Turkey Breeding.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, 3 December 1887, Page 4

Turkey Breeding.

TttRKEV raising is an extensive industry in t&any paits of America, where is found that finest of all breeds the bronze turkey. As tve have said elsewhere in this issue in noticing Mr Kiug's importation of a trio o bronze turkeys, New Zealand it. eminently fitted, in its climate, and expanse ot thinly occup.ed country and largo farm.*, ior successful turkey breeding. The following from a breeder of e\peiionec in the States Avill no doubt be found practically u-eful to those having the care of turkeys : — Tlie rearing of tin-keys is one of the must profitable pursuits in which any one can engage. For breeders select broad backed, full bieastcd and she rt legged ones, of any rare variety you -decide to raise. Tvvc'vo hens to one Tom is about; the correct number, and y c prefer young hens to adult one", as they v, ill lay more c^s, and if they are he.i\ y weight varieties, when incubating they will not -break so many eggs or nui^h so many ot the young chicks as the old liens would do. It will not be long before the young << turks"will make theii appeaiance, and our method ot reaiing them might probably interest some of your reader. We ha\e our turkeys to laj and tot in huge, roomy cx>ps, 2J feet long by 2 teet w ide. 2 feet high in front, with a s'opoof 6 inches to the rear; when the tinkers get through with them we tuni them over to our joung chickens. We keep our tui key hens in the orchaid until their bloods me u few weeks old when they aie permitted the range of the farm ; the hens ate kept from il>ing over the fence by a light board or shingle. 10 inches long by 5 inches wide, teemed on their backs by soft, jla' strings, urn tinough Jioles in the board and tied under their "wings ; by this method they can bo as readily confined a-, sheep or other small stock, and it does not injure them in the least. The young should be hibfc fed egg biead, curd or light biead ciumbs in a shallow pan of milk ; after they aio a week or so old, crushed coin boiled the same as hominy makes a fine feed for them. By the time they are live or fix old gia c s hoppers and other insects arc plentiful and they Mill thrive upon the.^-, but should be given one feed in the evening to teach them to come home to roost. The noble Bronze i-j the mo-st extensively bred and is the king of all tuil;t.\s as it reaches the largest tize ; 40 lb Tunis a c to be met with on eveiy side, while in a tlnee year old foim they f-ometiine& icach the mammoth weight ot 50 Iba. The Nairag.mscitt ranks no.\t in s i/o and is quite a favouiite with tho.-e who have near neighbour, as it ib a vciy gentle tuikey ; th.ry ha\cn d uk, metallic plumage, ■with salmon colouio'i legs' ; the> a>o sometimes called Silver {<iey>. The White Holland tinkers aie bred in a -considerable number, and w h,;n piepated ior the table aie cunhidoied the finest ilivuu-o i turkey we ha\ e, but aie less hauiy than other bieecK, they aie white in colour. The bull or yellow tinkers have Lhuir admirei.s, but aie not vety c.\.ei)M\ely bicd.