The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-12-07
Turkeys.

The Turkey is one OF the most profit.
able of the fowl family to raise, and
every farm house ought to have a flock
in the fail numbering from dozen to
fifty birds. 1t requires some knowledge
of the habits of the fowl when young
and care and attention to succeed, all
of which might be acquired and given.
A professional turkey raiser says:
The great point to be aimed at in
turkey breeding is size, for the larger
the size the more per pound can be OBJ.
tanned when killed, aud therefore, in
selecting breeding stock, the chief
considerations are good frame, bone,
and substance. Small birds are dear
at gift and should not be accepted at
all. 1t may be that the desire for ex-
cessive weight has tended to make the
breed delicate, but if SO this can be
overcome by keeping large boned birds
only, as these will be better able to
bear large amount Of flesh. A turkey
hen at six months should weigh nine
or ten pounds, and if purchasing, |
would not buy under this weight. A
healthy bird can easily be known, as
the g.lls and head are of bright red
color, and the habits are very active.
Do not buy old birds, whose legs are
very scaly, or if the tuft of wiry hair
IN front on the breast is very bushy, as
they will not be Of mnch service.
The turkey does not attain its full
maturity until the third year, and Of
course. it is better to breed from full
grown birds than from young ones, but
the latter lay very much earlier than
the former, and consequently are used
on that account. If these are good
strong birds they may be bred from,
and the produce will come in useful
for early sale. 1t is best to change the
male bird every season, and the cock
bought in the early spring can be fat.
tened and killed on the following
Christmas, when it will be no worse for
its service, and probably will bring
almost as much as was given for it. If
this plan is adopted, some of the young
hens can be kept for breeding purposes,
whereas if no change in the cock is
made this cannot be done. Never use
a cock Of your own breeding for stock,
if in the least related to any of the
hens, for turkeys are delicate to begin
with, and any in.breeding will make
them more so. Eight hens are sufficient
give to one cock. and for choice pre-
fer the dark colored birds, as they are
the hardest.
About the beginning of March the
hens will begin to lay, and it is neces-
sary to watch them closely. or they will
lay in STRANGE places. Take the eggs
out daily, only leaving dummy in the
nest, and keep them packed in bran in
cool place until the hen is ready.
which can easily be known by her per-
sistently remaining on the nest. Some
people prefer to let the turkey set
where she likes, but we think it best to
keep her in safer place, and no better
plan can be adopted than making a
large sitting box and treating her in the
same fashion as sitting hens. 1t may
be necessary to lift her off every day.
but turkeys are comparatively gentle
bids, and will bear handling
The time for hatching for turkeys
is % days, and it is better not to inter.
fere much with the eggs, except to
examine them ON the tenth day by
candIe-light When the young birds
are hatched, leave them over night
without removal. Next morning lift
the mother gently, and place her in
large, dry, and comfortable coop. and
her brood can then be put with her.
See that the old bird has plenty of food
and water, and feed the young cnes on
hard boiled egg chopped fine, with
boiled rice and soaked food, which
must be given to them FIVE or six times
in the day. the first feed to be given as
soon as possible after daylight, and the
last about six O'Clock in the evening.
When week or ten days old, begin to
throw down little dari or buekwheat,