Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-03-06
AGRICULTURAL HINTS,
BRONZE TURKEYS.

something About Their Hal.iss-AIso Some
Practical Hints on Rearing Turkeys.
have been much amused the past
season, says farmers daughter writing
TO the Country Gentleman. by noticing
the various and somewhat conflicting
instructions given in the newspapers fol-
raising turkeys. Judging from the
boosted success of such opposite meth
oos, the yerlest amateur need not hest
tate to make the attempt, for not the
slightest Skill is required for the bust
ness.
One poultry keeper says he knows of
no better food for young turkeys than
raw corn meal dough; another thinks
they require eggs, rice and crackers
a third says. feed them all they will eat
every two hours, while fourth declares
they will thrive best without any feed
ing at all. \ fifth authority says let the
little fellows rough it from the start,
that the mother hen knows best how to
rear her own children; while a sixth.
who | think is a woman, says her little
turkeys are SO tender that she puts
them in a glaSs-covcred pen and keeps
them there for weeks.
As a rule. when doctors disagree it is
best to have none of their prescriptions.
but to experiment for yourself until
some personal knowledge is acquired.
1t is best to follow neither extreme, for,
judging from my own experience. | can
not believe that he who allows his little
turkeys to rough it. Will succeed in
raising a very large percentage of the
number Matched or that the lady who
keeps hers confined to glass case will
do very much better.
Young turkeys do not require great
deal of heat; they thrive best in temper
ate weather when the mornings are cool
and the days are bright and sunny, as in
the latter part of spring before the dry
heat of summer begins: and while they
do not require any extra dainties set be-
fore them every two hours vet they do
need a good wholesome meal of we'll
cooked food three times 4 day. After
they are old enough to 90 out in the
fields in the morning and remain there
all day, two meals will keep them in
state of vigorous growth and accelerate
their best development.
1t is pleaSanter to feed turkeys than
chickens; they know when they have
got enough and can be satisfied with
the old gobbler-he never stops eating
as long as there is any thing in sight.
Bronze turkeys do not reach maturity
until two or three years of age, when an
ordinary male weighs from - to 40 lbs.
and a female from 20 to % lbs, though
when fattened their weights may cas-
lily exceed these figures. When six
months old, without being pushed.
the hens weigh from Is to Is lbs, and
the males from 10 to 90 Tbs.
My flock now is really ornamental;
the turkeys are ninety in number, and
all SO healthy and handsome. In the
morning we give them light break
fast and send them off to the fields to
CLEAN the last remnant of buckwheat
and to spend the day hunting insects.
About four o'clock they start homeward,
taking the orchard en- route, and pauS-
ing to lunch on fallen apples. When
the yard fence is gained they raise their
wings and fly to their feeding ground,
for they are as glad to get home as chill
dren let loose from school. and bring
with them quite as fine appetites.