SIXTH ANNUAL YEAk BOOK— PART VIII. 703 



GOOD WATER ESSENTIAL. 



A supply of good, fresh water is n© less necessary than sufficient 

 nourishment. A clear, rapidly running brook that is easily accessible 

 solves the drink supply problem in a manner satisfactory to turkeys 

 and owner. Stagnant pools should not be depended upon. The flock 

 will drink at such places if no other supply is at hand, but fresh water 

 given morning and evening in clean utensils, from which old and young 

 can conveniently drink, will lesson and sometimes entirely prevent the 

 habit. It is safe to remember that turkeys cannot obtain a satisfying 

 drink from some of the fountains used for smaller fowls. A turkey's 

 beak is several times as large as that of the ordinary fowl and it must 

 be well immersed, or the bird cannot take water easily. There is noth- 

 ing much better for the purpose than a wooden pail, from which tw® 

 staves have been cut off half way down the side, and on which a cover 

 is placed to keep out the dirt. This, if placed in the shade, will keep 

 water cool and clean. If the turkeys come in frequently for water the 

 pail should be refilled at least three times a day. 



SITTERS ON INFERTILE EGGS. 



Summer turkeys eggs are less fertile than those laid earlier in the 

 season and occasionally a hen will lay a nest full of infertile eggs in a 

 secluded place and sit on them until fall, if not discovered. Sometimes 

 c«ie will die on the nest of such eggs, while others will sit until driven 

 from the nest by cold weather. The latter do not molt while sitting ' 

 but become very thin in flesh. They then begin to molt at the beginning 

 of cold weather and are freqijently ruined for sale purposes and in- 

 capacitated for breeding if, indeed, they all survive. It is, t^refope 

 economy to make sure that n®ne of the older turkeys remain unaccounted 

 for. after the middle of the summer. 



CARE OF a'KE OLD STOCK. 



After the breeding season it is customary to pay but littl6 atten- 

 tion to thfe old stock during the summer. This is a convenient and safe 

 method when all -the members of the flock obtain all, or a good part, 

 of their food by foraging in the fields, for the exercise they take ia so 

 doing and the nature of the food obtained prevents them from taking 

 on too much fat. The greatest menace to a turfvey's health and useful- 

 ness as a breeder after the first year is fat, and a specimen that becomes 

 overfa>t is never as valuable again. 



The warm weather inclines those of the old birds which have no 

 broods to remain quiet, in the shad«. the greater part of the day, if they 

 oan secure sufficient food without hunting for it. Old toms are partic- 

 ulary averse to any ferm of exertion at tifeis season. If these turkeys 

 are fed liberally, or are allowed to eat with the faj-m yard flock of smaller 

 fowls, they almost without exception will become too fat and much loss 

 without apparent carse v.all result. On this ac<^aunt the flock should be 

 offered everv inducement to find most «f their focd on the range. If 



