,transcriber's ,note ,when italics were used in the original book1 the corresponding text has been surrounded by underscores4 ,some presumed printer's errors have been corrected1 including normalizing punctuation4 ,further corrections are listed below with the printed text 7top7 and corrected text 7bottom73 to defect the approach of the disease to detect the approach of the disease 7p4 #ih7 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,mahaney ,,at ,,turkey ,,park ,,margaret ,,mahaney ,talks ,about ,turkeys ,price1 #a4jj ,margaret ,mahaney ,,talks ,,about ,,turkeys ,by ,,margaret ,,mahaney ,,the ,,skillful ,,new ,,england ,,raiser ,,tells ,,us ,,some ,,of ,,the ,,secrets ,,of ,,the ,,successful ,,raising ,,of ,,turkeys ,,published ,,by ,,the ,,park ,,pollard ,,co4 ,,boston1 ,,mass4 ,copyright #aiac by ,,the ,,park ,,pollard ,,co4 ,boston1 ,massachusetts ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,introduction ,,by ,,philip ,r4 ,,park ,more than a century and a quarter ago there was fired in ,concord1 ,mass41 a shot that was heard around the world4 ,this shot terminated the domination of monopoly and marked the opening of a new era1--the building of a new empire4 ,not less important to all lovers of turkeys is the shot fired in this same beautiful old town by ,margaret ,mahaney1 when she first put an end to the bogy that has been hovering over the ,turkey industry so long1 i4 e41 ,blackhead4 ,not less triumphant has been her conquest of practically all the ailments besetting this beautiful bird4 ,it is really beyond belief that ,miss ,mahaney has raised in a season #cjj turkeys with a loss of less than #b per cent1 when for years the ,experiment ,stations and ,agricultural ,colleges1 as well as nearly all poultrymen1 have claimed that turkeys could not be raised in this ,state4 ,all would recognize this as wonderful work if applied to chickens1 but when accomplished with turkeys it is doubly wonderful4 ,these same ,experiment ,station directors had told ,miss ,mahaney that she could not do the things she was already accomplishing1 but when they visited her farm they held up their hands and departed1 acknowledging that here was a woman who had performed the miracle4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,mahaney',s #aej4jj ,,prize ,,tom ,miss ,mahaney was a wonderfully capable trained nurse who broke down at her work and was ordered to the country to save her life1 urged particularly to take up some out-of-door work4 ,poultry keeping appealed to her from the first1 but turkeys particularly for the reason of the difficulties to be surmounted4 ,if she could do what others could not she would be satisfied4 ,anyone could raise chickens1 but hardly anyone could raise turkeys4 ,here was a task that delighted her and a problem that appealed to her4 ,the difficulties she encountered would have discouraged any one but a pioneer of her character4 ,her deep maternal instinct 7and she is1 figuratively speaking1 mother to everything and everybody upon the beautiful estate where she lives7 brought the babies and old turkeys through their blackhead troubles1 and from her medical training1 together with the aid she received from contact with members of her family who were physicians1 she recognized symptoms and remedies which one could acknowledge as miracles and not overstep the truth4 ,she has applied the fruits of her life work to the solving of a problem1 and some day the country at large from ,maine to ,california will raise its hat to ,margaret ,mahaney1 the lady from ,concord1 ,mass41 who restored what was supposed to be lost3--the art of raising turkeys1--and that in confinement in poultry houses under practically the same conditions as chickens4 ,if you find time to go to ,concord1 by all means call on ,miss ,mahaney and she will make you welcome4 ,she will show you more turkeys than have ever before been raised in one flock in the eastern states1 and she will delight in telling you the simple methods she uses4 ,on the following pages she will tell you in her own way how she accomplishes it4 ,we repeat1 ,miss ,mahaney is a wonderful woman4 ,she has a beautiful estate on which to produce these birds1 but others are doing just as wonderful work with them by following her teachings4 ,,table ,,of ,,contents ,,page ,,introduction iii ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,my ,,readers #c ,,facts ,,about ,,turkey ,,raising #ac ,breeding #ae ,,brief ,,outline ,,of ,,my ,,method ,,of ,,raising ,,turkeys #bc ,throwing the ,red #bg ,,breeding #ca ,selection and ,treatment of ,breeding ,stock #ca ,rules for the ,selection of ,stock #cb ,kind of ,hens to ,select #cc ,number of ,females to ,one ,male #ce ,care to be ,given ,breeding ,stock #cf ,mating #ch ,feeding ,during ,breeding ,season #ch ,nests and ,nesting #dj ,hatching #db ,first ,feed #dc ,avoid ,vermin #de ,the ,setting of the ,turkey ,hen #df ,,the ,,throwing ,,of ,,the ,,red ,,and ,,young ,,turkeys #ee ,,investigation ,,of ,,diseases #fe ,,blackhead #ga ,my ,first ,successful ,fight ,against ,blackhead #gc ,to ,detect ,blackhead #gh ,treatment of ,full ,grown ,turkeys #gi ,blackhead in ,young ,turkeys #ha ,starts ,with a ,common ,cold #hd ,treatment of a ,common ,cold #hd ,,common ,,diseases #ia ,rheumatism #ia 8,rotten ,crop10 ,sometimes ,mistaken for ,blackhead #ic ,cold--,catarrh--,cough--,bronchitis #id ,roup #if ,consumption of the ,throat #ajj ,consumption of the ,lungs #aja ,swollen ,heads #ajd ,sore ,eyes and ,head #aji ,constipation in ,turkeys #aaj ,diarrhea #aab ,diarrhea in ,little ,turkeys #aae ,gapes #aaf ,tape ,worm #aag ,peritonitis #aai ,,the ,,bronze ,,turkey #abe ,the ,organs and ,size #abe ,coloring #abf ,selection of ,breeding ,stock #abg ,marketing #abi ,dressing #acj ,shipping #aca ,,full-,,page ,,illustrations ,miss ,mahaney at ,turkey ,park ,frontispiece ,miss ,mahaney's #aej4jj ,prize ,tom v ,showing ,style of ,runs #ag ,the ,mahaney ,system ,develops ,strong1 ,hardy ,birds #bc 8,give the ,turkeys ,all the ,milk ,you ,can0 #bf ,r4 ,i4 ,reds and ,plymouth ,rocks ,make ,excellent ,mothers #dc ,breeding ,pens #dg ,turkeys ,should ,be ,tamed #ea ,friends 7,miss ,mahaney and 8,grandma ,cleaves07 #gg ,women ,make the ,most ,successful ,turkey ,raisers #hb ,turkeys ,thrive ,best on ,high ,land #ib ,turkey ,raising ,is an ,interesting and ,healthful ,occupation #abf ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,my ,,readers ,,turkey ,,park1 ,,concord1 ,,mass4 ,my dear ,readers3-- ,the following is a copy of a letter recently received by me1 and which represents the type of communications ,i have received daily for over three years from all parts of the country3 ,my dear ,miss ,mahaney3-- ,altho we are strangers to each other1 ,i am writing you today1 regarding turkey raising4 ,i read some time ago in the 8,boston ,post0 that you had good success in raising turkeys1 so ,i take the liberty of writing you for instructions1 if you will kindly give them to me4 ,i have tried for several years to raise a few1 but it has been a hard job4 ,they would do well for about six or seven weeks1 then grow sick with liver and bowel trouble and fade away4 ,now what is the trouble8 ,what must they be fed with8 ,must they range or be kept in a yard8 ,in fact1 what way must ,i manage to raise turkeys8 ,what is your experience8 ,please write me4 ,sincerely1 etc4 ,it is in answer to such letters as the foregoing that ,i am placing my methods in book form on the market1 in order to enlighten the breeders of turkeys and to inform them how ,i first succeeded where others have failed4 ,in the first place1 ,i visited two or three farms in the country4 ,i found that no care whatever was taken of the turkeys4 ,a common hen was fairly well looked after1 fed and kept warm4 ,the turkey was supposed to forage for itself1 roost on old wagons or any sort of roost that the bird found convenient1 at night and in all kinds of weather4 ,conditions were anything but sanitary4 ,inbreeding was permitted year after year1 as one tom was thought sufficient for the hen turkeys of five or six neighbors4 ,i visited one farm in particular1 which had on it turkeys from very nice stock1 about twenty in all4 ,of course they were small and pale1 and had not developed as they should have4 ,they roosted in a sort of shed right off the barn cellar1 so that they had access to the barn cellar1 and they roamed around on the manure pile all day4 ,the manure was turned down through an opening under the cows4 ,the roof of that shed had no shingles on it1 and in wet weather the rain simply poured down on those birds4 ,it is only natural that conditions such as these will bring on roup and all kinds of diseases4 ,the birds will not be developed and cannot possibly be strong enough when the spring comes to fulfill the duties of the breeding season4 ,birds hatched amid such surroundings are tainted with roup and other afflictions4 ,it is not very long ago since ,i had a talk with a gentleman from ,vermont4 ,he told me that at one time ,vermont made a large amount of money in turkey raising4 ,when the turkeys got to be four or five weeks old1 the raisers simply turned them out1 and let them take care of themselves4 ,those that lived through the summer1 weathered storms and all other sorts of hardships1 they rounded up in the fall1 fattened for market or sold for breeders4 ,this was what they called 8clear profit40 ,everyone can readily understand to what that 8clear profit0 has led4 ,the result is that our splendid bronze turkeys are dying out by the thousands each year1 and within seven or eight more years1 if something is not done to strengthen the turkey and keep it up to the standard of at least the common hen1 our famous turkey of ,america will be a thing of the past4 ,whereas1 if the turkey when hatched is given good feed as described in another part of my book1 taken care of until the red is thrown1 and then turned into a good1 warm shed at night1 kept dry and warm in damp weather1 and fed reasonably1 three-thirds of the trouble in raising turkeys can be avoided4 ,care must be given to the breeding hens4 ,they must be kept in sanitary quarters1 given plenty of good feed1 with four drops of tincture of iron to a gallon of water1 plenty of lime and sand1 about half and half1 and left where they can eat it at their own convenience4 ,if you give ground bone1 have it very fine1 for it is apt to lodge in the corner of the mouth and sometimes will cause ulceration4 ,when this happens1 the jowl of the bird will become swollen1 and on close examination1 there will be found a small piece of white bone which will have to be removed and the mouth washed with sulpho-napthol or ,presto ,disinfectant4 ,i generally use my salve two or three times before the wound is healed4 ,if the bird that lays the eggs is good and strong1 the turkeys that are hatched will be strong and rugged1 and to 8keep them growing from the start0 has always been my motto4 ,in my closing paragraph ,i wish to say to all my readers that ,i have been most sincere and straightforward in everything that ,i have written in this book4 ,to one and all who may read this1 ,i extend a cordial invitation to visit my turkey farm in ,concord1 ,massachusetts1 that you may see for yourselves the progress ,i have made in the last eight years in raising turkeys in yards under the same conditions as chickens1 a feat which has been claimed heretofore by experiment stations to be impossible to accomplish1 in poultry-congested ,new ,england4 ,i have labored with the problem of turkey raising for many years1 and sincerely believe myself to be in a position to advise others who may be beginners1 as ,i once was1 