a turkey would go wrong, then die. Now she feeds a 

 custard with the sugar out, the first month; this is followed with 

 oatmeal later. When the large feathers begin to grow, the birds 

 are troubled with what we term " droops " and die. It is a critical 

 time and I am convinced that it is caused by a want of protein 

 food, so we feed ground fresh meat scraps fined in a sausage cut- 

 ter. It seems to meet the requirements of the case very well 

 indeed. 



What is the best way to feed sour milli to hens? 



Mr. Cook. — Sour milk, if the curd is in it, is a valuable protein 

 food, for the hen^ but it ought not to be allowed to become too 

 sour. Place It where the hen can eat it, but do not feed too much, 

 and be sure to keep the feeding dishes clean. 



What shall we do to cause hens to molt? 



Mr. Ward. — Sunflower seed, is the food used by Mr. Van Dres- 

 ser, to hasten the molting season. 



How large should a hen house be for 100 hens? 



Mr. Converse. — We allow about four square feet per hen. when 

 the hens are kept continually in the building. We keep 50 in a 

 flock. 



What causes "gapes" in chickens and what will prevent them? 



Mr. Van Alstyne. — Gapes in chickens come from a worm in the 

 soil, and it is said the gape worm comes from the angle worm, and 

 it is most prevalent when the chickens run on old angle worm 

 infested ground. When the coops are placed on sod ground or on 



