New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-29
WOMEN TURKEY RAIsFRS.
THERE ARE ONLY THREE IN THE
UNITED STATES WHO ARE LARGE
WHOLESALE DEALERS-A PAY
mo
ING OCCUPATION.

Although most of the turkeys this year come from
Ohio and Pennsylvania, Kentucky birds are also
in demand. many of the latter being furnished by
Mrs B. T. Jackson, Of that State, who is one Of
the three women in this country to raise turkeys
Tor the wholesale market. 1t Is five years since
Mrs Jackson took up turkey farming a means
OF bread winning. and she now receives orders
from all parts Of the country while her annual In
come from the occupation is several thousand
dollars year For the last two years the demand
for her products has far exceeded the supply, but
success did not come at once. Turkey raising. .
she says. has many ups and downs. but the ups
have unbalanced the downs. Had the reverse
been true. however, I should never have regretted
the experiment. Any woman who loves feathered
pets must find turkey raising a most interesting
occupation Aside from the pleasure Of watching
and tending the birds they grow the business Is
remunerative. and all that I make is due to my
devotion to my poultry farm
The first thing to be learned by who would
adopt the work is patience; number or women
whom I have known to fail IN the undertaking
defeated by overanxiety. Tor one thing, theg
insisted upon seeing the young birds out or thelF
shells before the right time, forgetting that nature
will not be forced. Once the poults have cast on
their shells they should remain as long as possloIe
In their nests-how long depends upon the olros
themselves. who are much like youngsters some
being precocous and others slow.
Zone general rule be followed in their food
Nothing must be fed to them until they are at
least thirty-six hours old and 1t is better to wait
twelve hours longer before feeding them. Then
they should receive three meals day each con-
sisting of crumbs Of wheat bread, chopped onions
and curds. After few weeks this can be ohanged
TO wheat and cracked corn.
When one hundred more poufts~SaYe been
Matched three of the best hens should be put with
them that they may choose their mother This
Is a curious proceeding, and interesting to watch
The young birds show a preference for certain
Lens. some going with one and some with another
and they follow the mother Of their choice faith
fully paying no heed whatever to the other two
Lens who were equally willing to foster them, but
who have their own infant followers.
AT days old the poults may be turned loose
and Il is then that the greatest care must be
cised. Young turkeys need the sun. and the
full farmer will watch the heavens and be mindful
season. for poults subject to colds, and rarely
recover from wett9g EeTniQ 9o is the enemy OF
more than two-thirds of the loss each year being
Ve it is OF cola dust the po9ts with insect
powder and when It Is ra "a, grease heir heads
latter operation. as the broodlng Of the mother
softens the grease and helps it 10 permeate the
For breeding stock care should be taken to
Mrs ". R. Thomas of Maryland, who has seven
Of the bronze" turkey which, she claims, reaches
a size and perfection not equalled by other vare-
this country were from her farm, and received the
hen turkeys attaining from eighteen to twenty-sx
pounds in weight and the gobblers from thirty,
Ave to forty-five pounds. Mrs. Thomas claims well
authenticated pedgrees for her stock
The small turkeys displayed In the shops this
season bear small resemblance 10 the large, fat
birds that adorned the same places year ago In
quiries at the markets and wholesale houses as to
the for this obvious change elicit reply
the weather. Greenwich-st dealer, one Of the
falling off proportions this year to the protracted
warm weather, it being difficult. with unsettled
weather he says, to get young turkeys plump
enough to please the eye OF the shrewd buyer.
The Thanksgiving market is consequently called
Nv, TRY an q
so dependent on the temperature Of the preceding
days When the holiday IS preceded by ten days