10 Oct., 1918.] Turkey Breeding. 627 



feed. Probably tbey will mature best on heavy soils, especially in iron- 

 stone districts. The rearing of turkeys should be found a profitable 

 adjunct on a farm where lucerne is grown, for if allowed to stray in a 

 lucerne crop they will not require much hand-feeding. The turkey is a 

 rather unsociable bird, and will do better if reared apart from other 

 kinds of poultry. 



The breeds recommended are Black Norfolk and the American 

 Bronze. Though the Black Norfolk is not raised here to any extent, it 

 probably would be found the better kind for trade purposes. The young 

 birds mature quickly, and are fit for the market when two months 

 younger than those of other breeds. They are small in bone, and their 

 flesh is very fine in texture, and they are much sought after in the 

 London markets. The American Bronze is the only variety of turkey 

 now common in Victoria, most of the other breeds having been allowed 

 to die out. This turkey, however, is really too large and coarse for the 

 table. Gobblers from 20 to 28 lbs. in weight are the most suitable for 

 stud purposes, and, further, are the best to insure fertility in the flock. 

 Probably hundreds of turkeys are lost every year owing to farmers 

 running small hens with gobblers 30 to 40 lbs. in weight. 



When commencing turkey-raising, the male stock should be taken 

 from second-season birds, and the hens should be of not less than 12 lbs. 

 in weight. There should be one gobbler for every eight or ten hens. 



Housing, etc. 



It is essential that a high, dry spot be selected for the roosting-place. 

 Heavy saplings make the best perches, and they should be. placed about 

 5 feet from the ground. If more than one perch is erected, they should 

 be about 2 feet apart, and care must be taken to have the various perches 

 at an uniform height. The roosting-places should be covered by 

 thatched roofs, or, at least, sheltered by trees. In a district where there 

 are foxes the erection of a fence around the roosting-place is necessary. 

 The area to enclose may, of course, vary according to circumstances, but 

 it should be at least 100 feet long and 2'5 feet wide, so that the birds 

 may be able to move about during the time between leaving their perches 

 and being released for the day. Wire netting will probably be found 

 the most suitable material for the fence, which, to be serviceable, must 

 be not less than 6 feet high. A barb wire projecting 6 inches outwards 

 should be run along the top. It would be advisable, where possible, to 

 sow the enclosure down with rape, to provide green feed for the adult 

 birds and protection from the sun for the young ones. 



If it is intended to breed turkeys in a large way, a shed should be 

 erected for them, ISTo fixed size of shed can be laid down. It should, 

 however, be about 3 ft. 6 in. wide and about 3 feet high in front and 

 2 ft. 6 in. at the back. The shed should be subdivided into 4-ft. com- 

 partments, with a 2-ft. door to each, the remainder of the front of the 

 building being covered with 2-in. mesh wire. 



Care of Sitting Turlceys. 



A turkey hen can be induced to sit at any time by giving her a table- 

 spoonful of port wine, and then placing her in a barrel or packing-case 

 with a sack thrown over the entrance. When broodiness develops the 



