Restrain your desire to count your young turkeys, and let them alone
for twenty-four hours after they get into this world. Remove them to a
clean, airy, roomy coop, and give them boiled eggs, stale wheat bread
crumbs just moistened with milk or water, "Dutch" cheese, or a mixture
of all these.
For the first two weeks feed entirely with the eggs, bread, curds,
cooked rice and cooked oatmeal. About the third week commence feeding
cooked cornmeal; and from that on they may have any cooked food that
would be suitable for chickens of the same age. Season all food
slightly with salt and pepper, and twice a week add a level
tablespoonful of bone meal to a pint of feed. Never feed any sour food
or sloppy food of any kind, except sour milk, and never feed any
uncooked food of any kind until after they have thrown out the red on
their heads. Feed often, five or six times a day, until after they are
three months old; then, if insects are numerous, you may gradually
reduce the number of meals per day to three or even two.
After they are three months old they may be given wheat, cracked corn,
etc., but not whole corn until they are five months old. Keep the
coops dry and clean, and the turkeys out of the dew and rain until
they are fully feathered, and have thrown out the red. Dampness and
filth will kill young turkeys as surely as a dose of poison. For the
first few days confine the poults to the limits of the coop and safety
run; then, if all appear strong and well, give the mother hen and her
brood liberty on pleasant days after the dew is off.
If they get caught out in a shower, get them to shelter as soon as
possible; and if they are chilled take them to the house and
thoroughly dry and warm them. See that the little turkeys come home
every night. The turkey mother must, for the first few nights, be
hunted up and driven home. After they are three months old, turkeys
are quite hardy, and may be allowed range at all times. If turkeys
that are well cared for, and have always seemed all right, show signs
of drooping when about six weeks or two months old, give Douglas
mixture in the drink or food, and add a little cooked meat to the food
once a day.--_The Practical Farmer._