The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-08
Care of Young TURKEYS.

j. A. Miller. jr., Michigan: Turkeys
are one of the best products of the
farm. as they are easily reared and
seldom sell for less than 10 cents per
flock of fine birds. The young turkeys
may be raised by hens, or by the turkey
hen, or even in breeders. with proper
care and feed. The hen turkey is pre-
ferred, as she is more careful of the
tender poults. and it has been my ex-
perience that they may be instructed to
her care as soon as Matched. that is. if
the weather is warm and favorable.
and II by chance the old turkey with her
brood be caught in a passing shower she
VIII patiently wait until the sun dries the
forth.
have in mind a turkey hen which was
allowed the freedom of the farm with her
brood of ten turkeys and were not fed
during the whole summer. as they did
not require any other feed than what
they could get in foraging over the hay
and an wheat fields in quest of insects of
All kinds In the fall they had grown to
he the best turkeys We had and were ac-
tive and strong and when matured We're
very fine birds should advise anyone
to let the old turkey hen care for her
young and only feed them at night so as
to prevent them wandering too far away:
out II you are obliged to place them with
order to raise them. 1t suits old biddy
better to remain near home and if you
make 2 practice of feeding her she will
always Dt lOuflu on mana at fee61OH
time and as the young turkeys are
easily tanned they also become familiar
and can be easily caught.
When the young turkeys are first
Matched they should be allowed to remain
in the nest about "a hours. then removed
and insect powder busted all through
their down, also on the mother hen:
dust the powder all through the fluff I'M
der the wings and at the roots of the
tail. This will kill all the body lice pro-
viding good powder is used But the
large head lice are the most troublesome
These pass from the mother TO the turf.
and are very hard to get rid of. A good
remedy IS to rub one or two drops of
sweet oil and carbolic acid in equal pro-
portions on their heads about every two
weeks
The best food for the first two weeks
is hard-boiled eggs, chopped fine and
mixed with oatmeal or bread This is
just what they need. as it is very
highly concentrated food. After they |
are two weeks old, feed cracked wheat. |
cakes should be made of corn meal and |
water. or better still. buttermilk or milk |
mixed into a dough. then baked; when |
done. be sure to turn the cakes out and |
outside drying too hard and none viii /
be wasted Supply, water daily and in I
such manner as to prevent them get /
ting wet. as damDness is fatal.
The above method should be followed |
until the turkeys are two months old !
After this. they will forage for them |
serves ana VII require only their u2ttV
feed of whole grain. The young ooults |
are very tender up to the age of five
weeks. Be sure to place the hen in a
clean, roomy COOP with a small run in
front and let them run in this all they
please, but do not allow them out when
the dew is on the ground or after a rain.
The brood should be shut uD in the run
for about ten days, then allow them
their freedom. but always shut them IN
at night. Be sure to feed them well all
summer and you viii surely have some
fine turkeys in the fall to repay you for
all work.