The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1931-12-24
TURKEY PRODUCTION RE-
QUIREs GOOD MANAGEMENT

As is always the case when a
farm product brings good prices,
there is a movement toward in
creased production of that COM
modify. Because of, the reasonably
good prices obtained by turkey
producers over the past two years
there seems to be a tendency on
the part of quite few to consid-
er the turkey enterprise as a logi-
cal one to get into. Because of
this there is Of course, a possibl-
ity that markets may not be quite
so good in the next few years al
though the profits could still be
made with price little below
where they are at the present time.
Probably the most important
thing that should be considered
by those contemplating turkey pro-
duction as new enterprise is
thorough study Of the fundamental
things connected with it. These
should include selection of the
right type bird for breeders or
purchase of eggs or poults from
flocks in which the proper selec-
ton of breeders has been made.
Turkeys are our least homestead
ed bird and seems to be more sub
iect to disease and problems of
management than any other bird.
Vigor as handed down by breed
ing flock in the overcoming of both
Of the problems.
Breeders should be selected in
the fall from those birds that have
good bone, good deep bellies, are
well feathered and mature early.
One of the most common diseases
of turkeys is blackhead. Probably
the most common cause of disease
Is pin worms to which all poultry
flocks are very subject. For this
reason turkeys should not be rails
ed on farms where poultry is being
kept. There are extreme cases
where success has been secured In
spite of this but it is the exception
rather than the rule and for the
average person starting in turkey
production we would say that tur-
keys must be kept away from the
chickens or chicken houses which
have been occupied within the last
two years or from ground on which
chicken droppings have been
spread.
Problems of feeding and rearing
have changed much in the last few
years and we might say briefly
that the idea that many turkey
producers had in the past, name
", that turkey would forage for
. large part of it's living is entirely
out Of date. If turkeys are going
to be a worthwhile enterprise on
the farm they must be given care
full attention from the time the
young poults are Matched or bought
s -. y
until they are delivered to the mar
keting agency. 1t is true after they
reach the age Of two months that
there is less trouble as rule, than
earlier, but If one observes sue
eessful turkey producers that we
have in our communities one will
find that there is no let up in the
rather strict program throughout
the entire period Of raising bird.
AS was brought out in the tur-
key killing demonstrations this
year the greatest damage to the
industry has been by producers
themselves who have not given
enough attention to growing and
the marketing Of birds only when
they are ready for market. We
feel that in fairness to those who
are now in the industry that any
one contemplating starting should
come just as near as possible rails
ing the same high quality produce
as our best producers are raising
SO as to be able to maintain the
highest price due to the high quail
ity product, which has been pro-
duced in this section.
Bulletins covering various phases
Of turkey production may be Sc
cured at the county agents Of
flee in Kennewick. This topic will
also be discussed at the winter
poultry school held at Prosser on
January II and IL. We hope to
have Mr.. Buchanan available Tor
at least one or two other meetings.