Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-04-24
tRy G. N. sHuLTz.l

tBy c. NJ sHULTZ.)
II a man is a successful fisherman,
he will make good at raising tur-
keys; but IL he has not the patience
to sit on a log and watch cork bob
bling on the surface of the creek all
day long and be content with dozen
bites and a couple of bullheads for
his pains, then he has no business try
ing to raise turkeys.
Women are almost invariably sue
cessful as turkey-raisers, because they
possess the necessary patience and
fidelity to the job. II young turkeys
are neglected they will die. If the
mother turkey is conspicuously fol-
lowed while seeking the nest, or dis
turbed after she has commenced lay
ing, she is likely to leave half her
clutch and refuse to lay another.
The woman, however, who can com
mand large range for her birds, and
who is determined to make money in
the business, will find turkey-raising a
most profitable part of the poultry
business, with the possible exception
of selling pure-bred eggs for Matching
purposes. The latter requires a gregg
deal OF skill, which can be obtained
only by long experience, not only in
the production Of eggs, but in mar
keting them as well.
Raising turkeys also requires some
skill, but any woman who has fond
ness for the creatures will soon learn
their ways, and after a season or two
should have no dificulty in bringing
her flock through from the egg to the
iisS::s.rrket place with profit and pleas
ure.
+ ~ all parts of the country, except
the north, the turkey hens will begin
to show signs Of uneasiness. and II al
lowed the range will start out looking
for their nests.
OF course II IN impossible to raise
turkeys successfully If the hens are
permitted to roam at will, because
they are very timid creatures and Will
hide their nests, often where they can
not be found. until the eggs have been
spoiled or Matched out only to be de
stroyed BY kinks and rats.
Crosses between Wild and tame tur
keys are hafdier than the common tnr
key, and take good care Of theii
broods, but they partake teo much o
the wild nature of their uncivilizeC
parents, and are dihieNlt to control.
In Rhode Island some interesting ex
| periments have been made by cross
Ing turkey gebblers on White Hollan,
and Bronze Turkey hens. From tn
White Holland eggs the poults wer
particularly beautiful, with whit
breasts and white plumage across tn
backs, and wings penciled with black
Occasionally one of the pullets Woul
be pure white.
The Bronze hen cross produce
poults resembling the Bronze. with tn
lighter yellow in their tail feathers
The poults from these crosses gre'
very quickly. and are extremely hard.
Half wild gobblers are easily tame,
A quarter wild cross is better fc
practical breeding than pure wilt
or a half wild bird, as the more vii
blood there is in a bird, the NOR
difficult it is to restrain them an
raise them in confinement. II fri
crosses are bred together, the stoC
resembles the pure wild, even to I'll
red legs, and after several gener
lions can hardly be distinguished.
Owing to the wild nature of the tn
key 1t cannot be raised as chicken
are. Many professional turkey raj
ers use chicken hens for hatchin
placing seven or eight eggs under eaC
hen. Matching with incubators som
times proves successful, but 1t is be
ter to let the turkey hens hatch the
own eggs where this is possible.
A laying room should be seclude
! and the nest darkened. As soon
: the turkey hens show signs of mel
ing. the nest should be placed In pro
er order by removing all old materii
}. scorching out the interior of boxe
0 placing new nesting material In al
g spraying every inch OF the interior
the poultry house with diluted ca
bolic acid, and afterward giving 1t
< thorough coat Of whitewash.
AS turkeys begin laying very ear
the nests must be carefully watche
particularly when the weather is co
8 or they will become chilled within
= few hours. They should be remov
: az soon as the hen leaves the ne
e and replaced by china eggs.
Turkeys begin laying at about t
: months, and If understood each b
will lay from 20 to 35 eggs before
coming broody Let me say here ii
e If you expect 70 be successful in i
i key raising you should obtain yc
stock In the fall, because If the biz
o are brought into new surroundings
soon before the mating season begi
they win not do we'll Turkeys {
= cautious, timid, and slow movi
q birds, and cannot be hurried.
AS soon as the eggs are laid Ii