RAISING TURKEYS. 207 
chicks growing as rapidly as possible from the very start. 
It is'very poor economy to stint turkeys, especially 
young growing stock; for when once stunted, it takes a 
long while to recover, if it does occur at all. For the 
first twenty-four hours after the chicks emerge from th* 
shell, they should remain under the hen unmolested, 
both to dry and gain strength and hardiness. They do 
not.require any food, as the store nature provides will 
last over this time. As the chicks hatch sometimes irreg- 
ularly, the older ones can be cared for in the house un- 
til the others are ready to be taken away; when the hen 
and her brood can be removed to a roomy coop, with a 
tight-board bottom and a rain-proof roof. They should 
he fed five times daily, but only just-what they will eat 
up clean. The first food should consist of stale bread 
moistened in water or in fresh milk—the milk is decidedly 
preferable. Do not wet the food, as very moist or 
sloppy food will cause sickness and a high rate of mor- 
tality among young, tender birds. If milk can be 
spared, give it to them freely in place of water. 
The too lavish use of corn-meal has caused more deaths 
among young chicks than has cholera among grown 
fowls. Until the chicks are half-grown, corn-meal should 
be but sparingly fed; but after that time, when judi- 
ciously used, is one of the very best and cheapest foods 
for fowls and chicks. Nine-tenths of the young turkeys 
and guinea-fowls which die when in the ‘‘ downy” state 
get their death-blow from corn-meal, as it is a very com- 
mon practice (because it is so ‘‘ handy” and suits lazy 
people so well) to merely moisten with cold water some 
raw corn-meal and then feed it in that way. 
Young chicks relish occasional feeds of cracked wheat 
and wheat screenings; while rice, well boiled, is not only 
greedily eaten by the chicks, but is one of the very best 
things chat can be given. It frequently happens that 
damaged lots of rice, or low grades of it, can be bought at 
