Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1908 — Farm and Garden [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Farm and Garden

PROFITABLE TURKEYS. How to Raisa Those Fowls to tiring Good Prices In the Market. “Success in turkey raising depends largely on the choice of stock, also on the care and attention given,” says one authority. “I have raised different kinds, but like White Hollands the best. I have often raised a large flock from three hens. They are very tame and bring more in the market on account of their line plumage. “In the early spring I- gather the eggs daily, for If left to accumulate In the nest they become chilled and so are worthless for hatching. Much labor and time may be saved if the

hens are kept In an Inclosure during the egg producing season: Barrels laid on the side with straw placed in them make good nests. “After gathering them It Is not best to keep'tbe eggs very long, but if there Is no suitable place to put them with a hen they should be turned at legst twice a week. “I give seventeen eggs to a turkey hen. It is best if they can come off while sitting to eat and dust as they like. They may also be dusted with a good powder just before the young turkeys come out. I take them from the nest as soon as possible, all but one, to be left with the mother, so she will not be uneasy. I keep them in a box in the house until they learn to eat and walk. They soon learn to eat bread moistened with sweet milk. "The coops a>e then ready. These are made of boards eight feet long, about three feet high at the front and two and a half inches in the rear, being fitted with a good cover; also boards partly covering the bottom, with a door in each end. This, divided In the middle, will make two good coops, which will turn the rain. I keep them in the coop with the hen one day, then turn them In a pen made of boards a foot high. The pen is about twenty feet square. Around this two feet of poultry wire is placed to keep the mother in; also to keep the outside chickens from getting to scalp the little ones.

“The coop opening In this pen makes it easy to change them around. In this way they get plenty of exercise nml will flourish if given eornmeal and cheese made of sour milk four times a day with plenty of fresh water. Small oyster shell is necessary. A small bit of cayenne pepper mixed with the cheese is a good stimulant. “After keeping them In the pen about two weeks they are getting anxious to find larger fields. The White Hollands will wander and hunt, but nearly always come home In the evening. They soon learn to go in the coop. This must be kept very clean. After feeding they are shut in and kept till the grass is dry in the morning. Always keep them in when it rains. They cannot run iu the wet until larger. “When getting them ready for market a mixed feed of oats and corn Is good. Old com is much better than new.” A way of controlling turkeys to make them stay In a field Is very simple.

Take a shingle or a thin piece of board about a foot long and bore with a small bit four holes, two on one side and two on the other, that will Just cover the wings. Take then a stout piece of soft cloth and put

around the wing or under the wing, bring It through the holes and tie securely. The turkey cftnnot fly with this on, for she cannot raise her wings, as she Is obliged to in flying. The cut gives an Idea of how It Is made and attached. The strings should not be tied so tightly as to injure the wing, but tight enough to stay on. The device cannot be used during the breeding season, as it will prevent the turkeys from mating.

Lame Pigs. Young pigs confined in a floored pen sometimes become lame. It Is advisable to turn the pigs out and let them have an opportunity to take proper exercise and enjoy natural conditions as nearly as possible. It Is the plank floor that causes soreness and lamepasture they may be fed on corn alone, but if confined In a small lot they should be supplied with food that contains more' bone making constituents than Is supplied by corn, such as wheat bran, oats, middlings, coliards, etc.

FINE WHITE TURKEYS.

YOKED TURKEY.