Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-30
TURKEY BREEDING.
a Little Experience That Produced satis-
factory Results.

"A Littio experience InRt PRODUCED Sltts-
factory Results.
~ breed the Bronze" says n writer
in Tho Fnncier's Review, "as they arc
my favorites. In the fall / select tho
very best hens have, mate them to
Tom, either one I've raised for the pur-
pose or have purchased to breed from.
l think tho best way is to select mum.
Der of young hens. mate them with the
best Tom you can afford and keep them
us breeders for three or four years with
out making any change. unless it is to
purchase more hens. In this way you
save the extra expense Of purchasing a
male every year. Besides it is all the
better for your flock. The selection of
the best and strongest cannot be en-
phasized too much, for, if you would
have healthy and vigorous turkeys, you
must havo the same quality in your
breeding stock"
II new blood were brought into the
flock every year. there would be fewer
complaints of young turkeys being del
icate. The truth il that these birds have
been too much inbred. Tho easiest and
| quickest remedy for tho trouble is the
Introduction of wild blood, which gives
the desired stamina.
When the young turks are first hatch
ed. they, like chickens, require no food
for the first "a hours, but the mother
should be given little corn to keep her
on the nest. Afterward feed them some
milk curd squeezed dry or bread dipped
but not soaked in milk or slightly
moistened with egg. Later on they may
be given scraps from tho house, wheat,
corn, bread and green bone Always feed
on clean board and allow them as
much as they will eat up clean in the
space Of quarter Of an'hour. For the
first three weeks they should be fed three
or four times a day; afterword three
times daily will suffice. OF course they
must be supplied with plenty Of water
aud gravel.
As soon as the turks seem strong and
the weather is bright and warm they
may be allowed to ramble about. but
must be got home at night or In case
of shower, as damp is extremely fatal
to them. After they reach the stage
known as shooting the red" they are
hardy and need but little attention.
But for the first three months they need
to DO we'll cared for.
Lice are as fatal as damp to young
birds. AS soon as they are Matched the
hen should be examined for lice, which
are certain TO DO transmitted to tho
young ones. The large lice will be found
ON the head, neck, under tho wing and
also on tho flight feathers-around the
quilts on the wing. a little oil or melt
ed grease should be well rubbed in and
the hen thoroughly busted with snuff or
insect powder. Tho same should he done
to the turks when they are about a week
old and drop of oil rubbed on their
heads. This should be applied with dis
erection, as too much grease is fatal to
them.
Turkeys are great foragers and cannot
DO kept in confinement. After the first
three months they should be given abso-
lutte freedom. About a month before
marketing they should DO fed literally
with as much corn as they will eat. Old
corn should always be used. rs green
corn is indigostible and often retards fat
tening, If it does not cause actual loss.