PARADISE VALLEY POULTRY RANCH 



Turk 



eys 



The breeding of turkeys is not a hobby. The cost of raising them is 

 small and the profits large. Breeders may "scrap" a bit over a color 

 scheme or the number of bars on the feathers, but, after all, it is the 



money that turkeys bring on the market 

 that is the real incentive to the business of 

 breeding these birds. 



Turkeys of a standard variety, of a 

 good strain, can be brought to a weight 

 of eighteen pounds for cockerels and four- 

 teen pounds for pullets by November 15. 

 These figures are conservative, because 

 many turkey breeders can add three to 

 eight pounds to these average weights. And 

 you know that these weights can be pro- 



* |p - ~*QKJRI MT duced with but little more attention or feed 



& '"MM than it takes to produce a six-pound 

 chicken. 



SELECTION OF BREEDING STOCK 



One of the most important steps to- 

 [.:":* . < HH9BHB ward success in turkey raising is the proper 



selection of breeding stock. Unhatchable 

 A 26-lb. HEN eggs, weak poults, and small, scrubby 



turkeys, are largely the result of careless- 

 ness in the selection of the parent stock. In selecting turkeys for breeding 

 purposes, strength and vigor are the first points to be considered. To in- 

 dicate this, the body should be deep and wide, the back broad, and the 

 breast round and full. The head should be of good size, and of a clean, 

 healthy appearance. A strong, well-made frame is shown by thick, sturdy 

 shanks and straight, strong toes. 



Breeders of pure-bred turkeys select their breeding stock for vigor, 

 size, shape, bone, early maturity, and color of plumage. It should be 

 the aim of every turkey grower to have a flock of pure-bred turkeys, even 

 tho they are sold at market prices. The cost of raising pure-breds is no 

 more than that of mongrels, and the profit is much greater. By all means 

 the male at the head of the flock should be a pure-bred bird of the best 

 type obtainable. He is one-half the entire flock, and by continually selecting 

 the best females of a similar type and mating them with a pure-bred male 

 one can soon have a flock of uniformly large, early maturing, strong-boned, 

 long and deep-bodied turkeys of the same color that will bring better 

 prices on the market than mongrels, because they will be of greater size 

 and better fleshing qualities. Aside from the greater market value of pure- 

 bred turkeys, there is also an excellent opportunity of selling the best 

 birds for breeding stock at increased prices. The demand for pure-bred 

 turkeys is good, and as soon as their reputation is established breeders of 

 high-class birds have little difficulty in disposing of them. 



Inbreeding is harmful and if carried on very long will result in the 

 loss of vigor and vitality. It is, therefore, advisable each year to obtain a 

 new torn of unrelated blood, but of the same type. Nothing is to be 

 gained by crossing varieties, as such practice soon reduces pure breeds 

 to mongrels. 



As to the best age for breeding stock, most turkey breeders prefer to 

 mate a vigorous, well-grown young torn (cockerel) with early hatched 

 young hens (pullets) or with yearling hens. Early hatched turkeys are in 

 most cases sufficiently mature to be used as breeders their first season, but 

 in no case should late-hatched or slow-growing birds be kept for breeders. 

 An excellent plan is to keep as breeders each year one-half yearling hens 



