The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-11
BETWEEN PROFITS IN NTURKEYRAISIN
How to Attain Bigger Flocks, Finer Birds and Better Returns-The Importance Bearing Upon Selection of Breed, Feed, Home and Treatment
By M. l.. LONGFIELD Author and Practical Poultryman

l The turkey raiser prontS Dy past Aall-
 ures. One realizes the value of good
 breeders and early matches. The clue to 1 successful treatment lies in studying
 turkey tastes. Newly turned ground
 for turkey runs is automatic. Young 1 turks droop when vermin infested. | Airy, roomy dry coops contribute to
 success Give no medicine to healthy l turkeys.
 l Few turkeys develop to marketable
 size in less than six months. Provide them with ideal environment and it may be done. Certain phases of the weather. such as long drouths or re- | peated drawnout east storms, directly hinder the young birds growth. The earlier the eggs can be matched after May 1 5 the longer the period of growth before the first holiday demand. A marked difference in size exists be- l tween turkeys whose ages vary but by two weeks. nor does the discrepancy ever seem to be overcome. Eggs should not be kept too long. Their vitality Appreciates rapidly. The lit tie turk, issuing from the egg set as soon as laid, is noticeably sturdy. If, in addition, the eggs are the product of hens two years old, or more, the young have double heritage of strength. In recognition of this fact, most growers use surplus turkey eggs under ordi- nary hens. As soon as the turkey hen shows decided intention of keeping her nest, she should be given her eggs Incubators can be used, but one runs less risk of tampering with the vitality of the unmatched bird by entrusting it f0 han covered one secret of the successful raiser--a sturdy matching.
 LEARNING FROM NATURE Why are turkeys generally consid- cred difficult to raise? Chiefly because those who embark in the venture are hampered by their knowledge of the habits of chickens. The similarity of young fowls to turkeys is merely su- perf1cial. On vital points they differ radically. Turkeys are voracious with out chickens ability to assimilate great quantities. They require a cer- tain amount of exercise as an aid to digestion, yet too much running wearies them to the point of exhaus- tion. Little ones confined lack suf- ficient roughage Supplied by green food such as clover, alfalfa, rape, etc), with sad consequences, unless generous provision is made in each meal. Their rapid feathering drains their vitality heavily. Witness the dragging wings of weak, eight-day turkeys. Already they are tagging in the race.
 Ventilation is vital necessity but draughts on turkeys court trouble. Soured food, which chicken might eat with impunity, works havoc with their digestion. In short to rear them with measure of success, one must studiously avoid offending their habits with which by observation we may a ipta Foil 111ro xxyifI ', turkeys, aside from mishaps, springs from the attempt to force them to con- form to an unnatural regimen.
 There are diets a-p1enty. The chief difficulty is in selecting a diet easily and cheaply prepared, and best suited to their needs. The list is diverse and lengthy:
 Meal and bran mash.
 Meal and middlings mash
 Chickfeed.
 Curd.
 Boiled wheat
 Boiled rice.
 Baker cornbread.
 Rolled oats.
 Bread crumbs soaked in milk
 Whatever is used in the way of a cereal, chopped green food, such as onions. garlic (wild onions), lettuce or fennel. should predominate. This les sens danger of digestive disturbance
  to all diets. Washes are excellent, but require the exercise of good judgment in the quantity given. If the least particle is not eaten at night, it is apt to sour by morning. and trouble en- sues The best all-round feed for young ones after the first week is good chickfeed with chopped onfon- tops. hard boiled egg and curd, if avail able. Chickfeed cannot ferment un- less it becomes wet. Black pepper is a good stimulant given occasionally to counteract any tendency to diarrhea.
 SITE FOR COOPS AND RUNS
 Every farm presents its own problem coop. well drained spot in a wheat field or pasture is ideal The growing wheat affords rich pasturage for the young turkeys. They may even hide there from the willy hawk. When 1t is cut, the shattered grain reinforces their diet At all times it shelters a plentiful supply of insect food Best of all, the ground is newly turned and less apt to harbor disease germs
 Nothing affects turkey health more subtly or fatally than parasites. When the little ones droop or sicken without visible cause. search for vermin. Be satisfied only with closest scrutiny. After some years of experience with turkeys. I find that these are responsi- ble for my greatest losses. Where they come from is the enigma. From bad associations. from neighboring fowls. from birds, or from sparrows who steal their food-Some way, despite care, they often become infested. Eternal vigilance is the watchword. For those that infest the head. anointing with one-half cupful salt grease mixed with one teaspoonful kerosene is excellent. For others plentiful use of insect powder is sufficient If turkeys are allowed long to be infested, they rapid ly deteriorate. Some die lingeringly, as if it were of some wasting disease and are dosed. poor things. accordingly, when their dire need is insect powder EXEMPTION FROM DOSING Health disdains medicine So with turkeys avoid dosing till disease ap- pears. Always isolate the sick1y. Sel- dom is it excusable even to disinfect their drinking water. unless disease Is present. Continued use of such is detri- mental to thriftness. Even the old custom or craming peppercorn down the throat of the newly matched tur- key, while apparently harmless, is bet ter discarded. Dosing turkeys, except with the simpler remedies. is at best an unsatisfactory performance for the un- scientific raiser. One should aim to have their surroundings present no temptations to partake of anything but what is good for them. Especially is this true with regard to their drinking water. Turkeys manifest a fondness for drinking out of mud holes. Such habit. once formed, is cured with diffi- o,,1t