The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1883-02-22
for the farmer.
CARE OF YOUNG TURKEYS.

Having received communications, requesting
oar mode of feeding and rearing Young turkeys.
We were decided TO make this the subject of our
chat. We know all about how disheartening it
l., after gathering the eggs which As like as any
way, madam turkey had deposited in s0nlu ont
of-the-way nook, neeessitating a considerable
seaTrl--sittiDg them with immense care be-
meath Cur hest brRoders, waiting with cOmnen.
dable patience through the long weeks of incu-
baton. and finally watching the little downey
things peck their way into this unknown world;
then, TO all orr fair hopes blasted, to go out
20 coop day after day and mOurnfully gather mp
those that have persisted during the night, un
til our hsck attains almost sorry dimensions
as the tabled maiden's ''who counted her chick
ems before they were hatched." We have been
there, We repeat, and know all about it, and Onr
sympathy for those in like condition is great
that more than willing to shed all the
light Of which are capable upon the subject,
although We do dot claim to know il quite all.
Ii the poults are Matched by hen, IL is our mode
TO coop the hen, providing her with a warm
nesi box at the rear Of the coop. and TO allow
the poults TO ran freely through the latticed
front, which should face the south, restricting
their run. however, until they are a few weeks
old. This is easily done by placing two wide
b0ards in such way that with the front of the
coops il forms triangle. In this space the
pOults may be fed, beyond the reach Of their
racious mamma, who does not need such dainty
food, nor require it 30 often. If we can spare
hen turkeys 10 devote their time to domestic
matters, we rather prefer them to the biddie for
the reason that after the points are strong
enough 10 he permitted perfect liberty TO range,
they are led by the parents into the fields where
they greatly aid their growth aud development,
10y the quantities of grasshoppers, and other in
sects, which they devOur. 1t has been ex-
pericnoe that, III of the hen turkey presid-
ing as mother, it is better not to cOnfine her in
any way, but, instead, confne the pOults in
pen, say eighteen or twenty inches high, and af
ter they are large enough tie scale this they are
strong enough TO be allowed to do They
should. however. lie driven up TO theirpe every
evening until large enough TO take to the tree
with grown turkeys. IL is well, also, 10 cOntin-
he giving them their evening meal of wheat
screenings, cracked corn or oats, until fully
grown, rs in this way they the earlier and
better fitted for the market. In this pen You
should place a roomy box, or an old barrel, for
roOsting place while the poults are small and al
30 for shelter from the cold winds and chilling
rains, with which spring, especially this one, is
rife. In this box or barrel place some straw,
and If it is the former, set it in corner of the
pen, on its side in such a way that all sides are
protected and only a sufficient opening is left for
convenient egress and ingress. In another cor
ner, underneath which you keep the ground
strewn with fresh gravel, it is immensely con-
venient to have a small, movable, latticed coop,
into which the pOuts soon learn TO run for the
food which they require while young as often
as five times day. Outside of the pen may be
thrown coarser fare for the mother when she re-
hard boiled eggs, crumbled up, shell and all
with cracker crumbs, stale bread, oatmeal,
>mearcase, and even wheat screenings, after n
week or so old, varied TO suit the convenience
and make little variety. This food may be
slightly salted and peppered, and occasionally,
10 keep them in health, add little sulphur or
charcoal, and, in damp, chilly weather, cayenne
pepper. Milk, in any shape, they eagerly par
take of, and they appear TO thrive wonderfully
upon it. Green food, in some shape, they must
have from the first. Onions, in particular, are
considered beneficial to poultry of all ages and
varieties. After they are two or three weeks old
they may he fed almost entirely upon a mixture
Of corn aud oats ground together, or in place of
the oats, bran and middlings. Wet this meal
up in pan with milk or water-the former the
hetter-salt it, and if possible add little bone
meal, and bake in the oven until done so it will
erumble and not be sticky. Feed no raw food,
at least until the poults begin to throw out the
red on their heads, when they are said to become
comparatively hardy. The same food and treat
ment will apply TO yOung chicks.