The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-04-04
lqrualturnl.
From The Country Gentleman.
Turkey Breeding.


Few turkeybreeders are aware Of the
superior advantages of retaining old birds
for breeding purposes. The most Of our
farmers dispose of their old turkeys. as
they call them, every Fall, which is in
fact, at least two years before they have
reached their maturity, and just so long
before they have arrived at the best age
Tor breeding purposes. Audubon, the dis.
tinguIshed American Ornithologist SAYS
"Ihe third year the male turkey may be
said to be an adult, although it increases
| in weight and size for several years more
The females, at the age of four, are in
| f"'l beauty" The naturalist was then
speaking Of the wild turkey; but AS all
, our families Of domestic turkeys have de.
/ sccnded from the American wild, not
! more than about three hundred wears ago,
aud frequent crossings are known to have
! been made from that time down to the
present, it is but reasonable to suppose
that the law Of growth, that governs the
Wild turkey, also, 10 q great extent, con,
/ trols the domestic. Indeed, domestication
has only changed the color OF the plum
age. No breeder of sheep would think
OF improving bis flocks 10y disposing, each
year, OF all his old sheep, and breeding
only from lambs; yet he would be quite
AS wise Ms he who annually retains only
young turkeys for breeding purposes, for
the sheep certainly reaches its maturity as
soon as the turkey.
Old hen turkeys do not EaY as early IN
the season, nor as many eggs, as Young
birds, but the young chicks are so much
stronger, hatchei from the eggs OF the
old bird, that, with ordinary care, more
young, As well as better, will be raised in
"A season from the old hens
Select the earliest Matched, largest, and
best iormed turkeys for breeding purposes
secure male not related to the females
If convenient Keep the heus until sven
or "'Sht years old, or So long AS they con.
tlnuc to lay well, and keep the males un.
III three or four years old and our word
for 1t, the breeder will be satisfied with
the result, for We have seen it tried.
, Feed but moderately during the Win.
ter-more generously towards Spring,
and pi"ntifuIly during the laying season,
when good hens will lay from thirteen to
twenty five eggs the first litter These
may he hatched with advantage under
large hens, especially one OF the large
Aslatic family. The turkey will soor
commence her second litter of eggs, which
she ough; to bring off early in July.
When the young turkey chicks, OF
poults, come Oft, which will BE in from
twc"ty seven = twenty nine days, do no
60 10 stHtting them with dough, sllspice
pepper or anything else, for they nee.
nothing but warmth for the first twenty
four hours. The second day, give "a N;tI,
hard boiled egg, grated finely, four o.
five times. and nothing else. Continue
the egg daily COR three or four weeks
The curd Of sour milk, made by scalL;ne
the milk with n little water, letting it set
tie, and straining off the liquid, makes a.
excellent food 10 alternate with the egg
after the poults are few days old. A
little stale bread, broken finely, may alsc
be mixed with the cured, or given sepn
!atey. After tho young are four week
Old, they may be feI with soft feed to AL
vantage, such AS scaded corn meal, oa
and barley meal scalded {; but these meal
are poor feed wettel with cold water. |
is also recommended by many successful
breeders, that pans Of sour milk be place,
, where the young turkeys may drink Of j
as often as they please.
Any person can raise turkeys who vii
feed often when young, and Of only fresh
nonrishins food /; and will also keep ,h
cups clean, and the pouIts out of rain
and dews until at least two months old
u. 3. LII.