Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1907 — TURKEY BROILERS. [ARTICLE]

TURKEY BROILERS.

How the Poults May Sometimes Be Disposed of to Advantage. People living In locations where It would be very embarrassing to care for large flocks of roaming turkeys during the late fall may yet raise large flocks Of poults to broiler size and then dispose of them at a splendid profit before they can become a nuisance to the neighbors, says Mrs. R. E. Florea In Inland Poultry Journal. Good prices may now be obtained for turkeys at any time of the year, the February, March and April markets often bringing more satisfactory returns for hens and late small toms than the holiday markets. In regard to the selection of breeding stock, the hens should be strong and healthy, of medium size. Do not have them abnormally large. Indeed, I consider overlarge hens so unprofitable that were I compelled to use either undersized or unnaturally large females I would choose the former as giving me the best chance, for In that case I could be reasonably sure of eggs and chicks In numbers. Most of the large hens produce but few eggs and mostly Infertile. I prefer pullets that will weigh without being fat, simply in good laying condition, about seventeen pounds each at laying time. Such pullets will grow into mature hens of twenty-one and twenty-two pounds each, which is the best weight for profitable hens. The male should not be too large In proportion to the females of his yard. If your females are small and you wish to Improve your stock, by all moans secure a medium sized male for the first year. This advice is worth heeding, as it may save you disappointment and loss. The male should be a cockerel, and if he Is pure bred aud has been bred right—that is, with plenty of constitutional vigor—the offspring from this mating will prove sufficiently large to justify you iu saving the nicest pullets to keep over, and then secure a large male for the second mating.