Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-12
EGGS OR MEAT.
Wisconsin Farmer.

Some persons are at a loss to know
whether to raise chickens for market or
to keep hens for eggs only. We say to
| such persons that both Industries may be
engaged in, as the one is done al one sea-
| son of the year and the other at differ
| emit period. We may. at this stage of i'm
| provement, separate chickens for the ear
i ly market from those for the production
| OF eggs only, by reason of the fact that
| the invention of incubators has entirely
changed the market for broilers by plac-
ing the supply within the province of the
poultryman.
While all poultrymen and farmers raise
chickens in the spring. it is because al
that season the hens are more inclined to
become broody. but the proper period for
Matching is in the late fall or winter,
which is also the most suitable season
for incubators. The great obstacl in
the production of early broilers is that
the hens will not incubate until they are
ready to do SO of their own account BY
the use of the incubator chicks can be
Matched at any time. 1t will thus be
seen that the one has nothing to do with
the other, all that is dependent on the hen
being the eggs, and in that respect she
has no substitute.
BY division of the two industries (for
at the present day artificial incubation is
a great industry the laying of the eggs
Is done at the last expense in months fol-
lowing March and ending only when
mouhing begins. while Matching and rails
ing chicks is done from the moulting sea-
son until March ends. Here we have the
year divided into two periods and into
two separate Industries both of which
give better results than either alone. The
incubat tor cannot lay eggs, but can hatch
them, while the hen can lay eggs but will
not hatch them until she so prefers; nor
will she act in concert with her COM
panions, as one or two hens may be will
ing, and the others refuse.
TJrpUE,vc
I Turkeys are more profitable than hogs
and are about as easy to raise The de-
mand for them is always good and the
| market Is never so overstocked that prices
fall low for any length of time.
If turkeys are given good care and
looked after until they are four or five
weeks old they will take care of them
| selves after that, only requiring plenty Of
| food to promote growth and keep them at
| the highest point of thrift.
There is a notion broad that turkeys
| are delicate and hard to bring through
! the perils of infancy. This is only true
| where a flock has been inbred until it's
| stamina is injured and its vitality run
| down to the danger point. In breeding
| turkeys new blood should be introduced
| every year and care should be taken
| that the new blood is from vigorous
stock.
Another mistake is in breeding year
after year from the year-old hens. The
| they are little heavier than the pulets
| of the previous season Is a most repre-
hensible one, as young turkeys from
pullets' eggs are never as hardy as those
Matched from the eggs of mature hens
| Turkey hens should be kept until four or
| five years old, as they continue to pro-
| duce eggs for several years.
1t Is best to use a young tom on old
| hens than to keep the old tom and breed
pullets to him.
| There are several breeds of turkeys
| of which the bronze variety Is the most
| numerous and most popular. For few
| years the white Holland variety has been
| growing in favor because OF it's domes-
| flesh. The advantage in the bronze Is in
| its rapid growth and its great weight
| to which 1t attains the first season, but
| this is offset by its wandering habits
| The white variety is much sought after
| in some markets by -housekeepers who
| do not care for a. very large roast but
/ are particular about the appearance and
| quality of the food they place on their
| table -4.o
A flock of turkeys may be fattened on
corn alone and will become very fat and
| juicy If fed all they will eat for few
| days before they are sent to market
They are great insect hunters and will
| keep a farm clear of grasshoppers when
| one man to sell over $500 worth of tur-
J keys in one season which had been reared
| principally on grasshoppers on his owr
and his neighbors' farms. One year when
the 'hoppers were particularly bad the
| neighbors were very glad to have hair q
| thousand turkeys run over theiu mead
ows and through their corn fields.