116 TURKEY CULTURE. 



ful lookout for the eggs must be kept. It is natural for 

 all turkeys to hide the nest, but petting will do much 

 toward keeping them near the house. Each egg should be 

 gathered as soon as laid and placed, small end down, on 

 cotton or some soft material and kept in a dry, cool, dark 

 place. If not used at once, they should be turned occa- 

 sionally, to prevent settling or adhering to the shell. As 

 tii<3 eggs are removed daily from the nest, it is better to 

 return a hen's egg, until there are five or six in the 

 nest, as a turkey is suspicious and easily discomfited. 

 My turkeys lay entirely in the grove near the house and 

 arrange their nests with skill themselves, my only task be- 

 ing to protect them from natural wild enemies. The nest 

 should always be dry and large, and on the ground if pos- 

 sible. Fifteen eggs are sufficient for a large hen, and if 

 small, thirteen will give better results. Four weeks, and 

 often thirty days, are required to hatch the eggs. This 

 makes a long period of rest for active Mrs. Turkey, yet she 

 must be compelled to do her work faithfully, consequently 

 should have easy access to an abundance of food and pure 

 water, that she may not be forced to remain too long a 

 time off the nest to procure food, thus allowing the eggs 

 to chill. 



CARE OF THE YOUNG. About the twenty-seventh day 

 I throw a hard-boiled egg, mashed very fine, close to the 

 nest, not into, lest it adhere to an egg, rendering the egg 

 air-tight exactly over the beak of the young turkey, which 

 would prevent his escape from the shell. The mother tur- 

 key may eat this egg and the one given the following day 

 or two, if it is not needed for her young, but in case she is 

 hatching, she will use it for the little ones, and this food 

 will often save the first-hatched birds. I have had the 

 mother turkey refuse to leave the nest for three days after 

 the first eggs hatched. If she leaves too soon, the remain- 

 ing eggs may be placed under hens, or hatched by wrapping 

 in wool and keeping warm near the fire. Should an egg be- 



