The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-04-09

Prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agricuture)
Turkeys, where there Is plenty Of
range, are profitable side line upon
the general farm, for the cost of rails
Ing them is small and the profits large
The number raised in the United
States is gradually decreasing, how
ever This is due to a number of
causes, serious one being the high
mortality among the young poults
Careful management will greatly re-
huce this loss according to the United
States department of agriculture poul-
try specialists.
First Week Dangerous.
The average number of poults
raised under ordinary conditions is
about so per cent of those Matched
out, or about poults for every turkey
hen. BY far the greater part of the
loss occurs when the poults are under
week old. Seldom are any lost aft
er they are q month old unless there
Is an outbreak of disease. The high
mortality among young poults is main
ly caused by exposure to dampness
and cold, improper feeding, close con-
fnement, lice, predatory animals, or
inherent weakness. The last-named
cause is the result of 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 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,
| (grass, clover, alfalfa, and other green
feed), and insects, particularly grass
hoppers, can be found. BY moving 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 inside the
! coop.
Plenty of exercise is essential If the
poults are to thrive. At all times
when rain or dampness does not pre-
vent, the poults should be allowed to
run in and out of the coop at will
Too much stress cannot be given to
the necessity Of exercise, and the only
way to provide for this is to allow The
poults at every possible opportunity
to range for feed outside the coop
During a 1ong-continued rainy season
it is better to allow them to run out
Of the coop whenever 1t is not actu
ally raining, even though the grass Is
somewhat damp. BY combining the
mother hen to the coop she will always
be ready to cover the poults when
ever they run to her, which they viii
do II they become chilled. The great
est care should be taken to keep tht
interior of the coop dry, and for this
reason it is advisable to choose /
sandy slope where the water runs Of
quickly and where there is also pro
lection from heavy rains.
Feeding the Poults.
Improper feeding, combined will
close confinement, has been the caus
of many failures in turkey raising. |
the range is plentifully supplied witt
green feed, grasshoppers, and othe
insects. and If the weather is favor
able. then the best plan is to allow tn
poults to feed themselves.
When, on account of rainy weathe
or unfavorable range conditions, it |
advisable to raise the poults by tn
coop method, more care must be give
to their feeding. For the first tw
days after Matching, poults require n
feed, the yolk of the egg which the
absorb before breaking out of tn
shell being sufficient to maintain ther
for that length of time. Access t
coarse sand and green feed to pic
at is all that is needed until the thir
day.
Beginning with the third day, tn
pouts should be fed according to tn
quantity of natural feed they are abb
to pick up outside the coop. When ma
ural feed is scarce, or when the pouli
have to be kept from ranging outsid
| they should be fed lightly about fiy
times day If allowed to run outsid
the coop where they can find insect
seeds and green feed, they need NJ