Turkeys Can Be a Profitable Sideline
(Page 5 of 8)
Litter should be thoroughly stirred every other day and
completely changed weekly. This is necessary both to combat
germs and to keep their walking surface dry, a point of
great importance.
RELATED CONTENT
It is also important to keep the waterers on three-inch
high wire platforms to prevent contamination. Mash should
now be fed in a regular chick hopper, water in a one or two
quart glass or metal chick waterer. Finely chopped tender
green-stuff (lettuce, spinach, orange, cabbage, grass,
clover, etc.) can now be fed the poults to great advantage.
Scatter moderate amounts each day on top of their mash.
Otherwise, feed, grit and water conditions remain as
before. (8th week-start to mix growing mash with
starter. Gradually increase to all growing, 10th week)
From the sixth week on, a careful watch must be kept for
the most dread of all turkey illness, "blackhead." (For
identification and treatment of this and other turkey
diseases get the Dept. of Agriculture's Bulletin 1652
Diseases and Parasites of Poultry.) Sanitation and
segregation of infected birds is your best weapon in
fighting both blackhead and coccidiosis. Lederle's
Phenothiazine has arrested many epidemics of blackheads,
but cannot be guaranteed as a positive cure. If any signs
of lice are detected a very light sprinkling of drops of
"Black Leaf 40" wherever the birds bed down, be i t litter
or roost, will rid them of the torments and dangers of
lice.
From Tenth Week To Maturity
By the tenth week, under normal conditions, your poults
should move to their permanent outside quarters. However,
if poor feed or other circumstances prevent normal
development or if the weather is unfavorable, it would be
best to delay the transfer for a short time. These
permanent quarters should consist of a solidly built
wire-floored four foot high cage, with its base thirty
inches off the ground and supported by pine or fir 4 x 4's
whose bases have been dipped in creosote.
If possible, open face of roost enclosure should face
south. Sides and top of the cage may be constructed with
lath or 2" poultry netting. Great caution should be
exercised in eliminating all possible surfaces on the floor
where droppings can collect. Bevel 2" x 3"'s (on the top)
so that they will just hold staples 18" apart for the 1" by
2" flooring. A door should be placed on any side of the
cage not taken up by the feed hoppers. Eliminate all sharp
points or surfaces where the turkeys might injure
themselves.
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