CHAPTER V 

 Brooding and Rearing the Young Stock 



Causes of Loss among Poults. The proper brooding 

 and care of the newly hatched poults is perhaps the most 

 important factor in raising turkeys successfully. The 

 greatest part of the loss of young turkeys occurs when 

 the poults are less than a week old. Comparatively few 

 are lost after they have attained an age of one month 

 except, of course, where there is a disease epidemic. Un- 

 der ordinary conditions with fairly good care about 50% 

 of the poults hatched out will be reared. This means 

 about seven poults for every turkey hen that hatched out 

 a brood. Experienced and very careful turkey raisers 

 who give their young stock special care and who under- 

 stand the nature and the needs of the turkeys are able to 

 raise a higher percentage than this. The following may 

 be given as the principal causes of heavy losses among 

 young turkeys : 



1 i ) Exposure to dampness and cold. 



(2) Improper or over feeding. 



(3) Too close confinement. 



(4) Lice. 



(5) Predatory animals. 



78 



