GROWING POULTRY 287 



Turkeys grow slowly at first. Though of different conformation, 

 and perhaps looking much larger, the average turkey chick at ten 

 or twelve weeks is often no heavier than a large Brahma cockerel 

 of the same age. The later growth of the turkey is more rapid, 

 birds at eight or ten months often weighing from 1 5 to 20 pounds. 



In general it is with the growth for the first few months that 

 the poultry keeper is most concerned. A large part of the poultry 

 grown is disposed of within three months, and (with some differ- 

 ences in the management of birds for different purposes) conditions 

 and methods that have given normal development up to that time 

 can be relied upon to bring the birds to maturity in good form and 

 in good season. Young poultry that is below normal at three 

 months may be improved by good care and feeding, but will never 

 make first-class stock for any purpose. 



Separation of the sexes while growing. Separation of males and 

 females at this stage is necessary only with chickens. The time of 

 separating them varies according to the precocity of the cockerels. 

 In the smaller breeds, like the Leghorn, it is advisable to separate 

 the sexes when the chicks are weaned, for soon after that many 

 of the males become troublesome. In the Wyandottes, Plymouth 

 Rocks, and similar breeds, if the more precocious males are re- 

 moved as soon as they begin to domineer over the others and 

 among the pullets, the sexes may be left together until they are 

 three, four, or five months old. In the Asiatics the sexes may be 

 kept together until well grown. 



Separation according to age and size. Of much more importance 

 than separation according to sex is separation according to size. 

 Especially is this necessary with cockerels intended for exhibition 

 or breeding. The cockerels which at maturity will be best are, as 

 a rule, not the most precocious. The precocious birds domineer 

 over the others, and a cowed bird never develops as he should. 

 The best conditions in this respect are usually obtained when the 

 chicks are given at the start suflScient coop and land room to last 

 until they are well grown, and the culls and inferior birds and the 

 quarrelsome males removed as occasion arises, thus reducing the 

 numbers so that they are never overcrowded. Only an occasional, 

 exceptional lot will then outgrow its quarters, and such cases can 

 be taken care of by removing from each overflowed coop a few of 



