Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-04-26
HOW TO RAISE TURKEYS.
(By NLrs. Wilooranl

C~~ NFOhfAAb IL oUOOCA5o4 VI /
turkey raising in long, dry season,
without any rain. Climate is AN ele-
ment in the difficult art Of turkey |
raising. In California nearly one-haaf |
million turkeys aue sold for the holi-
day trade. In this state have seen
many turkey herds which contained
one thousand or more. This does not
seem possible to those who live In
the east who have such a hard time
to raise a few turkeys to marketable
age. These turkeys are hended upon
the harvested grain fields, they not
only eat the wasted grain but clean
up the field Of insects, ETC., which are
injurious to crops.
In raising turkeys it is important
to have healthy stock, not related.
Turkeys begin laying in February
l set the eggs under hens, giving each
hen nine eggs. Little turkeys should
not be fed for at least twentyfour
hours after Matching. l place them
in a coop with the hen, feeding them
hard-boiled eggs and oatmeal, with
green onion tops chopped fine, but
Dr. not feed much at a time, and Of
ten, four or five times daily.
Always keep grit before them. l
keep the hen in the coop one month.
The poults have free run after they
are week old. After the second
week feed corn bread and curd
with green onion tops chopped fine.
A turkey raiser in Texas has acres
Of chives which she uses for feed.
Wet weather is a detriment to tur-
key raising. If you want to kill a
pOult just let him get his feet wet.
He can't stand wet feet, at least I'M
til partly we'll grown.
Cleanliness is half of the battle in
turkey raising. When the poults are
only few days old, rub fresh lard
on the back of the head and under
the wings and at the root of the tail
l do this every two weeks to kill
mites. Many turkeys die from the
effects of lice; each coop of turkeys
should have a pan of ashes in which
to wallow.
Many turkeys are killed from over
feeding. Diverted turkeys always die.
| will tell you just how they act, SO
you will know when you have fed
them too much. They walk slow,
have dropping wings, diarrhoea sets
in, and soon they are no more.
Turkeys are more creature of habit
than any other of our feathered fowls
While they roam over the prairie
during the day in search Of food, they
will always come home at night if
one will make practice of feeding
them, however lightly.
Turkeys love insect life, and when
this is abundant they enjoy the woods
and prairies.
Turkeys are the choicest folws that
can be taken to market, and bring
the highest price of all. Turkeys re-
quire the most care and attention dur
ing the first few weeks following in
cubation.
A chicken takes naturally to hay-
ing feed handed him, but the turkey
is almost self-suppOrting until cold
weather. Turkeys are good for the
fields. They can be driven anywhere
you wish, from one field to another.
Turkeys always find a ready sale and
are almost clear profit. There is al
ways a demand. The market is never
glutted.
The time Of overToductioQ has
not yet arrived, and it seems long
way off. The fact is that turkeys are
difficult to raise. Eternal vigilence
is the price of success.
Black head in the eastern states
has just about put a stop to turkey
raising. l have examined many tur-
keys, and have found the hvers to
be enlarged, covered with yellOwish
spots. Nature often rebels against
our artificial methods Of feeding. In
the early stages | often gave calomel
pills for three nights and then dose
of castor oil. But not much can be
done with sick turkeys.
i - - -