concerning the difficulties of turkey raising1 and the best method of overcoming them4 ,i remain1 ,sincerely yours1 ,,margaret ,,mahaney4 ,march #ai1 #aiac4 ,,facts ,,about ,,turkey ,,raising ,the one great essential on the part of a person raising or attempting to raise turkeys is patience1 or persistency1 whichever you care to call it4 ,to anyone thinking of starting in this work ,i can only say that you will meet with plenty of difficulties and much that will discourage and dishearten you1 but when you remember that each failure or discouragement means just that much more added to your knowledge of1 and experience in this work1 it should give you heart to keep on1 and if you do keep on and on1 using each little bit of experience thus gained and using it to good effect1 in the end success is bound to come4 ,i am going to tell you a few of the discouraging things that happened to me1 and also of my method of raising turkeys1 a method based on long experience and perfected in the face of many discouragements1 and ,i hope that in the telling1 you may learn something that will be of benefit4 ,i started with twelve turkey eggs4 ,had ,i known then how hard they are to raise1 ,i wonder if ,i would have attempted it8 ,i hatched out eight turkeys from that lot of eggs1 and ,i raised just one4 ,i named her ,hen-,hen1 and she is on my place today1 and is at the head of all my flock4 ,the following year ,i hatched out over thirty turkeys1 and only succeeded in raising four4 ,my work was then carried on on low land4 ,the next year1 ,i put old ,hen-,hen on higher ground1 where ,i am raising all my flock today4 ,she hatched out fifteen turkeys1 and ,i raised all but one4 ,i killed off some of the young toms1 and kept all the pullets1 all of which ,i still have1 and they are splendid1 strong stock1 short-legged1 heavy and a splendid bronze4 ,i then sent to ,kentucky and brought out some of the best stock ,i could find down there1 and then began my battle to raise turkeys4 ,i had very good success1 that is1 as far as ,i went4 ,at first1 ,i knew hardly anything about the proper way to feed1 and the right food to give my turkeys1 but as the years went by1 my experience in feeding taught me a great deal4 ,,breeding ,now ,i will tell you in as concise a way as possible1 the method ,i consider proper in raising turkeys4 ,in the first place1 it is necessary to have a good1 strong two-year-old hen to breed from with a tom that is no relation whatever to the family4 ,one of the foremost things you must be particular not to do is to inbreed4 ,i much prefer a common hen to put my first hatch of eggs under2 that will give the turkey hens a much longer time to lay4 ,i consider it better to put my turkey hens on my ,june eggs4 ,i put fifteen eggs under a turkey hen1 and eleven under a common hen4 ,when the little turkeys come out1 ,i disinfect their heads and under the wings with my own salve4 ,have you ever seen a little turkey that has a cold in its head wipe its beak under its wing8 ,i have many times found the feathers under their wings matted as a result of this ill-bred habit of theirs4 ,that1 of course1 is not a healthy state for a young bird that is growing1 and that is the reason that ,i disinfect with my salve under their wings and on their heads1 and they always seem brighter afterward4 ,illustration3 ,,showing ,,style ,,of ,,runs ,i have good1 strong runs1 #e feet long and #d feet wide1 with high coops and thorough ventilation from the top1 which carries off all the impure and overheated air1 and keeps the temperature normal at the bottom of the coops for the little turkeys4 ,on hot days ,i cover my runs with burlap4 ,the turkeys must be kept clean and dry and their straw must be well aired every day4 ,once a week1 ,i wash out the bottom of the coop with disinfectant1 and put in clean straw4 ,i give them all the lettuce they can eat three times daily1 as the secret of raising turkeys is to keep their bowels in good order1 and the droppings a bright green4 ,just as soon as ,i see a little turkey with its wings drooping1 ,i take it away from the others and treat it as described on page #hb4 ,i have invented my own pills for the cure of blackhead and they are now being largely used by turkey raisers all through ,new ,england4#a ,when my little turkeys are about three or four days old1 ,i give them ,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,feed1 and a little skimmed milk with a good solid feed of lettuce--all they can eat4 ,at noon1 ,i feed them lettuce again and clean water containing tincture of iron1 #d drops to each gallon of water4 ,at night1 ,i feed them bread soaked in milk and lettuce cut up fine with an onion and a shake of red pepper4 ,after having dry feed all day1 they relish the soft feed at night4 ,there is no reason why1 if you use my method in raising turkeys1 and have your runs on high ground1 you cannot be successful4 ,if the turkeys are raised in the right way1 they are no harder to raise than chickens4 ,when the pullets are about four months old1 they should be given epsom salts twice a week 7a small teaspoonful to a gallon of water74 ,this keeps the turkey in good condition and the blood cool4 ,also a tablespoonful of sulphate of iron in a pail of water should be left in some place where they can drink it4 ,keep them good and dry until they are ready for shipment1 for turkeys are subject to blackhead until they are one year old4 ,i will be only too glad to give any information in my power to people who are interested in this subject4 ,while the ,experimental ,colleges have put out some bulletins on the care of turkeys1 the person that is going to issue a report on the raising of turkeys must get out in the field and be with them from the time they are baby chicks until they are ready to be disposed of1 and then it will be many years before he will know all there is to know about turkey raising4 ,i have spent years on my turkeys1 and ,i think that ,i am now in a position to give any information that any grower may require in regard to this matter4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,mahaney ,,system ,,develops ,,strong1 ,,hardy ,,birds ,,brief ,,outline ,,of ,,my ,,method ,,of ,,raising ,,turkeys ,in the first place ,i select a good quiet hen that has been setting two or three days and put her in a deep1 warm nest1 not too far from the top of the box1 so that when she goes to feed1 the hen will not break the eggs by jumping on them when she returns to the nest4 ,twelve eggs seems a great number of turkey eggs to put under one hen1 but that is what ,i put under every common hen1 and ,i sometimes hatch out all the eggs4 ,i spray the nests well with sulphur and also use my salve on the hen up until the sixteenth day4 ,i never put any disinfectant on the hen or on her nest after that because there is life inside the eggs by that time1 and the disinfectant is very apt to kill it4 ,when the eggs begin to hatch1 some will hatch out before the rest2 these ,i take away1 placing them in a good warm box wrapped in flannel and keep them good and warm until all the eggs are hatched out and the mother able to receive them4 ,when they are two days old1 ,i put the young turkeys in a good clean coop1 well whitewashed and waterproof4 ,my runs are #e ft4 long and #d ft4 wide4 ,i shut my little birds up in the coop for the first four days1 until they become good and strong4 ,after that1 if the weather is fine and warm1 ,i let them out about ten o'clock and put them in about three o'clock4 ,their first food consists of a hard boiled egg1 a shake of red pepper and three parts dandelion1 cut up fine4 ,you can give them all the green food they will eat1 and also powdered charcoal and fine grit4 ,after they are #c or #d days old1 ,i give them bread and milk squeezed dry1 and the ,margaret ,mahaney ,turkey ,feed4 ,the young poults are kept in runs which should be moved to a new spot each day and care taken that they are kept clean1 dry and warm1 and the straw must be taken out of the coops and thoroughly aired and kept good and clean1 as the sanitary condition is half the battle in raising turkeys4 ,place your runs on a side hill1 facing the south4 ,on hot days1 cover the runs with burlap4 ,let them out into the runs for two hours or more every afternoon that is pleasant and dry until the time the birds are nine weeks old4 ,do not let them out in damp weather before they are two years old1 for they are very susceptible to dampness and should be kept housed and warm in rainy and damp weather4 ,while the little birds are out1 watch carefully for hawks and pests4 ,give the turkeys all the milk you can afford to give1 as this will keep them growing4 ,plant a good field of lettuce and give them all this vegetable they can eat1 and you will find that they will eat lettuce three times a day with good relish4 ,one of the secrets of raising turkeys is to keep the droppings a bright green2 that1 of course1 keeps the liver in good condition1 and goes a long way in keeping blackhead out of the flock4 ,take some lime1 slack it1 put half sand with it and make a sort of soft mush out of it4 ,place this on a board and dry it2 then crumble it up and leave it around where your little turkeys can get it to eat4 ,illustration3 8,,give ,,the ,,turkeys ,,all ,,the ,,milk ,,you ,,can0 ,keep them in dry1 tight houses with the south side open so that they may have an abundance of fresh air without draughts4 ,when it is time to let them out of the runs1 you can let them out for three and four hours at a time2 you will find that they will want to go back to the runs when they become tired4 ,do not give them much feed at night2 give them plenty of time to digest everything in their bowels1 and they will then be ready for a good morning meal4 ,,throwing ,,the ,,red ,when they show signs of throwing the red1 put four drops of tincture of iron to a gallon of drinking water three or four times a week4 ,if it is cold1 rainy weather1 put a drop of aconite in the water every day while the wet weather lasts4 ,this will prevent their taking cold1 and1 as cold is the first sign of blackhead and diarrhea1 it can be easily seen that a little precaution is worth more than a pound of cure4 ,in regard to keeping lice off the little turkeys--you must disinfect your hens and the turkeys very frequently4 ,my salve for that purpose is a convenient and effective remedy4 ,if you will do as ,i have instructed you in the above paragraphs ,i do not think you will have much trouble in raising turkeys4 ,keep them dry by all means until they are five months old4 ,,breeding ,,selection ,,and ,,treatment ,,of ,,breeding ,,stock ,there are some rules that must be followed in the selection of turkeys for breeding if it is hoped to succeed4 ,careless indifference has given no end of trouble to turkey raisers4 ,in some instances which the writer has investigated all the turkeys owned in one locality have descended from the one original bird purchased many years before6 ,in one case it was said that for twenty years no new blood had come into the neighborhood4 ,if this foolish procedure had been continued it would have resulted in the destruction of the constitutional vigor of the turkeys4 ,,rules ,,for ,,the ,,selection ,,of ,,stock ,a few plain rules which may be observed to advantage are as follows3 #a4 ,always use as breeders turkey hens over one year old4 ,be sure that they are strong1 healthy and vigorous1 of good medium size4 ,in no instance select the smaller ones but do not strive to have them unusually large4 #b4 ,the male may be a yearling or older4 ,do not imagine that the large1 overgrown males are the best4 ,strength1 health and vigor with a well