FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 441 



these are the important requisites of the structure in which they are to be 

 kept until the poults are well started. They should be allowed their freedom 

 a part of every day when the grass is dry, and should be made to stay within 

 at nights and during wet days, till old enough to wander with the mother 

 hen and roost out on the fences or trees. 



Treatment of old ccc»^5.— Either fresh coops should be provided each year 

 or the old ones should be thoroughly cleansed within and without. Prior to 

 using old coops, paint them thoroughly with crude patroleum in which have 

 been dissolved some naphthalene balls, filling every crack and crevice with 

 this at least a week before they are needed, and be sure that the odor of the 

 preparation has disappeared before using the coops, as it is not beneficial 

 ta the young. The features of most importance in cooping the mother and 

 young are plenty of light and room, and freedom from dampness and insect 

 parasites. 



REMOVAL FROM THE NEST. 



When the poults are ready to leave the nest, move the mother hen and 

 her young into the coop provided for them; supply a little food now and 

 then as they need it, and see that the mother has plenty of food and water. 

 Let them alone in the coop till they begin to move about. As soon as they 

 will, let the poults run out on the grass when it is dry, but keep them from 

 the wet grass, as nothing is more detrimental to their growth, unless it be 

 insect parasites. As they advance give them a more plentiful food supply, 

 and guard against any possibility of lice infesting them. 



Protection from sun^s rays. — While they are young special attention must 

 be given to the protection from the direct rays of the sun, exposure to which 

 wilts them completely. At times they will reel under its influence as though 

 suffering from sunstroke, or move about with slow steps, weakly dragging 

 one foot after the other, while giving forth a feeble peep that sounds the 

 warning of their approaching end. The blood-sucking parasite has much 

 the same effect upon them when present. When under the influence of 

 both at the same time the chance of survival is small indeed. 



Protection from dampness. — Have a dry spot where the young poults may 

 run and exercise. This may be provided by spreading a load or two of 

 course sand near the coops, which will furnish a dry foothold no matter how 

 wet or damp the grass may be. To keep this in sanitary condition go over 

 it once a day with a fine-toothed rake, in order that the sun may dry it 

 thoroughly. When the young turkeys are suitably housed, properly fed, 

 and kept free from lice, they are quite as easy to grow as young chickens. 



FEEDING THE NEWLY HATCHED POULTS. 



Variety of Methods . — A thorough investigation of the methods of feeding 

 young turkeys shows to what extent general rules already cited are followed. 

 While all who succeds seems to adopt nearly the same methods, there are a 

 few differences worthy of consideration. Some feed bread and milk in a 

 saucer as soon as the poults will eat, while others soak bread and milk 

 and squeese it dry before feeding; some adhere closely to an absolute grain 

 diet, while othets feed everything they imagine the poults will eat. 



