110 CALIFORNIA POULTRY PRACTICE 



insect powder, then again in ten days, and a final dusting the day 

 before the poults are due to hatch. 



If turkey eggs are hatched under hens the same precautions should 

 be taken so that the poults can have a clear start. 



Caring For The Poults. 



Young turkeys are very tender, and the large turkey lice, if the 

 hen has not been thoroughly cleaned, will go straight from hen to 

 chicks. When this happens, the fight is on, and unless the chicks 

 are from a very robust stock, it does not last long. 



When she is hatching, make sure of this lice question by examina- 

 tion, and if the hen is clean, make her a sort of enclosure, three- 

 cornered, with three twelve-inch boards, the original barrel nest 

 should be left as it is for the hen to shelter in and the boards will 

 keep the young ones from straying away from her. Having done 

 this, let her have the quiet and privacy she desires until all the eggs 

 are hatched. If there is any danger from skunks, weazles, cats or 

 rats, one-inch mesh wire should be fastened over the board fence, 

 otherwise it may be left open. For the first few days, I think the 

 ideal food for young turkeys is a chick feed containing little or no 

 corn. At least I would feed chick feed twice a day and curd, hard- 

 boiled eggs and a plain custard of eggs and milk, together with onion 

 tops cut fine, lettuce and even a little grated garlic mixed in the curds. 



They must be watched constantly for signs of lice, for once they 

 gain a footing the vitality of the poults is on the down grade. When 

 the poults are about ten days old the lice problem may be solved 

 by purchasing a small box of Mercurial ointment from a drug store. 

 Find out what strength it is; most good ointments are 75 per cent. 

 This should be mixed with an equal amount of clean tallow, well 

 worked together with a knife blade, then take a piece as large as a 

 bean and rub below the vent. Rub well into the skin; all lice go to 

 the vent to drink, and they can't stand mercury. The mother hen 

 may be treated in the same way; the reason I do not advocate the 

 use of this ointment before the tenth day is the extreme susceptibility 

 of the poults to any strong poison, but after the tenth day they will 

 stand it that strength. Until then, depend upon the insect powder. 



It is of great importance that the young be kept growing and to 

 that end the feed must contain plenty of protein and feather making 

 material, but fed in such a manner that they do not get surfeited. It 

 is better to keep them a little hungry, feed little and often and give a 

 variety. 



Range is very desirable, but care should be taken that they are 

 not out in the dew while very young. When they can get berries and 

 insects, short grass and weed seeds, there is very little trouble with 

 them. Once they have "shot the red" they are considered safe. 



