Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-12
Turkey Raising

For preceding Tor market or eXh1-
bition, select hens weighing about
eighteen pounds, plump, medium
sized, straight breast bone. and Wig
orous. Mate these hens to a young
gobbler weighing from twenty-five
to thirty pounds of large frame, large
feet and legs and a vigorous active
bird. Never use extra large gobblers
as they are liable to tear the hens
under the wings and stop them lay
ing. Do not mate more than ten
females to one tom.
In winter, it is advisable to house
the hens in a warm shed, especially
the latter part, so they will begin to
lay early. Some breeders allow their
stock to roost out all the year. Such
stock is extremely healthy but they
do not lay as early as those kept in
a building. AS soon as it becomes
warm, let them roost outside on large
poles placed about six feet above
ground. They are more healthy and
free of Vermin than when roosting in
building during the summer.
Avoid overlooking the breeding
stock, and do not have them fat.
Oats are good feed for turkeys.
An occasional feed of wheat for va
riety is also good. A good laying
mash is oat chip, shorts and corn
meal, about equal parts of chop and
shorts and one-half corn meal Shells
and grit should be before them all
the time.
Turkeys are sure to try and steal
away THERE nest, but if coops, such
as old barrels, are placed in bushes.
shocks, weeds, etc, they can be in
duced to lay in these and can be set
IN these same nests. Turkey hens
lay three clutches. The first clutch
VIII number about twncty- one eggs,
the second sixteen e~~s and the third
from ten to twelve eggs. 1t is best
to set the turkey on the third clutch
OF eggs. Eggs should be set before
ten days old. Keep them in a place
Where the temperature is so to 50 de-
Srees turning the eggs every day I'M.
til set. Eggs twenty days old will
match fairly well but it is advisable
to set them as soon as possible as
each day weakens the germ. conse-
quently a poult from an egg twenty
days old before Setting is not so
strong as one from an egg ten days
old.
Hens such as Barred Rocks and
Reds can be used for mothers of the
pouIts, for they are gentle and light
IN weight and can be tied to a peg
so are not much trouble. The turkey
men is larger and ugly as a rule and
is liable TO fly around when you ap-
pear, and to tramp the young poults
TO death. A chicken hen will cover
from seven to nine eggs, a turkey
from nineteen to twenty one.
turkey eggs require from twenty
SIX TO tWenty-nine days to hatch.
Dust the hen several times during
the match with good lice powder.
A scented nest egg is also good,
Poults should be kept free of lice
untll they are two months old, as lice
Will either kill them or weaken them
SO they will succumb to disease.
Breeders advise feeding the turkey at
the nest, but some prefer to take
the turkey off each day to a yard
where shells, oats, wheat and water
are placed. A barrel placed on its
side and staked solid makes a good
nest using earth sprinkled with
water to shape the nest. This is
covered with straw and makes an
IDEAL nest. The eggs should be
sprinkled with 80 to 100 degree water
from twentieth day to the end of the
hatch. This rots the shell and the
tough membrane inside the shell so
mat the poults easily break out.
move the poults from the nest to
a warm f1annel-lined basket until YOU
nave fed and moved the mother to
her new home. Look in once N
awhile to see if everything is all
right. Feed when thirty hours old.