BROODING AND REARING YOUNG STOCK 



at about five weeks of age, grain is fed morning and night 

 with a feeding of moist mash and finely cut green stuff at 

 noon. This method of feeding is continued until the tur- 

 keys are practically full grown. During the non-breeding 

 season the adult stock is fed almost entirely upon two 

 feedings of grain a day and all of the buttermilk they can 

 drink. During the breeding season the birds are given a 

 crumbly mash at noon in addition to the grain feeds. 

 Plenty of green stuff, grit and shell are always provided. 

 No houses have been used, open air roosts 6 or 7 feet high 

 being erected in each yard. It is planned, however, to 

 erect shed roof houses to furnish shelter from the rain- 

 storms. In view of the fact that the turkeys are kept and 

 reared under confined conditions new blood has been in- 

 troduced into this flock each year. 



Feeding the Poults 



Improper feeding, especially when combined with too 

 close confinement, has accounted for many failures in 

 turkey raising. When given free range the poults are 

 exercising all day long in their search for food and are 

 therefore not so likely to be overfed. If the range 

 available is abundantly stocked with natural feed and if 

 the weather is favorable so that the poults can be al- 

 lowed to range all of the time perhaps the best plan 

 is to allow the hen and her brood to feed themselves. 

 Even under these conditions, however, it is best to have 

 the turkeys come home at night and this can be more 



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