proportioned medium size are the main points of excellence4 #c4 ,avoid close breeding4 ,new blood is of vital importance to turkeys4 ,better send a thousand miles for a new male than risk the chance of inbreeding4 ,secure one in the fall so as to be assured of his healthy and vigorous constitution prior to the breeding season4 ,,kind ,,of ,,hens ,,to ,,select ,no matter what variety of turkey may be selected for keeping1 they should1 above all things1 be strong1 vigorous1 healthy and well matured1 but not akin4 ,better secure the females from one locality and the male from another to insure their non-relationship rather than run the risk of inbreeding4 ,in all fowls it is well to remember that size is influenced largely by the female and color and finish by the male4 ,securing an over-large male to mate with small1 weakly hens is not wise policy4 ,a medium size male with a good size female of good constitutional vigor and mature age will do far better than the largest male bird with the smallest females4 ,the wise farmer always selects the very best corn or grain of all kinds for seeds4 ,equal care should be given the selection of the breeding stock in turkeys4 ,the best raised on the farm should be reserved for producers and the fact should be kept in mind that turkey hens of the best quality after their second and third year make the best producers4 ,keep your best young hens with this in view4 ,undersized hens that lack constitutional vigor are not the kinds to select for successful turkey breeding4 ,when you stop to consider that the male turkey is half of the entire flock in the matter of breeding1 we may be led to greater care in the selection4 ,none can be too good for the purpose4 ,constitutional vigor is of the first importance4 ,without this he can have no value whatever for the purpose intended4 ,plenty of bone1 a full round breast and a long body are important4 ,no matter of what stock or breeding the hen may be1 the male should be selected from one of the standard varieties4 ,if the hens are of the same standard variety the male of the same variety should be selected so as to maintain the stock in its purity4 ,well selected individuals of some one of the several standard varieties will give better results than can be secured by cross breeding1 which has a tendency to bring to the surface the weak points of both sides of the cross4 ,proper crosses may improve the first issue but if followed up they rarely prove successful4 ,,number ,,of ,,females ,,to ,,one ,,male ,the best rule for mating is to confine in yards1 using eight or nine females to one male2 some say twelve1 but all ,i ever mate to one tom is eight females4 ,the result of this number is that all my eggs prove fertile4 ,when they are yarded and from eight to ten females are kept1 it is better to have two toms and keep one shut up while the other is with the hens1 changing them at least twice a week4 ,when they run at large on a farm they will naturally divide into flocks4 ,under such conditions use one male to no more than six females4 ,,care ,,to ,,be ,,given ,,breeding ,,stock ,march and ,april are the two months of the year that the breeding hen should have particular care4 ,in the first place1 ,i keep them warm and comfortable1 with a box of sand where they can dust themselves every day4 ,there is no bird that takes such pleasure in dusting herself as the turkey4 ,she will roll on the sand for hours at a time in the sun1 and this makes her happy and contented4 ,at this time ,i feed plenty of ,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,feed with ,oyster ,shells always within reach and a mixture of wheat1 oats1 barley1 a very little cracked corn and beef scraps fed three or four times a week4 ,give plenty of drinking water and three or four times a week put a drop or two of tincture of iron to a gallon of drinking water4 ,this keeps the bird healthy and strong4 ,take half lime and half sand1 make a mush of it and spread it on a board to dry4 ,when it is hard1 place it in a box and leave it where your turkey hen can get it to eat at her own convenience4 ,that helps to mature the eggs4 ,she is very tender at this time4 ,all through the laying season she must be kept warm and comfortable4 ,it all goes towards making a successful season of turkey raising4 ,,mating ,march is the proper time to mate up your pens of turkeys4 ,i put one tom in a pen with eight hens4 ,i watch my turkey hens very closely to see that they are not injured in any way by the spurs of the tom4 ,if the turkey hen goes around with one wing down1 you will know that she has been hurt1 and if you take her up you will probably find that her side has been torn by the tom4 ,wash her carefully with a disinfectant1 and if the wound needs a stitch it had better be taken as it will heal quicker4 ,,feeding ,,during ,,breeding ,,season ,in ,february and ,march do not feed your turkey hens too rich food or too many beef scraps or food of any kind that will force the hens to lay too early4 ,you do not want any young chicks hatched out before the first of ,may or the last of ,april4 ,when my turkey hens start to lay ,i feed a ground feed that is put up under my formula by ,the ,park ,pollard ,company of ,boston1 ,mass41 which they are putting out under the name of ,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,feed1 and which can be procured of them all ready for feeding4 ,have plenty of beef scraps and oyster shells within easy reach4 ,twice a week put tincture of iron in the drinking water1 four drops to a gallon of water2 allow one gallon of water to each pen4 ,the tincture of iron keeps the birds strong and in good condition1 as a young turkey hen is very apt to weaken after her first litter of eggs is laid4 ,sometimes they die if not properly cared for4 ,keep on hand within easy reach1 constantly1 a mixture of half sand and half lime made into a soft mush4 ,when dry crumble up and leave it where your turkeys can get it to eat4 ,they will eat this ravenously and it helps to harden the shells of the eggs4 ,,nests ,,and ,,nesting4 ,when the turkey hen is ready to lay she will start in first by looking in all the corners1 for if she is yarded up1 it is her nature to look for a dark and secluded spot in which to lay4 ,i place to eight turkey hens four good dark nests4 ,i make these by using packing cases with the cover on and the opening turned towards the wall of the house1 allowing just enough room for the bird to enter4 ,i put good1 clean hay in the box4 ,the turkey hen will be very happy when she finds that nobody can see her in her nest4 ,it will make her very contented1 and as we are now breeding turkeys in the domestic state1 almost the same as the common hen1 why not give them just the same care8 ,you will find in the long run that you will raise many more turkeys if a turkey hen is properly housed and kept warm during the cold months of winter4 ,the turkey hen begins to grow her eggs three months before she begins to lay1 and as we all know that the turkey is a very cold bird1 it is only natural that she should be kept warm4 ,my houses are comfortable1 tight and dry1 but well ventilated from the south side4 ,when the turkey hen has laid about eighteen or nineteen eggs she will show signs of wanting to sit4 ,very quietly take her off the nest1 remove her to another coop1 give her a good range to run in with plenty of ,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,feed4 ,in the meantime set the eggs under two good common hens4 ,i find that ,plymouth ,rocks make good mothers4 ,i put eleven or twelve eggs under a good ,plymouth ,rock hen1 and make a good round nest in a half bushel box1 stuffing the corners well so that the nest will stay in shape1 as a good nest is half the hatching4 ,in the meantime the turkey hen having had her run has forgotten all about sitting1 and has started to laying again and ,i put her back in the mating pen4 ,this process can be repeated three times during the season as a turkey hen will lay three litters in succession4 ,i let my turkey hens sit on my ,june eggs and these hatch about the tenth or eleventh of ,july4 ,these make good hardy birds for the coming cold weather4 ,disinfect the hen with ,margaret ,mahaney's ,salve1 per directions1 before setting on the eggs4 ,illustration3 ,r4 ,i4 ,,reds ,,and ,,plymouth ,,rocks ,,make ,,excellent ,,mothers4 ,,hatching ,to go back to the hatching of the turkeys2 the eggs that are right under the breast of the hen will hatch first4 ,sometimes ,i do not wait for them all to come out of the shell1 taking them away1 say four or five at a time1 thus giving the outside eggs a chance to hatch4 ,the eggs which ,i take away ,i put in an incubator which has previously been regulated to the right heat4 ,when they are all hatched1 ,i have my coop well whitewashed and about six inches of good clean straw on the bottom4 ,i place my biddy in the coop and put the little turkeys all around her4 ,be very careful in giving them drink or water that the little turkeys do not get wet1 for they often take cold in that way4 ,,first ,,feed ,the first feed that ,i give them is common sting nettle1 chopped fine1 with a hard boiled egg and a little shake of red pepper4 ,you will find that they will eat the green stuff ravenously1 and this acts on the bowels as a regular physic4 ,when they are three days old ,i begin feeding them the prepared ground feed1--,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,feed--with a little wheat bread soaked in milk1 squeezed dry and mixed with the egg and nettle4 ,as the ,park ,pollard ,company carry this ground feed it can be easily had there4 ,i keep this always before them4 ,in the morning ,i give them nothing but the ,margaret ,mahaney ,turkey ,feed with a good feed of lettuce4 ,at night ,i give them the sting nettle again with bread soaked in milk and squeezed dry and a little chopped onion1 if convenient4 ,you will find that the birds you feed the sting nettle to will throw the red three weeks before the ones that do not have it fed to them4 ,,avoid ,,vermin ,when the little chicks first come out1 before you put them in the coop1 you must remember to disinfect with my salve on the head and under the wings2 also give the foster mother the same treatment with the salve1 for if there are vermin on the hen they will leave the hen and go to the little turkeys and unless cared for the little birds will sicken and die4 ,if affected with lice the bodies will become very red and irritated4 ,you will find the lice especially under the wings or in the fringe of the wings4 ,when the feathers do not grow evenly on a little turkey 7some growing long while others are short7 you will know that the turkey has lice1 and you should at once 8get busy40 ,one or two doses of my salve will make a marked improvement4 ,i always disinfect the hen when ,i put her on the eggs1 but never disinfect her after the fifteenth day for at that time there is life in the chick1 and you are very apt to kill it1 as they breathe through the air cells of the egg4 ,,the ,,setting ,,of ,,the ,,turkey ,,hen ,in the wild state the hen seeks the most secluded and inaccessible spot where there is protection from birds and beasts of prey4 ,security against attack is the main thing instinct prompts her to look out for4 ,a tangled thicket of briars1 a sheltering ledge1 a hollow stump1 a clump of brush filled with decaying leaves suits her fancy4 ,with little preparation she drops her eggs on the bare ground in these secluded places4 ,domestic turkeys are usually allowed a good deal of freedom in choosing their nests4 ,i generally set them the same as ,i do the common hen4 ,a half bushel basket is a