1184 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



feeding in this manner may appear to involve considerable labor, the 

 resulting benefits are often far in excess of the time and effort expended. 



After three weeks the poults may have whole wheat, hulled oats, cracked 

 corn, and a little millet seed, in addition to their other food. Many 

 young turkeys are lost when partly grown, particularly during wet 

 weather after they have been given liberty to roam at will. Much loss 

 may be avoided by going after them wherever they may be and feeding 

 them a little once or twice a day. This plan should be followed during 

 continued wet weather, no matter how far advanced they may be. A 

 continuous wet spell deprives them of the greater part of the bugs and 

 worms they feed upon, and the wet grass, by retarding their motion, tends 

 to reduce vitality. Go after them during such weather and feed them, 

 so as to prevent the bad results that must follow a scarcity of food at such 

 times. Flocks of young turkeys that wander continually should be fed 

 at least once a day, if only a little, to keep them quiet or tame. If fed at 

 least once a day on grain, they will grow faster, mature earlier, and make 

 better size than if not fed at all. Those who make use of these methods 

 secure the best results. 



One of the most successful growers in the country feeds the young 

 poults at the start oatmeal, broken wheat, and finally cracked corn; as 

 they grow older whole wheat, hulled oats, and coarser cracked corn, and 

 still later, whole grains of corn. When running at large they are taught 

 to come close to the barns twice a day for food. Following these and 

 similar methods enabled him to bring to maturity, during the unfavorable 

 season of 1903, over 300 white turkeys out of about 335 that were hatched. 



Hulled oats are used to avoid the injurious effects that arise from feed- 

 ing oats in the hull, the sharp portions of which are apt to prick and 

 irritate the crop. No more nutritious grain can be fed to growing poults 

 than hulled oats. Wheat and whole or broken corn will do as they grow 

 older, but oats should be added whenever practical. If hulled oats cannot 

 be had, use clipped oats, boiled; drain them thoroughly, and feed w^hen 

 cold. Always select plump, heavy oats, with a large percentage of kernel. 



Nothing equals good, sound grain of all kinds for feeding the growing 

 turkeys. Do not use poor, shriveled, or musty grain of any kind. It is 

 a mistaken notion that it will pay to feed inferior grain to any kind of 

 growing fowl. It is a loss of both time and money to do so, as nothing 

 but disappointment can result from its use. The best results always come 

 from having the best quality of stock and giving it the best food and care. 



