Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-05-11
Miscellany.
froIa the New I'm lr d Farmer.
Raising Turkeys.

"uu W dNcuuuiS 10 the uisPoshioh ohu
habits Of the bird. Many people seem
disposed inrhis business to trust to luck,
without much care or pains taking; not re-
hecting that luck, in this case, as in most
other cases, attends those who put them
selves in the way Of being lucky.
Believing that few hints at this seas
on, from one who has had some expert
ence in this department, might be accepta-
BILE, the following article is at your disposal.
In the first place, think the brightest
and best hens should be selected for breed
ers, and kept for this purpose as long as
they live and are healthy; for I believe
the young turkeys from mothers two or
three years old are larger and stronger,
and capable Of more endurance, than
those Matched by mothers only one year
old; and they are apt to take better care
in bringing up the brood. The gobbler
should be taken from another brood. This
is not absolutely essential, and the effects
may not be visible for several years; but
constant breeding inland 10, will have a
tendency, after while, to make the race
weak and unhealthy, and produce general
deterioration.
Though the turkey, when full grown, is
very hardy bird, still think the hens
require more care and attention during
winter than they ottentimes receive. They
should be fed regularly every day, and ac-
customed TO the barn, and not suffered 10
roost out on trees in stormy weather, or
when it is extremely cold, as their habits
induce them to do.
Two advantages are gained by this
One is, the health of the turkey is pre-
served and another is, they will be more
willing to lay and hatch in the barn, there
by saving the trouble of hunting them up,
or losing their eggs, and perhaps the tur-
keys themselves.
About the last of May is early enough
TO have them hatch; and if possible, have
them come out in the increase ofthe moon.
know very well that some will laugh at
this, and say it is relic Of the dark ages
and that il is all superstition and nonsense,
to talk such stuff in this enlightened age.
Now the writer is tolerably free from
whims and superstiiions in other matters
but such is invariably the fact in his expe-
rience. The young turkeys are always
weaker and more puny, and dwindle away
more when they come out on the decrease
of the moon. Whether she has anything
TO do with it or not, is more than / under
take to say; all state is the fact, ac-
cording to my observation. 1t is better to
set the turkeys on an open scaffold in the
barn, than in boxes or tubs. The air cir
culates freer, and there is not so much DAN
ger of the old ones breaking the eggs in
going on and off.
The turkey is most assiduous sitter;
and should be induced to 60 off as oft as
every other day, il not disposed to go her.
self.
As soon as the turkeys are Matched, and
sufficiently strong to run about, they should
be removed, together with the mother, TO
a pen made of boards, about two feet high,
in some warm, sunny place, and the grass
cut short; but they should be removed TO
the barn every night, or house made in
the pen sufficiently tight to protect them
from the wet, and from rats and other ver-
min.
The practice Of tying the mother with
string to stake, is very reprehenslb!e.
The young turkeys stroll away too far
from the mother, which keeps her con-
stantly uneasy, and she cannot protect
them If she would and some are so spir-
tied, that, if confined in this manner, they
will not call the brood, nor take any care
of them whatever. This constant Juggling
at the string 10 get away is apt to lame
and iniure the turkey, if nothing worse
II the weather should be very stormy
when they are quite young, it is best to
keep them in an open barn floor for few
days altogether. The only ooJecuon 10
this is the danger of rats carrying Oft the
young turkeys.
IF the turkeys do well. they will be
able to fly over and escape from their en-
closure By or before they are three weeks
old; and then they are strong enough to
be allowed more liberty. But at this
stage they are by no means beyond the
reach of care. They must be hunted up
every night and housed; and not suffered
to 90 out in the morning till the grass i;
dried in some measure: and must always
be looked up and taken care of in rainy
weather, as nothing is more fatal to young
turkeys than acct. They must be Kept dry
at all erents.
This care extends from the last OF May
or the time they are first Matched, till thu
fourth or middle of July, according TO thu
health and strength of the turkeys, wher