comfortable nest for a turkey hen1 and will give plenty of room for fifteen or eighteen eggs4 ,illustration3 ,,breeding ,,pens ,turkeys require a good deal of attention while they are on the nests4 ,they should be in one yard or building1 or at least1 not far distant from one another that it may take as little time as possible to make the frequent visits necessary to each4 ,give the eggs room and have the nest deep enough to prevent their rolling out of the nest4 ,a turkey hen will lay from fifteen to thirty eggs at a litter1 but she cannot always cover the whole lot4 ,very large old birds will cover twenty eggs2 smaller birds will cover from fifteen to eighteen which is about the proper number to allow one bird to take care of4 ,if you have a dozen turkey hens in your flock1--which is about the right number for a good range1--it will not be difficult to set several birds at once1 and this may be arranged by placing the nests containing artificial eggs within a few feet of each other4 ,you can keep part of the hens upon their nests a few days until three or four are ready to sit4 ,then select eggs of as near equal age as possible and put them under the hens that are sitting persistently4 ,if the hens close together are not set at the same time1 there is danger when the first begins to hatch that her neighbor will hear the peep of the first chick and perhaps forsake her nest4 ,if all the group of three or four nests are hatching at the same time1 there is no trouble of this kind4 ,before putting the eggs in the nest it is well to disinfect the hen with turkey salve under her wings4 ,it will prevent vermin of any kind4 ,if any of the eggs get fouled with the yolk of a broken egg before or after setting1 the shells should be carefully cleaned with warm water to secure their hatching4 ,two or three turkeys will sometimes lay in the same nest4 ,this will do no harm in the early part of the season1 but they should be separated before setting1 allowing only one bird to a nest4 ,this may be done by making nests nearby and putting porcelain eggs into each new nest4 ,turkeys are not liable to crowd onto an occupied nest when there is a vacant one nearby4 ,the group of hens that sit together1 and bring off their young at the same time1 will naturally feed and ramble together1 and this will save time in looking after them4 ,the turkey is a close sitter and will not leave her nest for several days at a time4 ,grain and water should be kept near the nest all the time4 ,when the turkeys begin to hatch ,i take the little chicks out just the same as ,i do when under a common hen1 and give the ones that are not hatched a chance to do so4 ,when they are all ready to go into the coop1 ,i lift the hen very gently and carry her to the coop1 generally putting the little turkeys into the coops first as the turkey hen is a very nervous bird and will scratch around and sometimes walk on the little birds4 ,illustration3 ,,turkeys ,,should ,,be ,,tamed ,that is why ,i like to have them good and strong before they go into the coop with the mother4 ,the little fellows seem to understand that the mother should not step on them for they will crowd over towards the side of the coop out of her reach4 ,she will soon get used to them and to being fed and will settle down to taking care of her babies in good shape1 as the turkey hen is a very devoted mother4 ,she will watch out for those who feed her and take care of her little babies4 ,they will run to meet me when they see me coming1 that is1 of course1 if they are out in the field4 ,i have had them come home themselves when ,i let them out for a ramble1 and when ,i have gone to feed them the mother would be in the coop with all her little babies4 ,i give the same treatment to the turkey chicks that are brought up by their mother as ,i do when they are brought up by a common hen1 only the common hen will leave them long before the turkey hen will think of forsaking her babies4 ,i have gone into the turkey house when they were five or six months old and would find a young turkey pullet nestling close to her mother4 ,you do not find this in any other domestic bird that ,i know of4 ,,the ,,throwing ,,of ,,the ,,red ,,and ,,young ,,turkeys ,as there seems to be some difference of opinion about the 8throwing of the red01 first let me tell you what the throwing of the red means4 ,more or less blood must flow into the brain and head of the turkey when it shows so plainly through the skin4 ,when a turkey is five weeks old or even four1 it is time for it to begin to 8throw the red01 as when blood comes from the liver and heart1 of course it must have some action on the little pullets4 ,i have had young turkeys throw the red in five weeks1 and show it very plainly1--that is after being fed twice a day on sting nettle4 ,on the other hand1 before ,i knew what to feed to them1 ,i have had them linger along up until seven or eight weeks1 and at the end of that time1 they would usually die4 ,what had happened was that the blood had returned to the liver1 become stagnant and caused diarrhea1 which1 of course1 caused the death of the young turkey4 ,when a young turkey is in good condition it ought to shoot the red from the beginning to the end in ten days4 ,of course it will not be as prominent as in a larger bird4 ,as the bird grows1 the red becomes more apparent4 ,when the little turkey is about four weeks old the feathers will begin to fall from the head some4 ,then you will know that the critical time is at hand4 ,the little bird begins to shoot the red4 ,it mopes around sometimes for days4 ,there will be nothing wrong with him except that he just does not feel well4 ,give plenty of sting nettle and a little tincture of iron three times a week 7#d drops of tincture of iron to a gallon of drinking water7 and you will see an improvement in a couple of days4 ,the young toms are much stronger than the pullets4 ,some of them will shoot the red and grow splendidly all through it with no signs of any drooping whatever1 but there is always a marked change in the little pullets4 ,after the red is grown1 the secret of success in turkeys is to keep them growing4 ,you can give them all the skimmed milk and all the sour milk they will drink4 ,feed them all the lettuce they can eat three times a day with nettle in the feed1 if you have it on the place4 ,it is one of the necessities in raising turkeys that you keep the liver clean and if you feed lettuce two or three times a day1 the droppings will be a bright green and in good condition4 ,for my birds ,i have large runs1 #f ft4 each way1 which makes a good square run4 ,i move the runs every day to clean ground2 the straw is taken out and aired4 ,if it is damp weather1 put clean straw in at least every other day4 ,my coops are high and well ventilated at the top which takes off all the hot and impure air1 and helps keep the little turkeys strong and healthy4 ,i allow about ten runs out at a time consisting of ten birds each and let them go for a good long ramble4 ,they do not stay away from their houses very long1 however1 but soon get tired and come back1 usually staying out about two hours4 ,then ,i put them in their coops and let out about ten more runs4 ,when ,i put them back into the coops ,i feed them lettuce and clean drinking water4 7,i continue this process until ,i have let out the entire flock47 ,i let out so many runs at a time so there will be no confusion in putting them in4 ,i do this daily1 every fair day1 until the turkey is four or five months old4 ,then ,i let them all out together4 ,i put them in larger houses every night1 keep them good and warm1 with good roosts and clean straw1 and ,i have very little trouble from disease4 ,every turkey should be allowed out for a while each day if the weather is fine and there are no signs of rain4 ,if it is lowery or dark1 do not let them out until the weather is pleasant again4 ,this method of letting them out keeps them growing rapidly and makes them very tame so that they can be handled much more easily4 ,why not give a turkey the same care that we give a hen4 ,people tell me many ways in which their turkeys are neglected4 ,they seem to think that they do not need to look after turkeys and after they are hatched they turn them out and let them wander and forage for themselves4 ,the time of that kind of treatment for turkeys is past4 ,remember we are raising turkeys now by the approved methods and full feeding applied to modern poultry raising4 ,people will come to me and tell me that their turkey hens are roosting out in the trees nights when it is below zero4 ,as ,i have stated before1 if it is in ,january these turkey hens are beginning to grow eggs4 ,what vitality is there back of eggs grown under conditions of that kind8 ,none whatever4 ,on hot days you must cover the runs with burlap or shade of some description4 ,i use the burlap sacks in which ,i receive dried bread waste that ,i buy4 ,with reference to feeding bread1 be sure never to feed bread that is mouldy for if you do you will start diarrhea in the young turkeys in no time4 ,when fall is coming on you must be very careful of the pullets4 ,as ,i said before1 they are much more subject to blackhead than are the toms4 ,when ,i house them up1--that is1 in large houses1 say forty or fifty to one pen1 ,i have my prepared feed for turkeys 7,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,feed7 before the pullets all the time4 ,the less corn you give any turkey hen the less trouble you will have from blackhead1 for corn is heating4 ,to keep the pullets in good condition you will find all the ingredients in this prepared feed1 which is put up and sold now by ,the ,park ,pollard ,company1 #df ,canal ,street1 ,boston1 under the name of ,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,feed4 ,give more or less whole corn to the toms if you want to get them in good condition for shipping or for dressing around ,thanksgiving4 ,they do not fatten up as quickly as the turkey hen1 which is the reason ,i keep all corn and corn meal away from the turkey hens4 ,put one-half teaspoonful of salicylate of soda in the drinking water in each pan at night4 ,in the mornings give them fresh water and twice a week place in it a little tincture of iron 7#d drops to each gallon of water74 ,do this up to about ,january1 and then1 if your turkey hens are kept warm and comfortable1 they are over the dangers of the blackhead season4 ,give the same treatment to the young toms4 ,,investigation ,,of ,,diseases 8,what is the disease80 is the first and most important question to ask4 ,the number of people who fatefully assume from the beginning that the answer to this question is beyond their reach is inexcusably large4 ,if the non-professional reader would apply even a limited amount of study and common sense many of the lesser ills might be avoided1 and many others successfully treated4 ,a little special instruction is here given to enable one to detect a disease before it is too late1 and thus1 in a great measure1 to avoid those disheartening ravages which1 at times1 come upon the uninformed owner of turkeys4 ,the small number of diseases which are liable to be confused makes it comparatively easy to form the right conclusion by eliminating from the possible list those that do not show the particular symptoms of the other diseases4 ,a general knowledge of the organism1 habits1 and appearance of turkeys when in health is1 of course1 very desirable4 ,a reasonably close observation is about all we can expect in this matter from the ordinary owner of a large flock of turkeys4 ,the experienced fancier adds to this a frequent handling and more detailed study to learn the