Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-03-05

large. The number raised in the
United States is gradually decreas-
ing, however. This is due to a num-
Der of causes, serious one being the
high mortality among the young
poults. Careful management will
greatly reduce this loss. according to
the United States Department of
Agriculture poultry specialists.
First Week Dangerous.
The average number OF poults
raised under ordinary conditions is
about SO per cent of those Matched
out. or about seven poults TO every
turkey hen. BY far the greater part
of the oss occurs when the poults are
under a week old. Seldom are any
lost after they are month old un-
less there Is an outbreak of disease.
The high mortality among young
poults is mainly caused by exposure
to dampness and cold. improper feed
ing, close confinement. lice. preda-
tory animals, or inherent weakness
carelessness in selection of parent
stock.
AS soon as the hatch is completed
and the poults begin to run around
outside the nest the hen and brood
are ready to be removed to the coop
provided for them. The coop should
be built to keep out rain: it should
be well ventilated. capable of easy
movement. and be sufficiently roomy
for a turkey hen to stand erect and
walk about. There should be a sep
arate coop for each hen and brood,
and the coops should be scattered
about the farm in such places as are
easily drained and where natural
feed, such as tender, green vegeta-
ton grass. clover. alfalfa, and other
green feed). and insects. particularly
grasshoppers can be found. BY NOV
ing the coop every day the ground
will be kept clean and opportunity
will be given the mother hen and
poults to pick up fresh. green feed
luSlue lHc coup.
Plenty of exercise is essential If
the poults are to thrive. At all times,
when rain or dampness does not pre-
vent. the puolts should be allowed to
run in and out Of the coop at will.
Too much stress can not be given to
the necessity of exercise. and the
only way to provide for this to allow
the poults at every possible opportu-
nifty to range for feed outside the
coop. During ong-continued rainy
season it is better to allow them to
run out of the coop whenever it is
not actually raining, even though the
grass is somewhat damp. BY con-
fining the mother hen to the coop she
will always be ready to cover the
poults whenever they run to her,
which they will do If they become
chilled. The greatest care should be
taken to keep the interior of the coop
dry, and for this reason it is advis-
able to choose sandy slope where
the water runs off quickly and where
there is also protection from heavy
rains.
Feeding the POults.
Improper feeding, combined with
close confinement, has been the
cause of many failures in turkey rails
ing. If the range is plentifully sup
piled with green feed. grasshoppers,
and other insects. and if the weather
is favorable, then the best plan is
to allow the poult to feed themselves.
When. on account of rainy weather
or unfavorable range conditions, il is
advisable to raise the poults by the
coop method. or care must be given
to their feeding. For the first two
days after Matching, poults require
no feed. the yolk of the egg which,
they absorbed before breaking ont of
the shell being sufficient to maintain
them for that length of time. Access
to clean drinking water and little
coarse sand and green feed to pick at
is all that is needed until the third
day.
Beginning with the third dav the
poults should be fed according to the
quantity OF natural feed they are able
to pick up outside the coop. When
natural feed is scarce, or when the
poults have to be kept from ranging
OUTSIDE, they should be fed lightly
about five times day. II allowed
IN rim outside tho coon where they
can find insects. seeds and green '',d'
they need not be fed oftener than
two or three times day.
Successful turkey raisers use many
different kinds of feed, some of the
most common being as follows: Hard
boiled egg chopped fine and corn
bread crumbs for the first week. and
then whole wheat and hulled oats;
c%n,o h,ood ccoEod IN milk and