The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-07-15
Turkeys For Egg Production.

That 1t is possible to develop a
breed of turkey hens that will lay
eggs from spring until Christmas is
the contention of w. N. Irwin, of the
United States Department of Argicul-
ture. He says that the only reason
this feature of the poultry industry
has not been developed Is that farm
ers have paid no attention to it. 'I
have been eating turkey eggs and tur-
key for many years" says Mr.. Irwin,
"and have found them better than
any other article of food. The thing
that started me looking into the pos
sibilities of the turkey was this liking
for the eggs. For several years
have been haunting the Central Mar
ket of Washington three times week
and buying up turkey eggs. Most of
the farmers who bring them into town
to sell for food save the eggs for me.
l have bought as many as 145 dozen
in a year. In the spring, of course,
can not get the eggs, since they are
too valuable to sell for food. So l
have found that the eggs can be kept
very easily all winter. Experience
has shown me that turkey eggs kept
for that length of time by ordinary
means will poach nicely. An egg that
peaches is a good egg. I do not put
the eggs in cold storage, but keep
them cool and dry.
81 believe turkey eggs are as much
superior to ordinary hens eggs as is
turkey meat to that of chickens. 1t
took 200 years to get white Leghorns
to lay 200 eggs a year, and not many
of them come up to that standard
even now. / do not believe it will
take anywhere near that long to de-
velop 200-egg turkeys, for there have
been many changes and advances
since experiments were begun with
Leghorns. Besides, I have found at
least one man near Washington who
has a 200-egg turkey, and dozens who
say they have birds that lay upward
Of 100 eggs. Even 100-egg bird
would be a distinct advantage.
"The time has passed when the
farmer can afford to raise turkeys
for one setting of eggs. The man
who told me he had a 200-egg tur-
key hen killed his bird for the mar
ket. / told him he killed at least
800. and he, of course, did not real
ize It at the time. One gentleman
told me the other day that he has two
turkey hens that have laid upward Of
100 eggs this year and are still at It,.
He can not get them to stop long
enough to fatten them for Thanks
giving told him noN 10 think of
fattening them, for they>~are worth
vastly more to him for breeding pur-
poses.
"At the least calculation a 200
egg bird should bring $25. II a
farmer raises 100 such birds in year
his gross income from them would
be s2500. Such breed of turkeys
can be developed only by patient,
careful selection from year to year.
This industry must be undertaken
with reasonable conservatism. be-
lieve the results are certain, but per-
sons who go into the work must ex-
pect TO wait patiently for the prom
lsed resulss- II Q farmer had from
Atty to 100 birds THAI laid upward Of
100 eggs a year he would have no
trouble in getting his price for them.
II would not be necessary to wait un-
I'll the birds get up to the 200-egg
class to make big money out OF them
for their laying qualities.
"The Rhode Island experiment sta
ton has become interested in the
work. First they started with eggs
from birds that laid upward OF 100.
but for some reason the experiment
failed. Now they are working with
some young birds. would advise
any farmer who thinks OF going into
the work to start with young birds
from late broods."