normal hardness and suppleness of the flesh and the warmth1 moisture and color of the skin1 especially about the vent1 and the outline and structure of the skeleton4 ,it is also eminently desirable that one know what is a right condition of all the organs1 but this is particularly true in respect to the liver and other digestive organs4 ,one of the most common mistakes in the discovery of a disease is the forming of a decision after too little study4 ,finding one or two symptoms which are known to attend a suspected ailment1 one is prone to jump at the conclusion that he has detected the real difficulty1 when a further investigation would reveal other symptoms1 which1 in conjunction with these1 would lead to the true conclusion4 ,every examination1 therefore1 should be thorough until a degree of certainty is felt4 ,it is essential1 too1 that the raiser not expect that the disease will invariably present just the symptoms mentioned in any book1 for they will vary more or less in different turkeys1 and even in the same one at different times1--a caution which merely calls for the exercise of judgment and common sense4 ,when any doubt is felt on the contagious nature of a disease1 the affected turkey should be removed from the flock until the possible danger is passed4 ,when a bird dies from an unknown cause1 it should be opened and the condition of the internal organs noted1 along with a study of their condition as taken up in the following pages of treatment4 ,in general1 it may be observed that the presence of lice and mites is often the cause of weakness and loss of condition1 especially if the turkeys are allowed to roost with the common hens4 ,,blackhead ,a great many people write to me1 saying that they lose their pullets and young turkeys after they have grown the first feathers4 ,i never lose a turkey at that time4 ,i grow my turkeys in runs as you would chickens and it is a beautiful sight to see well onto three hundred healthy1 strong turkeys in runs placed side by side4 ,i never have any trouble with my young turkeys4 ,as ,i said before in another part of my work1 blackhead never appears in my flock until the turkey is six and seven months old4 ,when ,i see any signs of blackhead1 ,i move all my turkeys to new ground1 disinfect all my coops with ,presto ,disinfectant1 and start in to cure my blackhead1 as described on page #gi4 ,i wait for a wet day1 and put lime on the ground that ,i moved the coops from1 as turkeys are very apt to return to their old dwelling place4 ,in that way1 ,i keep down blackhead4 ,it is a very simple disease if taken in time and easily cured4 ,when ,i first started raising turkeys1 my little pullets died after they were feathered and about seven or eight weeks old4 ,some of them would not shoot the red until they were weighing two and a half pounds4 ,their heads would be dark1 and their steps slow and dragging4 ,as ,i said before1 the blood lay dormant in the liver1 and thus started blackhead4 ,if a turkey does not throw the red1 when seven or eight weeks old1 on close examination it will be found that the abdomen is dark and of a bluish cast4 ,the flesh is not in good condition1 whereas in a young healthy turkey that has thrown the red at that age1 the flesh will be pure and white4 ,,my ,,first ,,successful ,,fight ,,against ,,blackhead ,when ,i first started to raise turkeys1 and one came down with blackhead1 ,i thought that there was no cure for her4 ,i did all ,i possibly could1 and if she died1 ,i judged that she had to and that there was absolutely nothing that could be done to prevent it4 ,one year ,i brought two handsome pullets in from ,kentucky4 ,they were fine1 strong handsome birds1 well marked1 with splendid barrings1 and a beautiful bronze4 ,i grew extremely fond of them4 ,when the spring of the year came on1 about the last of ,march1 around laying time1 one of those two birds came down with blackhead and ,i determined that ,i would make a fight for her life4 ,she was an extremely sick bird4 ,i took her into the house1 placed her in the back hall1 in a cast-off oval shaped clothes basket4 ,i put soft burlap under her and wrapped her up warmly4 ,i had a good knowledge of homeopathic remedies1 and ,i started to cure bowel and liver troubles4 ,the fever ,i kept down with aconite by giving a drop in a little water every hour4 ,i stayed by the side of that turkey all night long4 ,there were times when she would scream with pain1 and then ,i placed her feet in water as hot as she could bear it with plenty of mustard in it1 and allowed the water to come up as high as the first joint of her legs4 ,i allowed her to stand in that about ten minutes at a time1 and then ,i dried her feet and legs and placed her back in the basket4 ,she would be very weak after this treatment1 but seemed easier4 ,at other times she would become weak and lifeless1 and ,i would then take her up in my arms1 go out-of-doors and let her have the benefit of the cool air4 ,the fight went on in this way until four o'clock in the morning1 when she opened her eyes1 raised her head1 looked up at me and chirped a little4 ,i decided then and there that there was such a thing as curing blackhead4 ,i did not know then so much about the stoppage in the bowels4 ,i did know1 however1 that nothing had passed through her bowels4 ,i gave her a little warm whisky and milk1 some more of my remedies1 and then went for a couple of hours' rest myself4 ,when ,i went to her again about two hours afterward1 the red had begun to flow back into her head1 the fever had left her1 and her pulse was normal4 ,the pulse of a turkey begins to beat just above the crop and in case of death1 will gradually creep up until1 just before the breath leaves the bird1 it will have reached a point under the throat4 ,i kept the pulse in this bird down to the middle of the neck2 ,i never let it get any further4 ,there were times when ,i had to place a cloth dipped in ice water on her head1 but ,i was fighting for the life of my little pet1 and she seemed to realize what ,i was doing4 ,she was very weak all the morning4 ,i took her up1 placed her out on the lawn in the sun1 and she staggered to her feet about twelve o'clock of that day1 and then a solid core came from her bowels4 ,this had lodged in the cecum4 ,at that time ,i knew very little about this trait of the disease4 ,attached to the core was a part of the lining of the intestine4 ,the turkey hen was very weak for days4 ,one thing in her favor was that she had an empty crop1 and ,i immediately fed her a tablespoonful of cold water in which was dissolved four grains of common alum4 ,that was given in order to form a skin and harden the sore and raw place in the bowel after the bird had passed the core4 ,the turkey hen did not fully recover for three or four days4 ,illustration3 ,,friends 7,,miss ,,mahaney ,,and 8,,grandma ,,cleaves07 ,that turkey hen is about one of the best ,i have on my place4 ,i call her ,grandma ,cleaves4 ,the ,agricultural colleges maintain that a bird that has once been afflicted with blackhead is unfit for breeding stock4 ,i have in my possession a young tom that was hatched out the fifteenth day of ,july1 #aiab1 by that bird4 ,he weighs #ca lbs4 and is well developed in every way4 ,she laid three litters of eggs last summer1 and sat on the last litter1 hatched twelve turkeys and raised eleven in that flock4 ,in my opinion1 a bird that has passed through blackhead is one of the best and strongest birds to breed from4 ,i never had a bird come down the second season with blackhead4 ,it is just like any other common fever that is contagious1 and can afflict a person but once4 ,after winning that fight1 ,i made up my mind that something could be done for blackhead1 and from that time on ,i have had great success in battling against this disease4 ,my breeding grounds are not so far distant but that the people of ,massachusetts can come to see me4 ,i would be very glad to show them my runs and turkeys and my methods of breeding4 ,,to ,,detect ,,blackhead ,blackhead is the disease to be most dreaded by the turkey raisers in ,new ,england and all over the country4 ,when you go into the turkey house in the morning1 go directly to the droppings board and see if you find any yellow droppings4 ,if you do1 look carefully over your flock4 ,it will not take you long to discover the bird that has blackhead4 ,the head is an unhealthy dusky gray1 and the bird will mope around1 apparently wanting to eat and yet not doing so4 ,then you can decide that you have blackhead in your flock4 ,,treatment ,,of ,,full ,,grown ,,turkeys ,take that bird away immediately2 disinfect her head and under the wings with salve2 massage the crop gently to see if it is full of undigested food4 ,if it is1 give a scant half teaspoonful of epsom salts in a little water4 ,in about an hour's time give a tablespoonful of olive oil and follow with a quarter of a teaspoonful salicylate of soda in two tablespoonfuls of warm water4 ,after the crop is emptied put her in a box1 say a good sized packing case1 with plenty of straw1 and cover with burlap4 ,give a teaspoonful of warm whisky and a tablespoonful of milk mixed together4 ,this will keep up the vitality of the bird4 ,a long necked milk testing bottle comes in very handy in a flock of any kind of fowl1 for you can place the neck down below the windpipe and inject the liquids into the crop without any choking on the part of the fowl4 ,then watch and see if the droppings are yellow4 ,if they are give one of the ,mahaney ,blackhead pills every hour until the droppings become normal4 ,you can place the pill on the tongue of the turkey and make her swallow it4 ,if there is nothing in the crop except a brash of sour wind1 give the pills and hot milk and whiskey at once4 ,be sure to keep the bird warm for a few days1 and then disinfect before she goes out with the rest of the flock4 ,look over the droppings board every morning and see if there are any yellow droppings4 ,use plenty of lime4 ,twice a week1 in the morning1 give sulphate of iron1 powdered1 7one level teaspoonful in a gallon of water in an earthen dish74 ,the other days1 at night1 give salicylate of soda in the same amount in the drinking water4 ,this will keep your flock in good condition4 ,,blackhead ,,in ,,young ,,turkeys ,the first symptom of blackhead in the young turkeys has the appearance of a common cold in the head4 ,the turkey will sniff and water will sometimes come from the nose4 ,the loss of appetite is apparent4 ,the wings droop and when you let the turkeys out of the coops1 the one affected will drag itself along behind the rest of the flock4 ,i take that bird away from the rest4 ,i disinfect the head and under the wings with my salve4 ,rub the salve lightly on the head4 ,hold the turkey gently across the back1 press the wings down to the side4 ,if you are not very gentle with them1 and very careful1 you are liable to break the wings4 ,the moment you see one become lifeless1 with dragging steps and loss of appetite1 disinfect the whole flock with the salve twice a week4 ,dissolve in an earthen dish four or five of the ,margaret ,mahaney ,turkey ,pills in a little warm water2 then mix the solution in a quart of drinking water and give to the young turkeys to drink4 ,this1 repeated every day1 with the straw well aired and kept clean1 and the coop dry and water-proof1 will make them show a marked improvement in three days4 ,i never lose a young turkey4 ,they thrive just as well as little chickens1 and ,i think they are just as hardy4 ,illustration3 ,,women ,,make ,,the ,,most ,,successful ,,turkey ,,raisers ,as vermin is one of the enemies of young turkeys1 use the salve twice a week