526 TJie Rearing and Management of 



to give the mother a substantial meal ; after which she will soon 

 gather the little ones under her wings. Should the weather be 

 wet and cold, they must be kept under cover, and if confined 

 beyond a week, a few onions, chives, dandelion, or dock-leaves 

 must be chopped up and given Avith the egg ; but this is not 

 necessary when the mother and young can have their full liberty 

 in about a week after hatching, in which case they will select 

 their own vegetables and forage for themselves better than they 

 can be fed by hand. Give water in dry weather alter the young 

 are a week old, but until they are three-weeks old do not allow 

 it to remain by them after feeding. As they become strong 

 feed four times, and by degrees come to three times a day 

 with corn in the grain or other food. It is a critical time for 

 young turkeys when the fleshy tubercles begin to appear on the 

 head, generally termed striking the red, the birds being then 

 about the size of a pigeon. The surest safe-guard is regular 

 and wholesome food. I have known them to perish in a thunder- 

 storm ; to avoid this, a temporary shed should be erected at 

 the spot to which you wish them to resort, near which they 

 should be regularly fed, and water placed for them to drink, it is 

 astonishing how quickly they will then seek its shelter on the 

 approach of a storm. If turkeys be fed as herein advised, they 

 will be found in sufficient condition for the market, without con- 

 fining them for the purpose of fattening, as is often done. 



I do not think it is desirable to aim at rearing two flocks in 

 one year, but rather to use your best endeavours to raise one 

 first-rate flock, the hens will then be in better condition for 

 early work the following spring. The second hatch is generally 

 very delicate, and subject to great mortality if the weather is at 

 all unfavourable ; however, in some establishments it is almost 

 imperative to have a supply of late hatched turkeys during Lent, 

 and after the game season is over, in which case, and when the 

 first flock is hatched, confine one hen (giving the whole of the 

 young to the others) in a coop or other convenient place for 

 several days, feeding her well ; afterwards set her at liberty, 

 allowing the cock to accompany her, she will soon commence to 

 lay again, and probably have her second flock hatched, and the 

 birds will have attained strength ere the wet and cold weather 

 sets in. They nearly always lay twice, and sometimes thrice 

 during the season, and the desire to sit is very great ; but by 

 confining them a short time and feeding them well, you may easily 

 put them off, without resorting to the uncouth way of plunging 

 in cold water as practised by some persons. 



There is no doubt that the rearing of turkeys is highly remu- 

 nerative, and could be profitably extended if circumstances per- 

 mitted ; but if the corn-fields and mowing-grass are near the 



