204 POULTRY FOR PROFIT 



the coop and run the first week. Let the hen move 

 about with the poults while the sun is warm, but 

 confine her in the coop till the sun is out in the morn- 

 ing and after three in the afternoon. 



The brooding of poults differs from that of chicks 

 in but two particulars : The poults must not be con- 

 fined except for the first day or two, perhaps, and 

 they need rather more hovering than chicks. It is 

 on account of these two peculiarities that artificial 

 brooding of turkeys is so difficult. 



The first meal of the baby turkeys consists of grit, 

 charcoal and fresh water. The grit is to furnish 

 grinding material for the second meal ; the charcoal 

 to keep the digestion in order. 



What is the best "first feed" for baby turks? If 

 one may judge by the published opinion of breeders 

 east and west, there is none. But there is a distinct 

 majority in favor of stale bread soaked in sweet milk 

 and squeezed as dry as possible, with a little black 

 pepper or charcoal, or both, added. Some give cot- 

 tage cheese mixed with stale bread crumbs and 

 chopped onion tops or dandelion leaves. Others still 

 adhere to the time-honored boiled egg and bread 

 crumb formula, but always with a little green added. 

 One of the most successful breeders gives cottage 

 cheese and onion tops with a sprinkling of black pep- 

 per and recommends mixing in a raw egg from the 

 first when it can be had. My own experience is that 

 hard-boiled egg is fatal and cottage cheese absolutely 

 essential the first three weeks, but some condemn 

 both egg and curd and give nothing but fine grains, 

 chick feed in which there is but little corn, and steel 

 cut oats. 



I was very successful this year with the following 

 mixture: Chop fine a young onion, a little tender 

 lettuce and a small piece of very stale cracked wheat 



