When large numbers of turkeys are raised it is advisable to adopt some
system of marking the poults that enables the grower to keep a record of
the age and breeding of the different broods, as this is of assistance in
selecting early hatched birds for breeding and slaughter purposes. Such
a system also makes it possible to separate the poults out of special
matings from the rest of the flock or from neighboring flocks. The poults
may be marked by punching holes in the webs between the toes or slitting
these webs. Different webs may be punched or slit for different broods,
and thus provide a record of all turkeys raised.
Heavy, aluminum, clinch pigeon-wing bands are well adapted for marking
young turkeys. The bands can be applied in two ways:
According to the first, the band is first made round and clinched,
then slipped over the baby poult's toes and flattened so that it will
not come off but at the same time will allow for some growth of the
leg. When the poult is about 4 weeks old the band is transferred to
the wing by unclinching and inserting it in a hole made in the middle
of the web between the first and second joints of the wing and about
one-fourth inch from the edge. The band is again clinched and made
round so that it is not easily flattened and its lettering can be read
easily. According to the second method of application the band is put
directly into the wing at hatching time, a thin knife blade being used
to make the hole for the band, near the edge of the web and midway
between the joints of the wing. Turkey poults, when good sized, may
be tattooed on the wing for identification. When the breeding turkeys
are selected as they approach maturity, heavy wing bands or heavy
permanent leg bands may be used if the birds were not marked at an
earlier age.