always1 and use it in the morning4 ,do not shut them up after putting on my salve because it is very strong4 ,let it evaporate before the little chickens go to bed at night1 and you will have no vermin4 ,there is an old saying about a louse in the head of a turkey which enters the brain and causes blackhead4 ,i know very well that that does not cause blackhead1 as this disease comes from a common cold1 which descends to the bowels and liver and kills the turkey after a few days' suffering if not relieved4 ,,starts ,,with ,a ,,common ,,cold ,treatment of a ,common ,cold4 ,blackhead starts from a common cold4 ,when you have a bird in your flock afflicted with a cold1 place a small teaspoonful of ,epsom ,salts to one gallon of water4 ,do this three or four days in succession and put plenty of lime around your turkey houses4 ,i put lime on the droppings boards every day2 it will kill the disease in no time and do no injury to the turkey4 ,of course ,i put clean straw in my turkey house in damp weather every other day as the straw becomes damp and is very liable to breed disease4 ,give this ,epsom ,salts treatment in the hot weather whether the birds show symptoms of disease or not4 ,it keeps their blood cool and avoids the tendency to disease4 ,the time for blackhead season is in what is commonly called 8dog days10 that is1 mid-summer4 ,the weather is heavy and dark and is very injurious to young turkeys4 ,that is the time you must keep your coops good and dry and give plenty of green stuff1 with aconite in the drinking water about twice a week to keep down any fever4 ,three drops in a pint of water is all ,i give them as aconite is very poisonous4 ,if you have any sting nettle at the time be sure to feed it1 as sting nettle is one of the greatest aids to success in raising young turkeys4 ,when the turkey dies of blackhead the crop becomes apparently black and inflamed1 and is very foul4 ,the liver is enlarged1 and has white or yellowish spots all over it4 ,in some places it has the appearance of being eaten away4 ,underneath the liver1 next to the back of the bird and around the heart you will find a brownish substance1 just the same as you would find in a person who dies from peritonitis4 ,you will also find in what is called the second stomach1 that is1 the bowel leading to the gizzard1 a large core4 ,sometimes this will be very dark brownish yellow or ochre color1 mingled with blood4 ,this core forms a stoppage1 and unless it is removed1 is certain death for the turkey4 ,i have had turkeys die with what is commonly called in human beings1 8appendicitis01 as the appendix was matterated and badly swollen4 ,in fact1 in a bad case of blackhead all the bowels of the turkey become swollen4 ,the gizzard is twice its natural size1 the abdomen becomes swollen and black and the odor is very obnoxious4 ,in a bad case of this kind there is nothing that can be done1 the disease having become too far advanced1 and that is why one ought to watch turkeys very closely4 ,if the turkey is taken in time and ,margaret ,mahaney's pills given1 and the turkey is kept warm1 7for they will take the disease first with a chill just the same as a human being would take malaria7 there is no need of any loss in the flock from blackhead4 ,all the colleges of agriculture have diagnosed the case as a parasite on the intestines1 but ,i have thoroughly investigated that theory1 and wish to say that ,i have found no grounds for such a belief4 ,,common ,,diseases ,,rheumatism 7,sometimes confused with ,blackhead7 ,i have a great many people write me in regard to weak legs in turkeys4 ,of course1 this is common rheumatism4 ,the limbs suffer an impairment or loss of use1 are hot1 swollen and stiff4 ,the toes then being drawn out of shape1 the fowl persistently sits down and cannot use the perch4 ,the heart may become involved and this produces death4 ,i had it in my flock one year1--that is1 ,i had several birds victims to the disease4 ,they would squat down all the time4 ,the breast bone grew all over to one side from sitting so much4 ,they were fat and apparently healthy1 except that they could not seem to stand up any length of time4 ,i bathed their feet with mustard and water as hot as ,i thought they could stand it4 ,i saved most of them1 but it seemed to me that they never could walk as well as the flock that had not been affected4 ,the cause of this affliction is that the turkeys are allowed out too early in the morning when the dew is on the grass and allowed to roam around in damp places4 ,at this time ,i was raising my flock on lowland4 ,i have never had any of it in my flock since ,i moved to high and dry land4 ,give five drops of bryonia in a pint of drinking water to six turkeys4 ,after using the mustard water be careful to wipe the turkey's legs dry and then rub well with camphorated oil the backs of the legs leading into the body4 ,keep in a warm and dry place and give sulphur in the feed 7about a half teaspoonful to four turkeys74 ,illustration3 ,,turkeys ,,thrive ,,best ,,on ,,high ,,land 8,,rotten ,,crop0 ,,sometimes ,,mistaken ,,for ,,blackhead ,another disease very common in turkeys which is called blackhead and yet has nothing to do with blackhead1 is what you would call 8rotten crop0 in a common hen4 ,when this takes place the crop becomes very foul and heavy4 ,the bird will drink water1 which stays in the crop and becomes sour4 ,i have often had to take the bird up1 hold the head down and rub the crop gently so that all the water would run from the mouth4 ,with the aid of a long neck milk testing bottle ,i fill the crop with warm water with a quarter teaspoonful baking soda in it1 and relieve the crop by massaging the second time4 ,then ,i give a tablespoonful of olive oil4 ,put the bird away from the rest1 with very little feed for a couple of days4 ,i never have any difficulty in saving a bird affected with what is commonly called 8rotten crop40 ,if not relieved1 however1 it will turn into blackhead and the turkey will die4 ,,cold--,,catarrh--,,cough--,,bronchitis ,all of these are substantially different stages and symptoms of the same disorder4 ,exposure to wet and cold is the general cause4 ,cough is1 indeed1 a symptom1 not a disease1 and is connected with the other three4 ,it may1 however1 attend other diseases1 and when its cause is not known1 the article pertaining to roup should especially be consulted4 ,bronchitis is but an advanced stage or aggravated form of cold or catarrh4 ,the three are marked by more or less discharge from the eyes and nostrils1 sneezing1 wheezing1 and1 particularly in bronchitis1 coughing and a rattling sound in the throat4 ,to distinguish this from roup1 see whether the discharge is offensive4 ,if it is1 roup is to be treated2 if not1 catarrh or bronchitis4 ,in all cases of doubt1 use the precautions detailed for roup4 ,turkeys are subject to roup from the time they are babies1 more so than common hens1 as a cold is the cause of all their trouble4 ,treatment3 ,remove the turkey to warm1 dry shelter1 and give warm1 soft food4 ,these measures will usually be sufficient1 but the following will be valuable as aids3 ,for cold or catarrh merely1 and no distinction between them is here made1 put three drops of strong tincture of aconite in a pint of the drink4 ,if there is a swelling about the throat1 two or three grains of the second trituration of mercuries three times a day will be useful4 ,for bronchitis1 in addition to the measures just named1 give sweetened water for the drink1 adding a few drops of nitric acid or sulphuric acid4 ,for both catarrh and bronchitis give some stimulant1 such as ginger or cayenne pepper in the food or whisky in the water4 ,treat catarrh and cold promptly1 to keep them from developing into roup4 ,do not neglect bronchitis lest it run into consumption4 ,,roup ,roup is a highly contagious malady which first affects the lining membrane of the beak and then extends to the eyes1 throat1 and whole head1 eventually involving the entire constitution4 ,according to its manifest symptoms1 it has been called diphtheria1 sore head1 swelled eyes1 hoarseness1 bronchitis1 canker1 snuffles1 influenza1 sore throat1 quinsy1 blindness1 and by other names4 ,it attacks all ages1 and will kill young turkeys in a very short time4 ,turkeys given poor shelter1 and kept in filthy quarters1 are subject to roup4 ,symptoms3--,roup develops either slowly or rapidly1 with the general signs of a bad cold in the head1 such as wheezing1 or sneezing1 high fever and great thirst4 ,the discharge from the eyes and nose is yellowish1 being at first thin but growing thicker as the disease develops1 and very offensive1 closing the eyes1 nostrils and throat 7these parts and the whole head are swollen1 sometimes enormously1 so that blindness ensues1 making the turkey unable to get its food1 and thus hastening the decline of the system72 pustular sores about the head and in the throat1 discharging a frothy mucus2 the breathing is impeded2 the crop is often swollen2 the comb and wattles may be pale or dark-colored4 ,during the course of the disease the turkey is feeble and moping4 ,a fatal case terminates in from three to eight days after the distinctive roup-symptoms set in1 and those which are not treated when an epidemic is prevailing will generally be fatal4 ,upon opening a turkey that has died of roup one will find the liver and gall bladder full of pus1 the flesh soft1 of a bad odor1 and1 particularly about the lungs1 slimy and spongy4 ,treatment3--,it is of the highest importance that the treatment begin as soon as the first symptoms appear4 ,to detect the approach of the disease1 7and any turkey in the flock should be suspected if one has been infected71 raise the wing and ascertain whether the feathers beneath it are stuck together1 as the turkey has the habit of wiping its nose under the wings1 and naturally the feathers will become matted and foul4 ,remove the turkey to a good warm place2 wash her head with warm water with a drop or two of sulpho-napthol in the water2 dry well with a good soft cloth and rub ,mahaney turkey salve on her head1 throat and crop2 open up her beak and oil the inside of her mouth and throat well with the salve4 ,a little swab can be made for that purpose4 ,give one of the ,margaret ,mahaney blackhead pills1 three times a day1 and make a pill as large as a good sized bean as follows1 one-half mustard and one-half sulphur2 equal parts4 ,give the turkey one of these pills every night1 and if swollen eyes and head has prevented her from seeing her food1 feed her a little bread and milk1 soft and warm1 until she is able to feed herself4 ,a drop or two of kerosene oil in the drinking water makes a good disinfectant for turkeys4 ,when a disease of this kind enters your turkey house disinfect your droppings boards1 and feed five quarts of hot mash from ,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,feed with one or two onions chopped fine and put in the mash4 ,a teaspoonful of red pepper also given to them every night before going to roost will help to prevent the disease from spreading4 ,keep your turkey house clean and dry1 and if you see any sign of this disease it is much better to remove the droppings every day1 and if taken in time roup is not a fatal disease4 ,,consumption ,,of ,,the ,,throat ,the special symptoms of consumption of the throat are a frequent cough1 roughness of the voice1 and often a failure to partake of food either from loss of appetite or from pain caused by swallowing4 ,attacks of fever1 followed by shivering1 are more or less regular4 ,for treatment keep the bird in a very warm atmosphere1 chop up onions very fine and mix in the feed1 