BROODING AND REARING YOUNG STOCK 



other factors which are responsible for high mortality 

 among young turkeys, there is no reason why it cannot 

 be largely if not entirely prevented, by proper attention 

 at the proper time. If the hen is dusted with some good 

 insect powder during the time she is sitting, as has been 

 explained before, page 74, there should be little if any 

 trouble with lice on the poults when hatched. Examina- 

 tion of the newly hatched poults at frequent intervals for 

 lice, and treatment if found, must not be overlooked. See 

 page 126. 



Marking and Pedigreeing Turkeys 



It is often desirable to mark little turkeys in some dis- 

 tinguishing manner. The need for this may be that the 

 turkey raiser has two or more separate matings or blood 

 lines and he desires to know from which matings his 

 young stock came in order to guide him in making future 

 matings. For this purpose the young turkeys can be 

 marked by toe punching the web between the toes in the 

 same manner as in chickens. The web in turkeys is not so 

 large as in chickens, but by using care room enough can be 

 found. To make sure that the punch in the web is a per- 

 manent mark go over the poults about a week after the 

 punching is done. If any punch marks show signs of 

 growing shut, punch them out again, after which no 

 difficulty will be experienced. 



Poults can also be marked, if desired, by means of 

 numbered open pigeon bands, such as are used in pedi- 

 greeing chickens, which are put around the leg of the 



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