Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1912 — POULTRY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POULTRY

DIFFICULT TO RAISE TURKEY Overfeeding and Vermin Among Principal Causes of Mortality—Chicken Hens Poor Brooders. (By A. GLAIGHER, Ohio.) Turkey hens, as a rule, lay their eggs on the ground. As. they begin laying very early in the season, it is best to remove the eggs from the nest soon after they are laid, and replace them with hen eggs. Be careful not to let a turkey hen see you near the nest, because turkeys are very cunning and resent intrusion. Wrap the eggs in paper and place In boxes one layer deep. They should be turned carefully, every day until placed for hatching. Turkey eggs will keep in good condition for 2jL days when cared Tor in this manner. But it is never advisable tor keep eggs longer than is necessary. , Some people hptch their turkeyeggs with chicken hens, but we do not think it a good practice on account of the fact that the poults are apt to get lousy. We had an experience of this kind a few years ago. In spite of the fact that the poults were thoroughly dusted wiih powder every few days they began to droop and die. As a last resort we used olive oil and found it exeeAent. Do not use too much oil. Lard, or any kind of animal grease will kill young poults

almost as fast as the lice will. Vegetable oil is different from animal oils. Never use kerosene. Spread the wing and raise the short feathers on the shoulder, directly over the large quills. If a young turkey has lice, they will be fonfid there. Also around the tail or wherever. there are large feathers. One application of the oil is usually suf’ficient unless the lice are very numerous. Remember, lice are fatal to turkey poults, so they must be kept free from them. Never use oil or grease upon a setting hen. If she has lice, use a powder. Oil, upofi the shell of an egg renders it worthless for hatching. One of the first things young turkeys need is sunshine. It is a waste of time to offer them food before they are 48 hours old. Turkeys need fresh air both day and night, but they must not be allowed to get damp. The first feed is usually hard-boiled eggs, crushed, mixed with dry bread crumbled fine and sprinkled with clean qoarse sand. Rice, properly cooked, is good for ybung turkeys, and pin-head oats, or coarse oat meal is also good. Corn is too fattening for growing turkeys and commercial chick-feed is too bard to digest. Whole wheat is good after they are six weeks old, but only feed a very little of it. Overfeeding is one of the things which must be guarded against. We

have always been inclined to feed too much and too often. When turkeys have free range, which they ought always to have when the weather is suitable, they require very little grain. Grass and insects are their natural food. . :y • - ■

Turkey Hen on Nest.

A Narragansett Gobbler.