Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-27
The Turkey Question.

pondent writes to know something
about raising and fattening these
noble birds, we propose to give our
rural friends some useful hints on
the subject. There is plenty of time
between this and the coming holi-
days to raise large flocks of marketa-
BILE fowls, and with prudence and
due precaution, the business can be
made a remunerative one. The con-
sideration to be taken into account is
to procure eggs laid by we'll grown,
thrifty bird, and the largest of these
should be selected for Matching pur-
poses. As early as possible, let the
eggs be put under q good sitting
hen, one noted for having raised
several large broods of chickens.
No more eggs should be confded to
her keeping than she can completely
and safely cover. The hen turkey is
a good, faithful sitter, but a misera-
bly, poor mother. Not unlike some
of our human sisters, she has been
noted, from the earliest ages, for be-
ing an unmitigated gad.about. Solo
mon has given an inimitable descrip-
ton of her nomadic propensities,
but we were talking about turkeys,
and must not digress. The DISPOSE
ton of the hen turkey is to wander
over an unlimited range, which is
not only detrimental to the growth
and development of the young tur-
keys, but tends to lead them into
temptation and danger. The mother
turkey neither knows nor cares any
thing about the fight of time, and
would as soon go to roost with her
children in an enemy's country, as
under the restraining influences of
home. The turkey never teaches
her chickens to scratch for a living,
nor in any way to seek their food for
themselves. Turn we now to the
prudent, motherly instincts of the
hen. By her example, brood of
young turkeys, when old enough
to shift sfor themselves, will make
their way in the world, grow fat and
lay down their lives with honor at
Thanksgiving, when, if left to the
rearing of the turkey mother, they
would either utterly starve or grow
up miserable boodlums and scape-
graces, and the butt of ridicule to a
table full of connoiseurs.
About thirty days are required to
complete the period of incubation,
and as soon as all the chicks are
hatched, they should be transferred
to a good warm coop, efficiently pro-
tected from the sun, the wind and
rain. The critical period in the life
of a young turkey is the third day
after Matching. Until fully a week
old. they should be tenderly cared
for, by being provided with the most
nutritious food. If our friends think
we are over-particular in treating
these points, they will please to
bear in mind that we are supposing
them to be engaged in raising tur-
keys for market and no other pur-
pose. Few persons are aware of the
great difference that can result from
the two extremes of careless and
judicious feeding. The making of
beef by care and feeding, can be re-
duced to no finer system than the
production Of q sweet, tender and
we'll favored article of turkey flesh.
The best authorities have recon-
mended as food for young tur-
keys, coarsely ground hemp-seed
mixed with with crushed boiled eggs,
oat and barley meal we'll cooked.
The food should in all cases be
thrown on the ground to insure u
proper quantity of gravel being taken
up and swallowed with it. None
other than the purest water should
be given for drink. Avoid all slop
feeding, remembering always, that
unclean, innutritious food is sure to
make rank, unsavory, ill-odored
flesh. Many poultry-raisers recon-
mend sour milk, we'll boiled and
thickened with cooked corn meal,
seasoned moderately with black pep
per. While the pepper initiates
against disease, it tends to enhance
IL r