Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-17
COMPANIONS OF HEN FOR
AN AVERAGE FARM FLOCK
uccsc' Ducks. Turkeys and Even tho
Hulneas May BE Considered as
Advantageous Side Lines.
GOVERNMENT EXPERTS VIEWS
Simple Rules Laid Down for tho
hotching and Feeding OF tho
Young, and Also for Rearing Them
In Proper Manner.
uBY PROF. JAMES II. NORMAN,

-" hot produced as much as they
should be. Farmers complain that they
are hard to raise. but that is because
the rules for successful management
are not well known
The best time to hatch chicks is
June or July a turkey Usually laws
about eighteen or twenty eggs. But 10
nave the eggs fertile and the ,hicks
strong. each male bird should be lin
red to sixteen hens good plan 4.
1aily 10 remove the first seven or eight
fSGs laid and set them Hnder a chick
Pm men. The rest OF the eggs laid can
pc saleiy covered by the turkey her
SELF. All egGs set should be marked.
because turkey often lays an egg or
No after beginning to sit.
The period Of Incubation is from
"cnty-six TO twcnty-nine days. The
turkey IL persistent sitter After she
las settled down to incubation, she
honld be daily removed from her nest
or FOOD and exercise. Care should DO
aiken that she docs not wander Off. as
she Is apt to DO. and leave her nest for
moro than twenty minutes. A limited
Grass run should be provided, II pos
4iole. Besides this daily feeding and
xerctse, water and soft food should DO
eft within her reach
way OF Managing Turkey Chicks.
For six Or eight weeks turkey chicks
re delicate. They should be kept from
yet grass and rainstorma. A slight
mower. oven in warm weather. may
ause tho death OF half a brood. II IL
therefore, wise TO provide special shel-
er for young broods during this crit
cal period. Damp ground may prove
atal. so that board moor Is advisable
building with protected walls. we'll
oof"d and well ventilated Is a profit
bile Investment for turkey chicka
good food for the hrst week 10
ard-ho!lrd eggs. mixed with dande-
ion plants chopped small At the end
I ten days gone bread crumbs or bar
cy meal may be add. ID 20 the egg ra-
lon. Boiled eggs should be gradually
discontinued About this time boiled
potato may be aided to the ration.
geek Or two later small grain may be
given. MIX curds make an excellent
God. They are easily prepared by add
nE n pinch Of alum 10 a measure Of
lightly warmed milk
When about two months old the req
xcrcscerces on the neck and throat
|eEin to appear. This Is sign of
igor. when this red Is we'll dcvel-
ped :he chicks have become poults.
hey arc as hardy now as any other
owl and can stand almost any sort OF
Weather without risk. Take reason
bio care OF them and .hcy will be-
ONE the hardest birds Of the farm
och
Turkeys prefer 20 roos, In trees and
arclv take shelter In the hen house
n open shed containing high perches
houid be provided ~ trees are not
vailah'.
Making succe~~ With Guinea Fowls.
Tho guinea fowl. sometimes called
he Gall!na or I'intado. is not kept on
arms SO much az it's merits warrant
Is AS good for giving alarm Al night
: any watch dog When dressed for
he table. It's flesh IL as delicate as that
any game bird
But Euineas mate IN pairs. so that
n equal number Of males and females
,ust be kent 10 provide high fertility
eggs. The hen lays freely from
lay 10 August she Is very shy
Ird. II eggs arc taken from her nest
hilc she IS around. she will! forsakc
and seek another Therefore a few
1ould not be visited when the guinea
in aght.
1t Is best 10 Get the arst eggs under
chickenhen. as the guinea often be-
ONES hrooty 900 late 20 rear brood.
ut IL she sits early enough. she rarely
hills 10 hatch nearly all her eggs. The
eriod OF incubation Is about the same
) turkey eggs.
II a farmer desires 20 make start
ith Eu!neas II Is best 10 procure eggs
I'D set them under a chicken hen. II
aturc birds are purchased, they are
likely 10 wander of and never return.
Matched and reared in the farm yard.
pung guineas will remain where reg
Early fed. To this end gu!neas should
ways BE fed one meal Al night. or
ney are not ely TO remain ut home.
ike turkeys, they much prefer 20 roost
the branches o! trees.
Guinea chicks require food about six
purs after Matching. The plan out
ned for feeding turkey chicks may
S,l', Fr11 p.l ia
hicks But the latter may be allowed
orc liberty, though they require more
instant feeding. Young Guincas have
urdy legs and ~ Guc weather they
ay be allowed 10 wander With their
other. To rear thnm successfully and
eep them In good condition. especial
in winter, Euineas need more ami
al food than turkeys or hens
The flesh OF guincaS is OF excellent
lvor. resembling tho pheasant. The
pdy Is equal 20 the leghorn. but II is
ore plump and we'll proportioned.
hen fed for table use guinea should
,ver be crsmmed or overfed. ordi-
ary feeding Is good enouh for these
ne favored birds.
The Place Of Dicks md Gceae.
Where farms have plenty of water.
,cks and geese can be profitahly add
tc the poultry flock. They are wa
r fowl, though they can be raised and
AIDE TO thrive on land where the only
-idence OF a pond is IN low places af-
r heavy rains They flourish best.
,wever. where there is running water
ponds.
Ducks will do we'll in a garden or on
range where they can procure plenty
snails. slugs. insects or worms
md natural or artificial. however
nall, will serve TO satisfy their water
bits.
In keeping ducks 1t should he re-
en,hered that in the wild state male
ates with one female. Domestication
changed this somewhat. but for
ronc fertility not more than three
bcks should he allowed to one drake.
duck usually makes n good sitter.
~ likes TO cover her eggs with loose
raw when leavirg her nest. therefore
good supply or this material should
rround her
Tho young may be Matched with
ens hens or ducks. The period OF
.ubation is about twenty EIGHT days.
ucklings require stimulating food
good ration is cornmeal we'll mixed
III sour milk or boiled meat. They
n be made fat In six or eight weeks
this diet and bring good prices.
Ducks should have n separate house
tn n masonry floor; this should be
.oucnt,y washed and spread with
AN straw. They should he kept in
,;r house every morning until thew