TEAINING TURKEYS TO SIT AT ANY TIME. 59 



after which place her on the nest and cover her up. Morn- 

 ing and evening take her from the nest, put her under a 

 coop, give her water, grain, a dust bath, and again bread 

 soaked in some kind of spirit. Eepeat this until you see 

 that the turkey settles herself on the eggs and remains on 

 them quietly without being covered up. Then you may 

 give her good eggs and depend upon her to do her duty 

 conscientiously. 



"An important point upon which I cannot insist 

 enough, is the necessity for looking for vermin before plac- 

 ing the hen on the nest, in order to prevent her being 

 troubled by these pests and becoming restless, as such 

 large birds are more liable than others to break eggs. A 

 good sprinkling of Pyrethrum powder through the feathers 

 and in the hay of the nest, is to be recommended. The 

 first operation should take place by daylight. The turkey, 

 being plunged from full light into complete darkness, when 

 the effect of the wine begins to act and make her feel 

 rather funny in the head, gets so frightened that she will 

 remain on the eggs without moving. The contact with 

 these, and her long tete-a-tete with them, develops her 

 maternal instincts, and, as a rule, a few days are sufficient 

 to provoke the brooding fever. I have known turkeys to 

 get broody the day after they were set. I never train them 

 more than eight or nine days, and give liberty to those 

 who have not taken to the nest by that time. If properly 

 managed, they will sit from six to eight weeks consecu- 

 tively, without showing any trace of fatigue. Some breeders 

 make them brood much longer, but it is cruel and danger- 

 ous, for sometimes the birds die on the eggs. When they 

 do sit it is not necessary to feed them twice a day ; take 

 them up in the morning only, but let it be regularly. 



" Not aU turkeys are willing to be forced to sit; still, 

 the restives are rare. When these birds are desired as 

 sitting 'machines,' they ought to be carefully selected. 

 Breeders who intend to go in for them should purchase once 



