132 TURKEY CULTURE. 



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old, they need but little, if any, feeding, except in winter, 

 or maybe a few weeks before marketing. 



Early in the spring, before the turkey hens begin to 

 lay, I put plenty of clean straw in boxes and barrels and 

 hidden corners in and about the henhouse and yard; also 

 at some distance from same under clumps of bushes, or 

 any place that Mrs. Turkey will be apt to judge sufficiently 

 secluded and cosy for her purpose, and my hens are not 

 apt to stray to a great distance to nest. I put the first 

 hatchings under common hens, as soon as I can get one to 

 sit, as turkey hens will lay two or three hatchings of eggs 

 if not allowed to sit ; but I seldom try their tempers by 

 taking more than one nest of eggs from each hen. When 

 the common hens have hatched their young turkeys and 

 they are ready to leave the nest, I grease with lard each 

 hen under the wings and inside of thigh, to kill the lice, 

 or they will devour the young turkeys. Then place them 

 in dry, warm, roomy coops, with yard in front, at a dis^ 

 tance from the other chickens, but do not keep them shut 

 up an hour longer than necessary, as by running at large 

 they will follow the hens better in a few days and will 

 thrive much better, except in cold stormy weather. Tur- 

 keys belong to the runners, and must run or die. Bettei 

 not feed them at all than to keep them shut up; hundred^ 

 of young turkeys are destroyed every year by confinement 

 and improper 'feed ing. 



At first, I feed my young turkeys soaked bread, 

 squeezed as dry as possible, and hard-boiled eggs mixed 

 together, with a little pepper or ginger in it, and curds. 

 Then, as they grow older, add corn bread, corn meal, 

 wheat or wheat screenings, scraps of meat, boiled potatoes, 

 and if they are confined, cabbage, chopped onions, etc., 

 are essential, and plenty of clean water, and milk if I 

 have it. If they are healthy and have a good "range, they 

 soon need but little care. If your little turkeys' wings 

 seem to outgrow their bodies, they are not healthy. 



