The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1872-03-02
Turkey-Raising.

I have llJtle paper here on the sub
ecs Of turleey-raising, about which I
have had considerable practical expe-
renee. For the last ten years a rnuIti.
nde of farmers east Of the Hudson. and
not few west, have made more money
rom their turkeys than from any other
Dre kind OF stock. Ten well-managed
urkey hens viii give larger net profit
han ten COWS if, in addition to good
Management, the farmer has good luck.
The first six weeks in the life of the
soung are the most perilous. After that
me they are comparatively safe. Some
pen out of batch Of hundred never
ose one, and this is the way they man.
60 them. Let the mother of the new
orn brood choose her own time to
save the nest. Taking off is always bad
oEcy. AS soon as the nest is left, make
yard twelve feet square, by setting
cards edgewise. Remove the turkey
nd her brood into this little pen,
3 herein they should be kept for at least
K days. After which they may be let
1T in the middle of the day, and per-
lifted the range Of an acre, but they
pust always be gathered at least an
our before shutdown into the pens, to
Bmain until the dew is off the next
Forming, and all the day if there is the
ast appearance of storm. The time
be mother leaves the nest, wash the
aked parts of her body thoroughly
18th tobacco juice, to kill the inevitable
Ice, and at the same time dust thor
ughly the young with some vermin-
estroying powder. No one thing kills
many young turkeys as these para
ties. AS a preventive, sulphur and
buff mixed in equal quantities, and
lsted after the turkey has been sitting
10 weeks, is recommended; but moth
g should prevent the washing of the
other or the dusting of the young the
by the mother leaves the nest, and two
Rys after the young have left the shell.
Dung turkeys require but little food,
BIT they need to be fed as often as once
hour for the first week. Coarse
round Indian-meal mixed with sour
ilk curds, and fine chopped hard
piled eggs is the best feed for the first
onth. After that the eggs may be
It out, the meal ground little coarser,
Id the curds, if you have them, used
larger measure than at the first. As
ION as they can swallow whole grain
I've them that, and then all trouble in
\ lis direction is ct an end. Until they
fe two months old they must be driven
some shelter every night, and never
allowed to remain in the fields |
trough o long or heavy rain. Even
hen ono-quarter grown, they will die
ON exhaustion, trying TO follow tile |
gorous and unreasonable mother, if |
ct with but q heavy dew. Three rules
en must be observed, if those who at
mpt to raise turkeys would secure |
ccess: First, be sure to free both old
I'D young from lice Immediately upon
e old ones leaving the nest; Second,
Jed frequently at the beginning with
rengthening food; Third, never let
be young turkeys get wet, either from
Jew or rain, until their feathers afford
heir bodies if not complete, at least
artial protection.
I think one reason why breeders have
much trouble is, that they oVerfeed
heir fowls, On the Plains wild turkeys
bid prairie chickens are most prolific
Id they are not troubled with dis
Rses = Exchange.
WFP III