The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-12-04
OPPORTUNITIES IN TURKEYS.

range. but even then they often go too
far. An effective plan is to drive them
into an fnclosure and keep them there
until about noon.
Turkeys are fattened for market from
about October up to selling time. They
are fed Just enough so that they go
away still feeling a little hungry The
quantity is gradually increased until they
are given all they will clean up three
times a day during the week before mar
ketng, Some turkey raisers feed wheat
and oats during the first part Of the
fattening season, gradually changing to
corn as the wea Their becomes cooler New
corn can be fed safely if the turkeys
are gradually accustomed to it by feed
hing light at first. AS a rule, it has not
paid to confine turkeys during the fat
tening period, as they lose appeptite and
get off feed when penned up. Nuts of
various kinds are Qatural fattening
feed picked up by the turkeys on the
range. OF these beech nuts, chestnuts,
pecans and acorns are those most COM
monty used. Many Texas turkey rails
ers depend solely upon acorns for fat
tening their turkeys, and when such
mast is plentiful the birds are marketed
in fairly good condition.
The marketing season for turkeys is
short running from the middle of Mo-
ver,her to the latter part of December.
to poultry dealers who either dress them
or ship them alive to city dealers. Farm
| ers near the city markets and particu-
| larry those in the middle Atlantic and
| New England states often dress the
| turkeys and either sell them direct to
the consumer or to city dealers In some
sections shortly before Thanksgiving
there is held what is known as turkey
day, On the day before this event every
turkey grower in the neighborhood kills
and dresses his turkeys and the following
morning brings them into town, where
they are sold to the highest bidder. In
the extensive turkey raising sections ot
Texas. dressing plants have been built
| bv poultry dealers who huy the birds
alive and dress them for city markets.
| The hens greatest egg-producing pc
RODS are the first, second and third
years, depending upon the breed. The
Heavier breeds. such as Plymouth Rocks,
may be proftably kept for two years;
the lighter breeds, such as Leghorns,
three years
| Market white shelled and brown-shelled
eggs in separate packages. Eggs irreg-
lular in shape, those which are unusually
long or thin-shelled or which have shells
otherwise defective. should be kept by
| the producer for home use, so that
breakage in transit may be reduced as
much as possible.
| Eggs from "stolen" nests should not
be r,s rketed: they are of unknown age
and Quality and should be used at home
! Whey taking eggs to market, protect
them From the suns rays in warm
weather Ship or deliver eggs twice or
tnree times weekly.
1 Notice the GAMBLER has places for the
| good ejrgs as we'll as for checks fcracke4
eggs. dirty eggs and riots" When SELF
1 ing eggs insist that they be bought on a
quality basis.
Irfertile eggs viii Withstand MARIE uIls
lconcitions much better than fertile eggs.
! All cockerels not intended to be kept
or sold for breeders should be marketed
/ VIXEN they reach suitable size. such
| birds confined in a homemade fattening
battery or coop and fed a fattening ra-
| ton for week or 10 days will net only
increase in weight. but bring better
price on the market, because of improved
quality.