270 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



Later on feed on granulated oatmeal, rolled oats, or a mash m;^de of stale bread, 

 onion tops, oatmeal, commeal or middlings, the whole mixed with skim-millv.^ The 

 milk should be boiled and a little black pepper dusted into it, before putting it into 

 the mash. 



For the first five or six weeks feed four times daily. Afterwards three times. 



At the time of 'putting on the red,' uncooked food should not be fed. At this 

 period the young birds are likely to eat ravenously, but on no account should they be 

 allowed to gorge themselves. After becoming fully feathered they require nothing but 

 hard grain. 



Turkeys are fond of roaming, and often wander away from headquarters. In 

 this way many are killed by weasels, skunks and other enemies. 



A good plan is to feed the hens and their broods grain evei*y evening, and so 

 accustom them to coming home. This, of course, when the young birds have reached 

 the proper age. 



TO FATTEN. 



Birds may be fattened as in the case of chickens while running outside, or by being 

 penned up and specially fed. Success has attended the fattening of turkeys in many 

 instances, by the forcing method. But with the right breed in the first instance, care 

 and proper food, there should be no difiiculty in obtaining the desired flesh development. 



KILLING. 



The birds intended for shipment to Great Britain are killed in the same manner 

 as chickens, by dislocation of the neck. Care is necessary in having this properly 

 done, as the following note of warning from a London poultry purchasing firm to an 

 Australian agent, shows : — 



'Having purchased the several consignements of frozen poultry which you have 

 had on show in the exhibition, I have written you our opinion of same. A, the quality 

 very good ; B, trussing very good; C, packing well done ; D, killing may be capable 

 of being very much improved on, as the necks of the birds are invariably very much 

 discoloured, and appear almost unsaleable through this. I would suggest bleeding at 

 the mouth, and not so much force used in dislocating the neck. I consider there is 

 a good market here for your poultry, if you can send it, say, to arrive in England 

 continuously from January to June.' 



It is not likely that bleeding at the mouth will be adopted by those firms who ship 

 in large numbers. But if this manner of killing is adopted, it should be done as 

 advised in the case of chickens killed in that way, viz., by the cutting of the roof of 

 the mouth, at base of the brain, with a narrow sharp knife, lengthways and across. 

 If the roof of the mouth is pierced at the base of the brain, death is said to be 

 instantaneous and painless. 



PLUCKING AND DEESSING. 



This should be done as outlined in a previous page in the case of chickens. 

 In plucking, which should begin immediately after dislocation of the ii.eck and be very 

 carefully done, feathers should be left on the neck for three inches. 



PACKING. 



Instructions as to packing issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture and 

 Dairying, are as follows : — 



Every bird should be wrapped neatly in paper, the head with a quantity of thick 

 paper to absorb any blood. The birds should be packed with their backs down and 

 heads to one side. 



