The Wilmington morning star., 1945-11-12
Carolina Farm Comment
By F. H. JETER

Inent observation. He says that
successful turkey production in
wolves high quality, adequate facl-
lities for brooding the birds, poults
which are free of disease when
started, and a balanced diet that
will promote best growth. Then,
the family that attempts to grow
turkeys commercially must give
minute attention to all details OF
management if the young birds are
to live and thrive.
Elm this section, securing poults
at the ideal time for starting them
is one of the most important fac
tors in success with turkeys"
Dearstyne says. Research find.
ings and the experience OF many
of our best producers indicate that
poults should not be started later
than April IS if the highest livabil-
ity is to be secured. Turkeys should
be brooded off the ground for the
first ten weeks and then placed on
clean range where a suitable graz
ing crop is available.
Green feed, in ample quantity
is one practice by which feed costs
can be reduced and greater pro-
fits returned. From the time Of
hatch, turkeys may be subject to
many diseases and parasite infec-
tons. Turkey growers must inform
themselves as to the nature of
these infections, as to what age
in the birds life they may ap-
pear, and what measures should
be taken to prevent such infections.
AS with chickens, the best way to
reduce deaths is to prevent dis
ease entering the flocks.'
Over the whole United States
the turkey industry has expanded
from the nearly 81 million birds
representing the 1874 average
to over "a million, indicated pro-
duction in 1915. This indicated pro-
duction for 1915 is 1915 per cent
of the production of 1914. Elk.
pansion cannot be carried on with.
out limit and the thoughts of Our
turkey growers should now turn
! toward the idea of greater efficien-
cy rather than great increase in
numbers. Dearstyne believes that
one Of the greatest, immediate op.
portunities in turkey work in North
Carolina lies in increasing the pro.
duction of quality Matching eggs.
Probably fifty per cent Of the
turkey poults raised for commerce.
al purposes are Matched outside OF
this state. The developing of such
a supply of Matching eggs means
that more breeding flocks ought to
be established and that better
breeding practices than are done
at the present time must be fol-
lowed. Attention must be given not
alone to body type Of the turkey,
but also to those other factors
which will give higher production
per bird and this production
should be so timed that turkey
poults may be Matched early in
the spring.
An added and very vital factor
is that Of reducing mortality or
deaths in the hocks. Birds dying
from the time of hatch until they
reach the market represent the orr.
ginal cost of poult, labor and feeo
and even a low per cent o.
mortality represents large actu
al loss Of money. To bring about
a reduction in mortality mean!
that our established turkey produc
ers are going to have to do more
thoughtful work than they have II
the past and that those people nov
beginning to grow turkeys will
have to grow into it, rather thar
60 into it.
incidentally, Randolph Foye O.
Trenton, Jones County, is having
excellent success in his first year
of growing turkeys for market. Mr.
Foye now has 1000 fine Broad
breasted Bronze birds that are
about ready for the Thanksgiving
and Christmas market. He plans
to sell all of his gobblers Or toms
and to select out the best hens fol
egg production this winter. He i.
making plans now to build lay
ing house for the hens and will
use artificial lights on them be-
ginning December 1. His idea is tt
produce eggs when they are sell
ing for the best prices and wher
they are needed for produc
ING no111tc for the 1915 cror