Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-30
BREEDERS FOR THE NEXT
. YEARS TURKEY FLOCK
When and How to Changc-How
Many to Retain, and How
to Choose Them.
LIMITED CARE FOR THE WINTER
Ratio of Vigorous, Pure-Brcd Par
cnts to Thrifty Ofrspring-Qucs-
tion of Varicty-Right Number OF
= Brcedcrs-Loyalty to Hens.


- tion of Varicty-Right Number OF
80 Breedcrs-Loyalty to Hens.
AS the closing autumn months sec
: the young turkeys rapidly preparing
for their market journey, their owners
mind is turning toward the next season
and its needs StrsnGs as i, may seem cen,
market time, the, rcuitryman is deba,
years breeders. Unless he is ION Tho
job" the hes, will slip away. absorbed
in early shipments. and Nj Raiser
ped with understood undesirable
breeders. whether turkeys or geese.
Delays in this matter even till Christ :
.-Sjnas arc likely 10 inspire a Scanpcr for
breeding stock. One may satisfy him.
self with any choice for the table. but
should be sought.
Ey November tho turkey raiser
should know Of a certainty the answer
ito the. following questions: Shall the
changed? How many shall compose
the flock. and what variety? Shall
home bred pullets be kept and an alien
!, are decisions not TO be ignored. Since
only the maturest and healthicst indi-
viduals; male and female, should be
find them is early in November. be-
fore they have been cullcd for the first
'yiates this urgent necessity. a plan not
always reliable. which is to buy eggs
,,in the. spring and raise the breeders
oneself.
until after most fiocks have been sifted
of the best often forces the laggard 20
shape of understood and immature
bird. Such specimen sometimes at
tainS proper size In a favorable win.
ter. but it is not to be relied upon. If
ever. Darwin's theory of the survival
of the ittest should be employed. it
should he in the poultry yard. What
waste OF effort and energy. feed and
attention on a scruoby lot of baby
turks already weakened by inheritance!
PRESERVE LOYALTY TO
number OF circumstances govern
the changing OF flock. Seldom is it
possible or profitable to continue two
Traction. Never is it -svsabie to re-
tain the gobbler a second season. Far
better be. it to sell him at cut-rate
prices or serve him at the family's re-
union. If one is SO successful as TO
nave assembled mock OF satisfactory
keep the old one, and many even coca
sion losses. In this combination, the
Of the offspring.
The easiest. plan with least upsetting
Of ones routine is this of keeping the
hens: oeeasionany one may die of
d
sance through the development Of some
bad habit. such as s wandering. eating
eased she end Of Suf the be win
puIets. Otherwise, hens are good Of
ten for five years.
Among the advantages accruing from
continuing them is that their eggs,
though less numerous than pullets', arc
large. hatching vigorous offspring. Old
10 ones methods, used 10 home and
range, which, reduces friction in their
rearing. Only one who has done :.
marathon around coop in the EFFORT
to ,placatc a frisky, distrustful young
pullet with her first brood. knows the
value OF the sedate and trained old
hcn. which long ago passed that stage
.. Of hysteria.
Fortunate then is the grower who
is a weN-developed yearling gobbier,
and proper parenthood for this new
novice AS long as they are satisfac-
tory, keep the old hens; is the advice
arises TO make that change. il part OF
D the mock can be renewed one year. the
/. IemaindeT the next one is not ,depen-
dent wholly upon new, unframed birds
WHEN THE QUESTION Or
VARIETY ARISES.
Not always Is age; loss. or some dis
qua i!hcaiion in the breeder responsible
ely is TO be tried out, Some people
build a success on one breed others on
- another; Sticking TO the pure bred is
variety are crossed by another The
prcgney parsakes OF the virtues OF
both, but as~.reedsrs are undesirable
Bronze turkeys. it should be rcmem-
bcred. may be counted upon to repro
-duce size. but the Slate is more tract
a aD, The ds nrst makes a god mother
In the passion Of her motherhood she
knows no qualms against attacking
XII or MAIN their young and should be
bourbon Red or Black hens With
but crossing a, best is merely tenn
porary Much more satisfaction al
'aShes 10 me pure bred flock.
rent TOO convenient for a raiscr's well
farc at times II is undcniabIe, for
mas frequently been demonstrated,
mat sires from a dilsance seem to in
troduct viEor, producing individuals
superior IN every point 1t is rccongi.
lion OF this truth that excuses the
atrocily OF crossing breeds Wild tur-
keys are in great demand as sires i'm
me heiei tnat they .invigoratc run
graduates herself on the fact Ina, on,
OF a Getting of wild turkey eggs size
iSised Du!!et and eobblcr She es-
teens them as valuable breeding stock
since the? are acc!!nated. accustomed
10 the farm, and trained TO her meth
COS ;n ana , enc awaits the results anx-
lous!!. lhcy are singularly bcauti-
ful with their long and slender heads,
dropping ta!is, and .-inting plumaGe.
with their alert but unobtrusivc air
waking waEi!y, the heritage of gene
rat!ons OF forest ancestors
HOW MANY BREEDERS.
Is ANOTHER QUESTION.
The new raiser OF turkeys. VINO must
OF course. begin with pulleis. must de.
2 te!riine the number. a conservative
estimate allows TO each hon ten vounr
ones to be raised IN season Thus
LA
ono may expect sixty one may DO
better or worse. Beginners often have
amazingly good luck. Ten hens with
goobler is an average nock. althourh
twelve are seen and SIX makes good
nucleus for the novice
To repeat. only a thrifty nock should
be sought 10 flourish pulle,s. one
whose health is known or guaranteed
The earliest Matched are best. The
need not be so heavy, but must hay.
a good frame, deep breast and z
sleek coat, and reasonably rcDtl.
withal. Il pays 10 assure oneself that
the breast bone OF each breeder i.