Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-05-04
Hints on Turkey Raising.

s,r,
Ihe southern part OF Now London county,
Conn, IS famous Tor ITS turkeys, and the man
ner OF raising them Is mus described ny "
Native len or twelve hens with COB.
pler Is a goou Stock ana II there Is good
range lor tnem' TINS number may be Kept
WIN very ntNe more trouble than trio
blrIs from TWO TO iour years Old Will bring
muon stronger cnicks than yearlngs' and give
Ihuch better results but H. from any cause
last years mems are Kept let them be from
inc carry oroods Inc iate oroods should all
DC sent 70 market II Is great point to
make the mems all lay near home, and for this
purpose II VIII pay TO yard them Tor few
uays "hen they commence laying. They are
mus much more easily protected from foxes
skuhks ana Vermin' ana are much more IKE
y 70 keep togoln9r 10 one mock "hen the
young ones arc large enough 10 60 10 the
neiu' MAKE houses or shelters Tor them to lay
H. anu II possible nave them several RODS
apart SO 'hat al hatchlng time the turkeys
VIII not De aole 10 near the peeping oil their
hoighDor CHICKS ms VIII sometimes make
s''.ing turkey so uneasy that she VIII aban-
uoh her own eggs Ii nests are made near
one another the mems should be set at the
same Tune, so as TO come OIL together This
Is also desirable In case OF failure Of part
OF the eggs TO hatch. Two broods may be
gwen to one mother to the number OF Is or
~ ana the other hen Will very soon begin to
lay again Inc eggs should be carried In at
night, II frost is threatened, and be returned
70 the nest again IN the morning. The heat
mat they receive from the birds while laying
ana the turning that they get Is said to have
favorable influence upon them and to make
them hatch better. There is difference OF a
DAY or two IN the Matching of fresh and an
old egg, although they be Of the same clutch
The old bird is inclined to accommodate her
movements to the strongest of her family,
and the weakest are frequently left behind
ana lost When they come of, conflne from
one to three broods in pen from 10 to 10
Get square, made by setting up wide boards
edgewlse, SO that the young ones cannot jump
out. The old ones will not wander far from
the pen, and in about week the chicks will
be able to clear the boards, when they may
be safely left to 80 with the hens. In storms
they should be sheltered. Give little food
at first. Indian meal Is too fine, and frequent
ly kills them. Get corn cracked at the mill
on purpose and increase its size as the chicks
grow. Wheat, buckwheat and oats are good
for them when few weeks old. Feed, also
at hrst, with some kind of fresh animal food.
Chopped liver and beef, boiled eggs and cur
died milk are good. The success of the tur-
key crop depends mainly upon the first
month. They should be brought home TO the
poultry yard every night. For the first three
weeks a boy or girl should be employed to
watch them, keep Always hawks aud other
enemies, and see to the straggers Not a
few chicks are lost IN the grass and perish be-
cause they lose the sound OF the mothers
voice. One child can watch the broods Of a
dozen hens, and keep them in the same range,
great deal OF trouble later in the season
For if they begin to feed together they will
naturally take the same course every morn
ing, aud all the turkeys will be found near
together when they are sought at night, il
they should fail to come of their own accord
If fed every night they will rarely fail to
make their appearance when the cows come
for milking. A pasture is the best range for
them when they are young"
NoTEs.-There are some things about tur.
key raising, which it is worth while for a nov.
ice to know, not told by our correspondent
Turkeys ii well trained become very domes
tic, and may easily DO made to lay, in gooC
gzed hnxcs nlaced in sheds or ont -buil dings