49 



TUKKEY-KAISING. 



The first and most important requirement in turkey-raising is strong, 

 vigorous stock. The birds thrive best upon high and dry land, and espe- 

 cially where there is plenty of scrub. The greater the range you give 

 them the better; they will then to a large extent find their own living. 

 They do not reach maturity until they are three years old, so it is quite a 

 mistake to breed from birds under two years of age. The male should be 

 either two or three years old; a frequent change of blood is essential. 



The hens lay from twenty to thirty eggs and then become broody. 

 The period of incubation is twenty-eight days. The chicks are very 

 stupid at first, and it is a good plan to place two or three hen-eggs with 

 the turkey-eggs a week after the latter have been started; the chickens 

 will teach the young turkeys to pick up their food. Particular care 

 must be taken not to overfeed the breeding birds, and avoid using a 

 young gobbler and pullets of the same flock. It is not advisable to run 

 more than eight or nine hens with a gobbler. Do not fail to keep the nest 

 and the turkey-hen free from vermin by using insect-powder at least twice 

 during the time she is sitting, or there will be little hope of raising 

 the poults when hatched. Twenty-four to thirty-six hours after the 

 chicks are hatched provide food for them as follows : Stale bread soaked 

 in milk and squeezed dry, adding a small quantity of hard-boiled egg 

 (the eggs should be allowed to boil from fifteen to thirty minutes), and 

 occasionally give rice that has been boiled in milk. Oatmeal, barley- 

 meal, and maizemeal can be given. The food must be mixed to a dry 

 consistency. Do not forget short-cut green food, consisting of onion- 

 tops and lettuce. Meat passed through a mincing-machine, with 

 just a little pepper in it, is beneficial. Sharp grit is necessary. Keep 

 young turkeys longer on soft food than other chicks. Great care must be 

 taken not to feed the young birds too much at one time, and if it can be 

 prevented never allow the poults to get wet; a soaking is fatal to them. 