also give a teaspoonful of olive oil three times a day with one to two drops of aconite to a cup of water4 ,i generally have what is commonly called a hospital for sick birds2 that is1 ,i set aside one coop1 keep it warm and have it heated with an incubator lamp1 a large one4 ,the temperature should be kept around #gj degrees1 until the bird ceases to cough4 ,,consumption ,,of ,,the ,,lungs ,a distinct feature of consumption of the chest or lungs is a tubercular deposit in the chest1 liver and bowels4 ,the first symptoms are a thinning of the voice and occasionally sneezing4 ,when the sneezing comes on in the morning and continues during the day1 the lungs have become involved1 and eventually a puffed appearance will be manifest in the chest4 ,give the same treatment for consumption of the chest as given for consumption of the throat4 ,add a few drops of tincture of iron 7four drops to a gallon of water7 to the water each day until the appearance of the bird has improved4 ,light1 ventilation and pure air are three of nature's most potent agencies in counteracting disease4 ,every turkey should have a liberal allowance of sunlight1 though the power and directness of the rays should be determined by the climate1 which is only natural4 ,among those that need frequent sun baths are the wild birds of the air and as the turkey was originally a wild bird1 in the very nature of things1 it demands a great deal of sunlight4 ,it makes no difference how hot the day is1 the turkey will lie in the sun and seem to enjoy it when the temperature is even up to #ajj degrees4 ,this is the reason ,i keep my turkeys warm and comfortable1 as it is a preventive of consumption or any disease of that nature4 ,a good dirt bath should be provided for a turkey all winter2 light sand1 half clay1 with a measure of air-slacked lime4 ,the turkey will wallow in that for an hour at a time1 thoroughly enjoy it and seem so much brighter after it4 ,if turkeys are allowed to run on the frozen ground and roost in the trees all winter1 how can one reasonably expect them to remain in a healthy condition when they positively need warm1 comfortable quarters8 ,if suitable houses are provided for turkeys1 warm1 clean and comfortable with plenty of lime1 grit and charcoal during the winter months1 it will be found that there will be very little trouble with blackhead during the summer and consequently less tendency to consumption and other diseases in the colder months4 ,,swollen ,,heads ,swollen heads in turkeys seems to me to be the prevailing disease this spring of #aiac4 ,complaints have come to me from all over the country1 also sick birds have been sent to me to treat4 ,i do not know whether it would be called roup or canker1 but the appearance of it is that of a common cold1 a watery discharge from the nose1 eyes half closed1 and sometimes wholly closed1 with a large projecting formation in the orbital cavity under the eyes1 which1 if left there1 will cause the death of the turkey after the turkey loses its sight4 ,press your hand gently on the formation4 ,if the formation has not become hard1 but is still in a spongy condition1 press firmly on both sides of the nose under the eyes1 and force out the thick1 foul discharge which has gathered4 ,wash the head with ,sulpho-,napthol or ,presto ,disinfectant1 dry well1 and then disinfect with my salve4 ,repeat this every day until the turkey is well4 ,in the meantime the turkey will have a little hacking cough that is caused by a watery discharge from the head1 which flows down inside the nose and drops on to the windpipe4 ,a human being has a chance to relieve the head and throat1 but the turkey does not have this advantage4 ,if1 however1 the formation in the orbital cavity has become hard1 an operation is necessary4 ,have some one hold the bird gently on its side1 with its wings close to the body in natural form1 for in the struggle1 the bird is very apt to break its wing4 ,wash the head with ,sulpho-,napthol or ,presto ,disinfectant and dry well4 ,have ready a good sharp operating knife1 thoroughly sterilized1 and also sterilize your hands4 ,about one-fourth inch below the eye you will find one or two leaders4 ,you must try to avoid cutting through these4 ,always try to avoid cutting through any veins4 ,make a clean cut about one-half inch in length1 running straight down the orbital cavity to the beak so that when it heals up it will leave no scar4 ,if the turkey is in good blood and a male bird1 they are very apt to bleed quite a little4 ,i would then stop the blood with cotton batten1 or by bathing with water mixed with a little alum4 ,leave the bird for that day4 ,the next morning open up the cut1 take out the canker1 which you will find to be a yellow1 cheesy substance1 with a very bad odor4 ,remove all this canker1 wash out the cavity with peroxide of hydrogen1 dry well1 fill the cavity with ,margaret ,mahaney's ,salve1 which keeps the head soft and clean4 ,wash the head lightly for a few days4 ,when the wound heals up you will find a sort of dry core in the wound4 ,remove this1 wash out1 and your turkey is all well4 ,trust the rest to nature4 ,if you find that the lump under the eye has become hard and white before you operate1 and that the blood has flowed back from the head1 there is no need of waiting for the wound to stop bleeding4 ,you can remove the canker at once4#b ,in the meantime1 in the feed put a half teaspoonful of sulphur each morning for a week in a warm mush made from ,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,feed4 ,this will keep the bowels in good condition1 and hasten the recovery of the turkey4 ,this canker is sometimes found in the rectum of the turkey4 ,syringe the bird with warm water in which has been dissolved a little piece of ,castile soap4 ,add to one quart of water a half teaspoonful of boric acid1 and after the bird has been thoroughly washed out1 wash again with the above solution4 ,dry the vent thoroughly and sponge on a little sweet oil4 ,do this for a few days with sulphur in the feed1 and you will find that the bird will be all right4 ,use about teaspoonful of sulphur to pint of feed4 ,,sore ,,eyes ,,and ,,head ,the eyes may become sore from dust1 excessive heat1 dampness and other causes1 and give out a watery discharge4 ,the whole head may become involved in the inflammation4 ,such mild afflictions are to be distinguished from canker and roup1 but it is always safe to keep a sharp look-out for the latter when the eyes are sore4 ,wash the parts with a weak solution of white vitriol 7sulphate of zinc7 or with alum-water1 or with a solution of alum and camphor4 ,if the discharge has become gummy or hardened1 remove it with warm water and ,castile soap1 followed with alum and water4 ,dry the head well with a soft cloth1 and then rub gently with ,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,salve1 as it contains all the ingredients that heal and cleanse4 ,to about four turkeys put one-half teaspoonful of sulphur in the feed with a shake of red pepper three or four times a week1 and a little tincture of iron in the water 7about four drops to a gallon of water74 ,,constipation ,,in ,,turkeys ,constipation is caused by indigestion1 taking cold1 too close confinement1 too much dry feed and too little green1 a deficient supply of good water and the like4 ,it is indicated by frequent attempts to evacuate the bowels1 either wholly unsuccessful or resulting only in hard1 dark droppings4 ,the turkey is uneasy and perhaps staggers4 ,give an abundance of green food and a soft mixture of bran and oatmeal and ten drops of sulphate of magnesia to a pint of the drinking water4 ,along with these directions for the feed1 it will be well to give two drops of aconite to a half glass of water1 giving the bird a teaspoonful of the solution every hour until the fever disappears1 following this with a solution made of two drops of nux vomica to a half glass of water1 giving a teaspoonful of the solution every hour until well1 or if a cold is the cause1 use two drops of bryonia in the water instead of the nux vomica4 ,i have often had this disease in my flock when the turkeys are about three months old1 just before ,i let them out for a good day's ramble1 so that is why ,i always recommend plenty of good lettuce4 ,it keeps the bowels in good condition1 keeps the intestines cool1 and makes up itself for all fever remedies4 ,,diarrhea ,this disease is often mistaken for blackhead in grown turkeys4 ,it may result from an excessive use of tainted food1 mouldy bread or mouldy grain1 impure water1 extreme heat1 exposure in damp weather1 filthy quarters and general indigestion1 poison1 or any inflammatory affliction of the intestines or the stomach4 ,the symptoms are loose droppings of different colors which befoul the feathers1 lassitude1 and a loss of condition4 ,in dysentery which results from a diseased condition of the intestines1 the droppings are more frothy and mingled with blood1 and attended with rapid prostration4 ,a form of diarrhea essentially different from the two described1 occurs in an old female turkey in which a white discharge comes away more or less constantly1 often dribbling out1 and keeps the feathers about the vent incrusted with a white1 chalk-like deposit4 ,it is doubtless due to some derangement in the shell-making function1 and can best be treated by promoting the general health and using the means noted below4 ,treatment3 ,have your pharmacist make up pills made of a mixture of five grains of powdered chalk1 five of rhubarb1 and five of cayenne pepper1 adding a half grain of opium in severe cases4 ,give two pills daily4 ,another good remedy is camphorated spirits of barley meal1 three to six grains for each bird according to age1 or ten to twenty drops of the same may be put in a pint of the drink4 ,for mild cases and in the early stages of others1 powdered chalk on boiled rice may be sufficient4 ,the remedy last named is recommended for the white discharge of old females1 for which the pills described above should be used as well as a little lime water1 made by allowing about teaspoonful air-slacked lime to pint water for a bird4 ,dissolve and then pour off the liquid for them to drink instead of plain water4 ,restrict the drink in all forms of these disorders and put into it a little tincture of iron 7four drops to a gallon of water74 ,dysentery with blood discharges is a serious disorder4 ,it is best to give a teaspoonful of castor oil1 followed with three to six drops of laudanum every few hours1 supplying an exclusive diet of mild food4 ,it is important that the afflicted bird be kept quiet and apart from the flock1 especially in dysentery4 ,isolate the afflicted bird when you are at all doubtful regarding the nature of the disorder4 ,give a couple of tablespoonfuls of ground chalk to a pint of warm mash made from ,margaret ,mahaney's ,turkey ,feed4 ,this will also be found beneficial at any time to the laying turkey hens of five or six years old4 ,allow one pint of mash to four turkeys three times a day4 ,a little camphor1 about the size of a good sized bean1 to four turkeys will hasten the recovery2 dropped in the drinking water once a week1 will help to keep the birds in good laying condition4 ,diarrhea in ,little ,turkeys ,diarrhea in a little turkey is white1 something the same as that trouble in a common chicken1 and if you look very carefully you will see that the little legs are dotted with white1 and the little turkeys will be lifeless and not appearing to thrive4 ,that is the time to give them ,mahaney pills 7four to a quart of drinking water for #aj or #aa young turkeys74 ,boil a piece of meat1 grind fine1 and put in