126 ttTRKEY CULTURE. 



legs. I make a triangle of boards nailed together, which 

 need not be very high nor very large, yet large enough for 

 the mother ^to get in with her brood when she chooses. 

 The little ones doze and enjoy the sun, while the hen 

 dusts herself and picks grass and gravel at pleasure. The 

 cheapest and most healthful food for little turkeys is curd 

 made like cottage cheese, unseasoned. They are very 

 fond of it and thrive upon it, with the insects of all kinds 

 which they get. Stale bread soaked in sweet skimmed 

 milk is for newly hatched poults. Milk is good for tur- 

 keys of all ages, but for young ones do not let it stand and 

 get warm and sour. It is unnecessary to make egg bread, 

 custard, cakes and expensive foods, they are rich, produce 

 diarrhoea and must be guarded against. Make the food 

 sweet and wholesome, as variety is not necessary, but do 

 not give grease or meat of any kind. 



In wheat localities, whole wheat boiled to bursting 

 makes the best food, both for young turkeys and for fat- 

 tening. Don't fuss with a healthy flock, but if there is a 

 tendency to diarrhoea, pepper, black or red, mixed in the 

 food, is a good remedy. As a tonic, give a small lump of 

 copperas in the drinking water occasionally. Many lose 

 small turkeys by keeping them too closely confined. Tur- 

 keys must have a range, in order to become strong and 

 thrive. I have large coops for each mother, but unless 

 necessary they are not shut up after the dew is off the 

 grass, excepting rainy days. They run in an orchard, and 

 the little bodies grow broad and the legs get the stocky 

 look of thrifty little turkeys; when a little older they stay 

 very contentedly in my meadow nearly all day. 



THE CARE OF THE COOPS. A turkey hates to get into 

 her coop at night unless it has been moved during the 

 day. If it is changed every day she soon regards it as a 

 safe place to keep her little family over night. Should it 

 rain in the night, change it that it may be clean for the 

 day. Filth is a deadly foe to a young turkey in confine- 



