RAISING TURKEYS. 205 



much within the control of their owner, and can be 

 hastened or retarded by more or less feed at his pleas- 

 ure. Some of our best breeders feed light after the first 

 of February for the purpose of delaying the laying sea- 

 son. They do not care to have chicks before the first of 

 June. Coming out at that date, they feel reasonably 

 sure of raising the large majority of the hatch. After 

 the birds have begun to lay, and get used to the nests, it 

 is well to feed generously to keep up the strengh of the 

 hen while she is laying, and so prepare her for the sit- 

 ting season. The number of eggs that a hen will lay 

 depends a good deal upon the feed. The average is 

 from fifteen to thirty eggs, while in some cases among 

 the thoroughbreds they keep on laying all summer with- 

 out manifesting any desire to sit upon the nest. These 

 perpetual layers become very much exhausted in the 

 fall, and it takes them a long time to recover. 



SETTING THE HEN-TURKEYS. 



As turkeys require a good deal of attention while 

 they are upon their nests, they should be in one yard, 

 or building, or at least not far distant from one another, 

 to take up as little time as possible in the frequent 

 visits. In making the nests, study nature and build 

 upon the bare earth, lined with leaves or hay, or any con- 

 venient soft substance; give the eggs room enough, and 

 yet have the nest deep enough to prevent their rolling 

 out of the nest. A hen will lay from fifteen to thirty 

 eggs at a litter, but they cannot always cover the whole 

 litter. Very large old birds will cover twenty eggs. 

 Smaller birds will cover from fifteen to eighteen, and 

 this is about the right average. If you have a dozen 

 turkey-hens in your flock, which is about the right 

 number for a good range, it will not be difficult to set 



