POULTRY 227 



Of the eight or ten varieties of turkeys commonly bred in the 

 United States the bronze appears to be the most popular owing 

 chiefly to its large size and hardiness. The White Holland, a 

 medium-sized turkey, is probably next in popularity. It is 

 noted for its docility and on markets where a smaller bird is in 

 demand it finds a ready sale. The Naragansette, Slate, Black, 

 Buff and Bourbon Red varieties as yet are bred in compara- 

 tively small numbers by farmers though they are quite popular 

 with fanciers. 



Housing Turkeys. Turkeys do not need as warm houses as 

 chickens. In fact, they seldom thrive as well as they do when 

 roosting in the open. Even in very severe winter weather the 

 common practice of many of our leading turkey breeders is to 

 allow the breeding turkeys to roost in a good thick grove of 

 trees or to build a shed with the south side left open. In the 

 northern sections of the country, more especially in the prairie 

 sections, turkeys should be provided with shelter to protect 

 them from the cold winds and blizzards. Their feeding and 

 scratching grounds should be littered with straw to induce them 

 to exercise and as a protection for their feet in zero weather. 

 They should never be housed or fed along with other fowls as 

 they are so apt to injure them through fighting. 



Feeding Turkeys. When turkeys are at liberty in the 

 summer time they require very little grain. Some . breeders 

 feed only enough to keep them from wandering away too far 

 from the buildings. During winter the usual practice is to 

 feed a mixture of whole grains twice a day with water and grit 

 within reach at all times. 



Feeding Young Turkeys. Young turkeys will not eat for 

 the first day or two, hence they should be kept quiet during 

 that period. When feeding commences a good practice to 

 follow is to feed them similar to the method of feeding little 

 chicks excepting that the young turkeys require more green 

 food and need not be fed more than three or four times a day. 



DUCKS 



The duck industry of this country has developed wonderfully 

 in the past twenty-five years. In the New England States 

 and the Central States many large commercial duck plants 



