POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING 



and should be provided with green feed, grit and plenty 

 of fresh water. A small amount of meat scrap or fresh 

 meat is greatly relished by hens which are raising a brood 

 of poults. The feed for the poults is usually given out- 

 side of the coop so that the poults get it and it is not 

 eaten by the hen. The hen and the poults should not be 

 confined for more than 3 or 4 days unless the weather 

 conditions are unfavorable. If the poults are kept con- 

 fined in coops at night it may be worth while to confine 

 small turkey poults for a short time in the morning until 

 the grass gets dry. 



FATTENING TURKEYS 



Turkeys will not stand close confinement for fattening 

 and usually lose rather than gain weight under such con- 

 ditions. They may, however, be fed fattening feeds dur- 

 ing the fall in order to get them in good market condition, 

 still allowing them free range. About October i, two 

 moderate feeds a day may be given which can be in- 

 creased three times daily during the week previous to 

 marketing. They should only be given what feed they 

 will clean up in a few minutes. Corn, wheat and oats are 

 the feeds commonly used but corn alone should not be 

 used as the turkeys are not apt to do well if only given 

 corn. A mixture of equal parts corn, wheat and oats 

 makes a good feed to begin the fattening about the first 

 of October, gradually increasing the amount of corn so 

 that the turkeys are getting from two-thirds to three- 

 fourths corn at the time they are ready for market. 



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