The Raymer enterprise., 1914-04-02
lRN @ ". SHIT.TZ.l

II a man Is Il successful fisherman,
ne Will make good at raising tur-
keys. but II he has not the patience
to sit on log and watch cork bob
bing on the surface OF the creek all
day long and be content with dozen
bites and 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 II 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
maud a large range for her birds. and
who is determined to make money in
the business. will find turkey.raising
most profitable part OF the poultry
business. with the possible exception
of selling pure bred eggs for Matching
purposes, The latter requires a great
deal OF skill, which can be obtained
only By long experience, not only in
the production OF eggs, but in mar,
keting them as we'll.
Raising turkeys also requires some
skill, but any woman who has a fond.
ness for the creatures will soon learn
their ways, and after a season or two
should have no difficulty In bringing
her flock through from the egg TO the
market place with profit and pleas.
HFs
In all parts Of the country, except
te north the turkey hens will begin
v show signs Of uneasness, and If al.
wrd The range will start out looking
flor their nests.
or course L is impossible to raise
turkeys successfully II the hens are
permitted to roam at will. because
they are very timid creatures and will
hide their nests. often where they can
moi be found until the eggs have been
spoiled or Matched out only TO be de-
sfroycd BY minks and rats.
Crosses between Mild and tame tur.
keys are harder than the common tur-
key aud take good care of their
hrouds bur they partake too much of
the wild nature Of their nnciytlized
parents. and are difficult to control.
In Bhode Island some interesting ex.
perimcnts have been made BY cross
ing turkey gobblers on White Holland
and bronze Turkey hens. From the
White Holland eggs the poults were
particularly beautiful. with white
breasts and white plumage across the
hacks, and wings penciled with black.
Occasionally one OF the pullets would
be pure white
The Bronze hen cross produced
tpouts resembling the Bronze, with the
lighter yellow In their tail feathers.
The poults from these crosses grew
very quickly. and are extremely hardy.
Half Wild gobblers are easily tamee.
A quarter wild cross is better for
practical breeding than a pure wild,
or a half wild bird, as the more wild
blood there is in bird, the more
difficult II Is TO restrain them and
raise them In confinement II first
crosses are bred together. the stock
resembles tue pure wild, even to the
red legs, and after several genera.
tions can hardly be distinguished
Owing to the Wild nature OF the tur.
key il cannot be raised as chickens
are, Many professional turkey rails.
ers use chicken hens for Matching,
placing seven or eight eggs under each
hen. Hatehing with ineubators some.
times proves successful. but II Is bet.
ter to let the turkey hens hatch their
own eggs where this is possible.
A laying room should be secluded.
and the nest darkened As soon as
the turkey hens show signs OF nest.
ing. the nest should be placed in prop.
sr order by removing all old material,
scorchtng out the interior of boxes,
placing new nesting material In and
spraying every inch OF the interior of
the poultry house with diluted car.
bolic acid. and afterward giving 1t
thorough coat of whitewash
As turkeys begin laying very early,
the nests must be carefully watched,
particularly when the weather is cold.
or they will become chilled within a
few hours. They should be removed
as soon as the hen leaves the nest
aud replaced by china eggs.
Turkeys begin laying at about ten
months. and If understood each hen
will lay from 20 to IS eggs before be
coming broody. Let me say here that
II you expect to be successful in tur.
key raising you should obtain your
stock in the fall. because II the birds
are brought into new Surroundings too
soon before the mating season begins
they win not do we'll Turkeys are
cautious. timid, and slow moving
birds, and cannot be hurried
As soon as the eggs are laid they