Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-05-18
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ABOUT TURKEYS.


Who that has any savory reccollections
Of last Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas,
and who that knows what large profits
can be made out of these birds, who does
not wish to try his hand at raising brood
OF two this Summer Here are few
suggestions on the subject;
Experienced breeders insist that for
raising good healthy broods, an old tur-
key is much better than q young one
A bird does not arrive at full maturity
until from two or three years old. Audu-
bon, the great American Naturalist, 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 full
beauty 1t is well known that when far
mers have killed off their old birds, and
raised their broods successively from young
goblers and pullets, the progney has grown
smaller every year. Chicks so raised are
tenderer, and more likely to die off from
cold and exposure. Hence the frequent
remrk from sagacious breeders, that you
might as well think of improving your
aock of sheep by breeding them from
lambs, instead of vigorous, mature sheep
As general rule, the cock and hen should
De three years old and upward, and the
two of different breeds. Every year, the
earliest hatchcd, most vigorous, and best
formed young birds should be selected for
future breeders, and others killed off when
wanted.
During the Fall and Winter, turkeys
need only moderate feeding, but as Spring
opens, let the amount be increased, espcc-
tally during laying time. Considerable
pains should be taken at this last period
to tame them. After they have laid their
first ltter--say fifteen or twenty-five eggs
break up their nests, but do it without
their knowledge. Continue to feed and
cosset them, and in fortnight's time, they
will begin to lay again. 1t is thought a
good practice to turn the eggs once or twice
week. When they have laid their sec-
ond nest full, and show disposition to set
let them do So Put their first lot of eggs
under common hen, at the same time !;
and when they are hatched, give the chicks
to the turkey mother, who will take care
of both broods. The turkeys should be
Matched by the middle of June, or first
ofJuly, at the latest, so as to have them
pretty strong before frosty weather sets in.
Considerable pains will need to be Ia
ken with the young broods. AT first they
should be kept in shed, or on barn
Aoor, where they will be warm and dry.
For the first few days, give them hard
boiled eggs grated fine. Then add to the
eggs, some curd of sour mill. Then, af-
terward, for variety, feed little stale
bread crumbs. When they are month
old, give them Indian meal mixed with
warm water. Set pans of sour milk where
they can get daily sip, if they like.
Until they are ten days old, they should
bo housed at night, and let out during the
day. When about fortnight old, if the
weather is then warm and settled, it is an
excellent plan to make large pen,a rod
square, Of boards sixteen inches wide, and
keep the brood in that until they are able
to fly it, After that they will be able
to take care Of themselves. Only they
should be fed once day to keep them from
rowing too far and too long from home
An,erican AgAicuHariSt