264 Farm Poultry 



hatched on the farm. These domesticated wild 

 birds usually persist in roosting separate from the 

 others, generally in the woods or on the top of 

 a house or barn. When raised from the egg they 

 become more gentle and fearless than the domestic 

 turkey, but if chased or frightened they recover 

 their wild habits very quickly. Wild turkey 

 crosses are hardier and healthier than common 

 turkeys and rarely have disease. Half-blood hens 

 are generally too wild, but half-blood gobblers 

 are not as wild and are suitable for crossing with 

 domestic hens. A small proportion of wild blood 

 improves the size, form, and 1 general appearance, 

 as well as the vigor, without being a disadvantage 

 in any way. A quarter- wild cross is better for 

 practical breeding than a pure wild or half wild 

 bird. Half -wild crosses do well if allowed a large 

 range, but are not well suited to woody lands or as 

 easily kept on small places as the domestic turkey. 



"Wild turkey hens under domestication and 

 wild first- cross hens often disappear in the spring 

 and are not seen until fall, when they usually 

 return to their own home with a brood of nearly 

 full-grown turkeys. Half-blood mothers make 

 their young too wild. Half-bloods reared by 

 domestic turkey hens are not much inclined to 

 stray. Quarter -bloods under certain conditions 

 may be as wild as the wild bird of the woods. 



"The flock of half -wild birds reared at the Sta- 



