Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-10-02
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BRONZE TURKEYS.

~J N~1Sos W. W
Any Known Breed.
Everything that is known of the art of
breeding has been done to bring the
bronze turkeys up to the highest mark
of perfection, and when everything is
considered they probably stand at the
head of all the breeds Of the domesticated
turkeys. They have a long time been
bred for size and they are always heavier
than birds of ordinary stock. There are
certain good qualities in them which are
sure to be transferred to the young, and
which are perpetuated so long as the
breed is kept pure. The increased cost
of breeding from this pure stock is more
than compensated for in the long run
when the heavy bodies are sent to the
markets. If turkeys of this variety are
raised for the market it is necessary to
exercise more care in restraining them
from wandering around too much dur
ing the summer season. Especially dur
ing the Matching and laying season do
they need comfortable quarters, where
they can be contented without rambling
off in the woods to hide their nests.
They should have suitable yards or
orchards where they can ra1nble about
and build their nests.
AS o as the young turkeys are hatch
ed the natural instincts of the old bird
will induce her to wander off in search of
food for her young. This is essential to
their health, but care should be taken to
see that they do not wander too far off.
1t is often necessary to restrain the old
ones by tying a single across the wings,
so as to prevent them from flying over
fences. They will gradually learn to
wander about and pick up most Of their
food, and yet not stray so far away as to
get lost. If turkeys are raised on large
scale successfully it is a good plan to
have d boy or a girl to keep an eye on
them all of the time, and see that they
do not stray beyond the farm limits.
Turkeys are something like sheep-they
need watching in the daytime and driv-
ing home at night. They soon get accus-
toned to particular feeding places, and if
brought up to look for their food at a
certain place at a certain time each day
Ul4CJ WILL u ways DC III IdLu uU Ul0 IlSuL
time to get their share of the food.
Good, heavyweight turkeys are as
profitable as any farm product, and it
pays to fatten them we'll. The great de-
mand for them is late in the fall and
around the holidays, but there is at all
seasons OF the year more OF less demand
for them. But those that are prepared
for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Years markets must be in prime
condition early in the season. They can
be made to pick up their living nearly in
the summer time, and then about the
middle of October the fattening period
should begin. They will grow rapidly
then until midwinter, repaying you for
all the trouble. But first of all the ques-
ton of getting a good stock before this
period comes is the most essential. Al
though pure bronze turkeys may cost
more in the beginning, there will be a
saving in the long run, and one who
starts out with good focks of this breed
will be sure to have fine birds for fatten-
ing in the fall. Nothing pays better to
be sent to market in prime condition
than the turkey crop, and many farmers
do not seem to realize this. Their tur-
keys grow on a limited range, get little
or no food at home through the summer,
and h bodies are sent to market in a
lean and bony condition. They receive
a small price for their birds and a still
poorer price for the food fed out.-Annie
G. Webster in American Cultivator.