the feed1 and that will help them get back their vitality4 ,a drop of aconite in the drinking water on damp days will help to prevent fever of any kind4 ,,gapes ,there are many remedies for gapes1 but the following is always beneficial and dependable4 ,it manifests itself first by the birds gaping around just as a person would yawn4 ,fill a common1 long-necked oil can such as is used for oiling a sewing machine1 with kerosene oil2 open the turkey's mouth and wait until it breathes in order that the windpipe may be open1 then inject a good spray of the kerosene1 perhaps a teaspoonful in all4 ,three doses will usually cure the turkeys of the gape worm4 ,give treatment three times a day1 in the morning1 at noon and night4 ,shut the turkeys up in their run for about a week1 then move them to new ground4 ,,tape ,,worm ,the tape worm is an entirely different thing and is rather more serious1 and will produce substantially the same symptoms as indigestion4 ,if they are in the bowels1 costiveness or diarrhea may be more marked1 while the turkey will be uneasy and picking at the vent if they are in the lower part of the intestine4 ,in all cases there will be more or less loss of flesh and often diminished gloss in the feathers1 while the bird has either an impaired or a voracious appetite4 ,the only unmistakable symptom is the presence of worms in the droppings when they first pass out4 ,an unhealthy condition of the digestive organs is the main cause4 ,the treatment for this is a teaspoonful of castor oil followed by a light addition of sulphur to the feed1 and this may expel the worms and restore the general health4 ,a little cayenne pepper in the feed and tincture of iron in the water will aid the cure4 ,the use of four drops of oil of ferm to a tablespoonful of water is beneficial in a case of this kind4 ,give in the morning before the bird has eaten anything4 ,i had one bird this last year which had a tape worm4 ,i noticed the worm in the droppings first4 ,i took the bird away and put her on a board floor and gave her a good dose of castor oil4 ,she had only passed half of the worm at one time1 and ,i watched her very closely until she passed the head4 ,in a case of tape worm the droppings will be more or less white and limy4 ,a turkey requires a great deal of lime4 ,i have even seen turkeys pick at an old wall where it had been plastered4 ,lime1 mixed with sand1 should be left in all the corners of the farm for turkeys to eat1 as it is a sure preventive of worms4 ,,peritonitis ,peritonitis in turkeys is often mistaken for blackhead4 ,it is a very difficult disease to treat1 and it is only with the milder cases that success can reasonably be expected4 ,the affected bird must be kept quiet1 protected from any current of air1 and opium in doses of one 7#a7 grain every four hours is recommended to quiet the pain and reduce the movement of the intestines1 or mix three or four drops of aconite in a half glass of water and give a teaspoonful three or four times a day4 ,injections of tepid water are recommended to counteract constipation4 ,take a hot water bag4 ,do not have the water so hot that it would be uncomfortable for the turkey2 wring a flannel out of warm water and lay it over the hot water bag1 and then place the bag against the wall of the abdomen4 ,renew them as often as necessary to keep up a moist heat4 ,this treatment should be continued from a half hour to an hour4 ,repeat three or four times a day1 drying the surface of the wall afterwards so that the bird will not take cold4 ,if there is a great weakness1 one or two drops of ether1 or four or five drops of tincture of camphor may be injected under the skin as a stimulant4 ,in case the disease is due to rupture of the oviduct or perforation of the intestine1 treatment is useless2 if it has followed inflammation of the intestine1 the treatment for enteritis should be combined with that for peritonitis4 ,on opening the abdominal cavity of a turkey which has died from peritonitis1 the lining membrane is found to be a deep red in color1 and is sometimes covered by an exudate1 which may consist of a thin1 transparent layer1 or it may be thick yellowish or reddish yellow4 ,the abdomen may contain more or less liquid which may be transparent or it may be turbid with a yellow or reddish color4 ,if the trouble is due to the perforation of the intestine1 the liquid will have a very offensive odor from the multiplication of the putrefactive germs4 ,if it has resulted from the rupture of the oviduct1 the egg1 either intact or broken1 will generally be found in the abdominal cavity1 and the ruptured place in the wall of the oviduct is easily discovered4 ,the writer had two cases of peritonitis in her flock of turkey hens just around the laying season4 ,one died and the other ,i succeeded in saving by the breaking of the bound egg and washing out the rectum with a syringe4 ,for a wash of this kind four or five drops of iodine should be added4 ,it is good to relieve pain and acts as a stimulant for the bird4 ,the bird must be kept very warm and comfortable after a thing of that kind for three or four days4 ,it is well to feed the bird on stimulating food and keep her away from the breeding pens until she recovers her strength4 ,,the ,,bronze ,,turkey ,,the ,,organs ,,and ,,size ,this variety holds the place of honor4 ,it probably originated from a cross between the wild and the tame product4 ,its beautiful1 rich plumage and size have come from the wild progenitor4 ,to maintain this quality1 crosses are continually made4 ,in this way the mammoth size has been gained4 ,their standard weight ranges from twenty1 thirty-six to forty and fifty pounds1 according to age and sex4 ,probably more of this variety are grown each year than all the others4 ,they have been pushed on all sides1 almost to the exclusion of the others4 ,until within a few years1 if possible1 the bronze turkey has been developed too much in the direction of size4 ,while size within reasonable limits is to be desired and encouraged1 when it is confined to length of thigh and shank1 it is a gain of weight with but little additional value4 ,,coloring ,the coloring of this variety is a ground of black bronze1 or shaded with bronze4 ,this shade is rich and glowing1 and when the sun rays are reflected from them1 they shine like polished steel4 ,the female is not as rich in coloring as the male1 but both have the same color and shade4 ,much of its richness and color is lost by inbreeding1 and it is improved each year with the wild specimens4 ,of all our domestic fowl1 none suffer more from inbreeding than the turkey4 ,this should be guarded against at all times if it is hoped to gain the best results4 ,illustration3 ,,turkey ,,raising ,,is ,,an ,,interesting ,,and ,,healthful ,,occupation ,,selection ,,of ,,breeding ,,stock ,naturally the bronze turkey should be the largest in size1 the most vigorous in constitution and the most profitable to grow4 ,this would be the status of the variety at present were it not that too little attention has been given to the selection of the females for breeding stock4 ,it should be fully understood that size and constitutional vigor come largely from the female1 and to have this influence to the fullest extent1 well proportioned1 vigorous females in their second or third year should be selected as breeders4 ,do not select very large specimens for this purpose2 those of a medium size are usually the best4 ,discard undersized females at all times1 as they are of little value as producers4 ,length of shank and thigh1 if out of proportion1 should not be mistaken for size4 ,full rounded body and breast indicates value most clearly2 size and strength of bone indicate constitutional vigor which should be maintained through the selection of the very best at all times for producing stock4 ,when especial care is given to the selection of breeding birds1 and the grower bears in mind those profitable market characteristics--compactness of form1 length of breast and body1 and constitutional vigor1 the most satisfactory results may be obtained from the growing of this variety1 but no matter how much care may be given those conditions1 only partial success will come if inbreeding is permitted4 ,the use of over-sized males with small females is of less advantage than the use of smaller males with well matured1 medium sized females4 ,,marketing ,of course1 we cannot all sell our turkeys for breeding4 ,that would entirely rob the table of its ,thanksgiving luxury4 ,after the turkeys are grown and ready for market1 quite as much care and attention should be given to the killing and shipping as to the proper growing4 ,when these things cannot be done to good advantage1 it would be better to sell them alive4 ,buyers who are prepared to kill1 dress1 pack and ship turkeys and to save the feathers1 should be in a position to pay what they are worth alive1 and should be able to handle them at a profit better than can the grower1 who may not be prepared to do this work to advantage4 ,so much depends upon marketing them in the best condition that small growers should either dress and sell to their home market or1 providing it can be done at a fair price1 sell alive to someone who makes a business of handling such stock4 ,kill nothing but well fattened stock4 ,it seldom pays to sell ill-favored stock to the market4 ,do not give any feed to the turkeys for twelve hours before killing4 ,this allows their crops and entrails to become empty and avoids much of the danger of spoiling4 ,full crops and entrails count against the value2 they often taint the meat1 and prevent it from being kept for any length of time4 ,,dressing ,dry picking is always to be preferred when preparing fowl for market4 ,when in fine condition1 nicely picked1 and sent to market without having been packed in ice1 the turkey is at its best and consequently commands the highest price4 ,when the fowl is plucked1 hang its head down in a cool place until all the animal heat is gone from the body1 being careful not to hang it where it will be exposed to the cold as it is likely to freeze4 ,do not remove the head1 feet or entrails1 but have the whole carcass1 including the head and feet1 perfectly clean4 ,,shipping ,for shipping1 pack as closely as possible into close boxes or barrels1 nicely lined with white or manila paper4 ,do not use brown1 soiled or printed paper4 ,have the package completely filled so as to prevent the poultry from shifting4 ,have all the heads laid one way1 breasts up4 ,do not use hay or straw for packing as it marks and stains the fowl1 detracting from the value4 ,the above method can only be used when the poultry is sent to market without being packed in ice1 and when this can be done in safety either in refrigerator cars or for a short distance in cold weather1 it is by far the best4 ,the greater part1 however1 must be packed in ice4 ,when necessary to do this1 use nice clean barrels1 cover the bottom with broken ice1 then put in a layer of turkey1 then a layer of ice2 continue this until the barrel is packed full4 ,always use perfectly clean ice for packing4 ,head the barrel tightly1 and mark its contents plainly on the head4 ,never ship mixed lots of poultry in the same package if it can be avoided4 ,footnotes ,footnote #a3 ,the call has been so heavy that is been impossible for me to handle the business of the remedies from my ,concord home1 and they are now for sale with the ,park ,pollard ,company of ,boston4 ,footnote #b3 ,for the operation above described ,i have been using of late1 and cannot recommend too highly1 a knife which may be procured at ,park ,pollard's1 called a ,killing ,knife4 ,illustration