2 34 



POULTRY CULTURE 



unsuitable to them under normal conditions, but because of the sympathetic rela- 

 tion between the nervous and digestive systems. It does not appear that their 

 digestive organs are originally and normally less robust than those of fowls, but 

 it is plain that in general their nervous systems are more sensitive, and most 

 sensitive in infancy, when every part of the organism is most susceptible. For 

 that reason the poultry keeper who grows these birds must cater more to their 

 natural habits. When he does this, and arranges the feeding accordingly, it is 

 found that the same foods may be used for all, and that there is no more need 

 of special diets for the young of each of these rarer kinds of poultry than for 

 young chickens. 



28. For turkeys on farm range. For the young poults, coarsely ground 

 corn mixed with milk (sweet or sour) or baked in a cake and moistened with 

 milk. This is gradually mixed with cracked corn until, when the poults are 

 about eight weeks old, cracked com is given clear. Through the summer they 

 are fed on this twice a day. In the fall they are fattened on whole corn, fed 

 two or three times a day. 



This is the method of many growers in the turkey-growing district in Rhode 

 Island and Connecticut. Some growers feed to both young and old one feed 

 daily of dough or mash, as fed to fowls and other poultry. Compare this 

 with ration i. The success of this method shows that with suitable foraging 

 conditions all that is needed to supplement the natural ration is what heavy 

 grain (corn) they will eat. When range is good, many growers do not feed at all 

 through the season when insects, especially grasshoppers, are most abundant. 

 The fattening of turkeys in the late fall depends largely upon the weather. If the 

 weather is seasonable, — that is, quite cool in northerly latitudes, — less insect 

 and vegetable foods are to be secured by foraging, the appetite for heavy food 

 is also keener, and the turkeys eat corn freely and fatten well. If the weather 

 is warm there is more food available on the range, the appetite is not so sharp, 

 they will not eat corn so freely, and it may not be possible to fatten them as 

 much as desired. Turkeys do not fatten well in confinement. Some of the 

 fattening plants in New England have tried fattening them in large flocks, like 

 geese, but results have not been satisfactory. It is not necessary to multiply 

 examples of turkey rations. Any of the rations given to fowls and chickens 

 on range may be successfully used for turkeys on range. 



For peafowls. In size and habit these birds are very similar to turkeys, and 

 may be reared in the same way. Usually they are found in much smaller 

 flocks, a male and one or two females with their young. They forage widely, 

 as turkeys do, and small flocks on good range are self-sustaining except in 

 winter. 



For guineas. In the conditions in which they are usually grown, guineas 

 need little attention. They may be fed just the same as fowls and chicks on 

 range. They prefer to keep away from other poultry much of the time, but 

 when they come among fowls, they are very domineering. 



For pheasants. For a long time pheasants were considered especially deli- 

 cate, requiring special feeding until well grown. The most successful growers in 



