SUCCESS WITH TURKEYS. 



Time and Method of Making a Start-Housing and Feeding Breeders- ISests and Food of Sitting Turkeys-Care of 

 Poults-Uce-Fattenlng Stock for Market-Preparing for the Show Room-Diseases of Turkeys. 



By Mrs. Bettle Clover Mackey. 



IRTJLY there is more interest taken to-day in poul- 

 try culture than ever before in the history of the 

 American people. There seems to be an awaken- 

 ing to the fact, long proclaimed by a few.that 

 there is money in poultry. The question is sel- 

 dom asked now, "Does poultry pay.-" The form has changed 

 and the question now is, "How can I manage my poultry to 

 get the best returns?" 



It seems to me that the poultry business, and especially 

 turkey culture, is one belt which reaches around the globe. 

 America is sending fine turkeys to foreign countries, and 

 the west is furnishing the east with her best turkeys. I have 

 shipped turkeys and eggs from ocean to ocean, from Canada 

 to Mexico. The turkey is one American bird that will thrive 

 in any land, will grow on any soil, or in any climate, and is 

 considered a luxury by all, from the king on his throne to 

 the humblest laborer in his hut. 



There are more specialty fanciers than ever before, and 

 in no department of poultry culture is there more interest 

 taken than in the turkey department. Of the many varie- 

 ties, the Bronze is the leading one now bred. It is hardy, 

 easy to breed, to standard, has fine style and is a beauty in 

 color. It is of quick growth and will attain immense weight 

 if fed for flesh. The objection is urged that the Bronze is 

 more- roving in disposition than other breeds. This disposi- 

 tion to roam is not confined to the Bronze alone, and the 

 roaming turkey is more healthy than the one which hangs 

 around the back door. Whether any other one will ever 

 supercede the Bronze in popularity remains to be seen. Of 

 one thing I feel assured, and that is that no breed now in 

 existence will ever rival them. What may be produced by 

 a cross we do not know. 



While there is general admiration for the turkey, and 

 a desire to raise them, there seems to be, among those who 

 have never handled them, an impression that turkeys are 

 very hard to raise, very expensive to keep, and difficult to 

 manage as to disposition, that is, that they are such a roving 

 and wild nature it is almost impossible to keep them at 

 home or tame them. This last impression has grown out of 

 the first. For years it was the custom, when turkeys hatched 

 on the farm, to take them as far from the house as possible 

 and put them in a place of security from vermin, and the 

 only person who went near them were those taking them 

 food. This was said to be the only way in which they could 

 be raised, for if they were kept near the house they would be 

 sure to become unhealthy and die. I well remember when 

 I thought this true. Of course, turkeys thus raised became 

 timid and ran from every thing or person they saw. They 

 were generally fed until six or eight weeks old and then 

 allowed to make their own living. Naturally of a roving 

 nature, they did not seek quarters near the house, and I have 

 seen them fly to the highest trees whenever they were ap- 

 proached. They would tear down shocks of corn, for how 



else were they to get their living? No one thought of feed- 

 ing them. 



WILD TURKEYS IN VIRGINIA. , 



I do not agree with persons who think turkeys are hard 

 to raise and keep healthy. But they cannot be raised in a 

 haphazard manner. Follow nature as nearly as possible and 

 the poults will do better. 



Wild turkeys abound in warm, woodland countries. In 

 the pinelands of Virginia (my native state) wild turkeys 

 grow in large flocks. This is a mountainous region, rocky, 

 abounding in springs of crystal water. The pine trees are in 

 all forests, and it is said that there is more or less of the 

 properties of turpentine in the water. Even in rainy seasons 

 the rocky hills are not very wet and there are such large, 

 sheltering trees the hen turkey can protect her young in the 

 hardest storms. The seasons are mild and the pine trees are 

 said to be a preventive of vermin. As turpentine is sure 

 death to lice. I think it reasonable that the pine will prevent 

 them. There are abundant seeds and wild food for the fowls, 

 with plenty of insects and grit. 



Following this lesson in nature (where the wild turkey 

 thrives and iarge droves of tame ones are raised) I draw the 

 conclusion that a hilly, rocky slope is a good locality; that 

 turkeys must be kept dry, have plenty of pure water and 

 fresh air, and at the same time not be allowed to become 

 chilled. Either they must have a place where there is plenty 

 of grit or it must be supplied to them. I do not favor giving 

 poults or chicks hot 'feed. It is not the natural way and we 

 cannot improve on nature. I have succeeded in raising 

 strong, vigorous, gentle turkeys. That it is their nature to 

 roam cannot be denied, but this may be greatly overcome by 

 the treatment they receive. 



BEGINNING WITH EGGS. 

 Frequently I am asked which is cheaper to begin with, 

 eggs or stock. This question can be truthfully answered — 

 Eggs and stock. Circumstances and surroundings largely 

 decide which is cheaper. If you have the money buy a trio 

 of turkeys; if not enough for a trio, then a pair; but if you 

 have not money enough to buy the turkeys, buy a sitting 

 of eggs. I have made some very profitable investments in 

 eggs. 



I have been asked if turkey eggs will hatch after being 

 shipped? I reply that where eggs are rightly packed and 

 fairly handled there is nothing in the shipping to prevent a 

 hatch. But there is a great deal in the hen under which they 

 are set. From exactly the same lot of eggs set at the same 

 time one hen will hatch several hours before the other and 

 will hatch every egg, while the other hatch will be very 

 poor. If you break the eggs decide whether it is the fault of 

 the egg— an infertile egg will not rot, but will be as clear 

 at the end of the hatch as when set. Turkey eggs are usual- 

 ly better fertilized than chicken eggs. 



Follow these directions when sitting shipped eggs: Al- 



