Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-11-13

over standard weight, because usually
the extra large birds are poor breed
ers, just as the extra small birds make
poor breeders.
In mating turkeys none under twen-
ty months old should be used for
breeders, while birds that are two
years old are far better. 1t certainly
will not pay to hatch from them in
their first year. and they should be
carried over at least until the second
year. Turkeys can be used for breed
ing from five to six years, as they are
longer lived than chickens. In mating,
one tom should be mated with not to
exceed ten hens, while six to seven is
productive of better results.
1t is absolutely necessary that tur-
keys used for breeding have an abun-
dance of range, or the eggs will lack
fertility and the young stock will
lack vitality. While breeding they
should be fed a grain ration, COM
posed of equal parts of wheat, corn
and oats. 1t is not necessary or ad-
visable to feed them any mash during
the breeding season.
Natural Hatching Best
1t has been found Improbable to
attempt to hatch turkey eggs in an in
cubator or to raise the young under
brooders. They should be hatched
and raised under natural conditions in
order to do well. Often when a tur-
key hen has laid out her clutch" of
about twenty-five eggs she will start
setting on all the eggs. This is too
many, and she should not be allowed
over twenty eggs at most. The others
should be set under hens-ten to a
large hen. AS soon as the little pouIts
are hatched out by the chicken hens
they should be given to the turkey
mother hen. 1t is best to allow the
turkey hen to make her nest and to
let her set and hatch where she win.
1t is we'll to cover the nest with an
old box or barrel, open at one end. to
protect 1t from storms. From % TO
80 days are required for turkey eggs
to hatch.
The young turkeys do far better if
allowed to go with their mother hen
than with the chicken hen. A chicken
hen does not range enough for them
after they are a few weeks old. For
the first two or three weeks the tur-
key hen should be confined so she
Will not range, especially in the damn
grass and weeds but after that she
may be allowed to range at will.
The young poults should not be fed
anything for twenty-four hours. Their
first feed should be some grit or
coarse sand. Then give them some
dried bread crumbs with which a small
amount of hard-boiled egg has been
chopped up. Some successful raisers
give EACH small poult grain of blacI,
pepper for the first feed Finely chon-
ped onions, either the bulb or stalk
are also good for the first few feeds.
For the first week the bread crumb
and egg mixture should be fed every
three hours. After this fine cracked
wheat may be fed, and in addition fhav
can be given three times a day n mash
or cornmeal, wheat middlings and
wheat bran, in equal parts, mixed in
| milk and cooked. They should he fed
very sparingly for the first three
weeks, After three weeks cracked
corn huiled oats and whole wheat
may be fed four times a day.
When the poults begin to range with
the mother hen, feeding is necessary
only twice day. mornings and even.
ings, unless the range is limited and
they have but little opportunity 10
pick up their living. 1t is necessary
to feed them in the evening after they
have ranged freely In order to keen
them tame and easily approachable.