194 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 



key-chick that comes out of the shell, and do this nine 

 years out of ten, without much respect to wet or dry 

 seasons, while another loses from a half to three quarters 

 with about the same uniformity ? We know of men 

 with whom success is the established rule. They are 

 very systematic in this, as in all their other business. 

 We visited one of these thrifty farmers, who raised one 

 hundred and sixty-five turkeys last year from nine hens, 

 and upon inquiry found that he did about the same thing 

 every year. We wanted to know just how he managed 



Fig. 81. BRONZE TURKEY. 



to secure this uniform result, and found him communi- 

 cative. He insists upon good stock to begin with the 

 best always selected to breed from. Then he places 

 great reliance upon regular feeding during the fall and 

 winter, so that the flock becomes very gentle, and the 

 hens make their nests immediately about the sheds and 

 barns in places prepared for them. This is a great safe- 

 guard against foxes, skunks, crows, hawks, and other 

 creatures that destroy the birds or their eggs. When 

 the young first come off the nest, they are confined in 



