The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-09-06
SELECTION OF BREEDING STOCK is IMPORTANT.

From the United States Department OF
Agricultural
Because the number of turkeys In
the United States has constantly de-
creased in the last few years while the
demand has perhaps increased, n more
profitable side line than turkey raising
for those favorably situated for the
work could hardly be found. Given
plenty of range, 1t Is pointed out by
the United States department of agri-
culture in Farmers Bulletin No. 791,
turkeys will readily find grasshoppers
and other insects, green vegetation, the
seeds Of weeds and grasses, waste
grains, and acorns md nuts of various
kinds. LII this way the cost Of raising
them is small and the profits large.
Grain n stock farms are particularly
well adapted to turkey raising, and 1t
Is In such places that most of the tur-
keys are found. Little has ever beer
done in the way of raising turkeys in
tried the results have been d%lscourag-
ing.
Selection Of Breeding Stock.
One of the most important steps
toward success In turkey raising Is
the proper selection o. breeding stock.
U~nhatchable eggs, weak poults, and
small, scrubby turkeys are largely the
result of carelessness In the selection
Of the parent stock. In selecting tur-
keys for breeding purposes, strength
n vigor are the first points to be
considered. To indicate this the body
should be deep and wide, and back
broad, and the breast round and full.
The head should be Of good size and
Of a clean, healthy appearance. A
strong, well-made frame Is shown by
thick, sturdy shanks and straight,
strong toes.
I~nbreeding is harmful and II carried
on very long will result In the loss Of
vigor and vitality. 1t is therefore adj
visable each year to obtain a new tom
type. Nothing is to be gained by
crossing varieties, as such practice
soon reduces purebreds to mongrels.
The most satisfactory time of year
to select breeding stock is November
or December. BY purchasing early In
the season one not only has n larger
number to choose from, but the birds
are given ample time to become ac-
quainted with their new surroundings
before the mating season, which In the
South ordinarily begins early In Feb
ruary and In the North about q month
later.
Toms With Hens.
Fifteen turkey hens can safely be
mated to a vigorous tom. II 20 or 80
hens are kept, two toms should not be
allowed to run with them ut the same
time, but one should be confined one
day and the other the next.
II breeding pens are used to confine
the laying hens for a part Of each day
they should be of hog-proof wire. Rail,
board, or stone fences are of no value
for combining turkeys, which easily fly
on top of them and then jump down
on the other side. In the case of n
wire fence, however, there Is no place
on which to alight, and under ordinary
circumstances they do not make the
attempt. For this reason steel posts
are better than wooden posts for a
turkey fence unless the latter are
sharpened ut the tops.
Good breeding condition means be-
ing well 1eshed, but not fat. Given
free range where there is ample sup
ply of natural feed during the winter
and early spring. such as Is usually
the case in the southern portion of the
United States, a good daily feed of
grain, preferably oats or wheat, Is suf-
ficient to keep the birds In good condl-
ton. During the winter northern tur-
key raisers usually feed twice a day
on equal parts of oats, wheat and corn,
with vegetables such as potatoes, tur-
nips, beets, and cabbage as a substi'
tute for green feed. Animal feed at
this time of year Is essential to the
best results, and can be supplied by
feeding meat scrap, beef livers and
lungs, or SKINNED milk, either sweet
or sour.
Care Of Eggs.
When there Is danger that the tur
key eggs may be chilled or destroyed
they should be gathered every day
and a nest egg left in each nest. Eggs
for Matching should be kept ut a TEN
perature of as near 80 or 60 degrees
f. as possible and should be turned
over every day. They should be jarret
as little as possible while handling
and should be ~incubated while still
fresh, never holding more than tive
weeks IL 1t can be helped. 1t is an ex
cellent plan to mark the date on eacl
egg as 1t is gathered, In order to b.
certain that no eggs are kept too loni
before they are incubated.
Turkey hens are very close sltters