120 TURKEY CULTUEEo 



or along a stream or swamp. When the turkeys have mated, 

 fix a number of nests by carrying an armful of leaves to 

 clumps of bushes, selecting the site with a view to setting 

 the hen. Never select where they will be in danger of foxes, 

 muskrats or other animals, and when Mrs. Hen starts to seek 

 a nest to deposit her first egg, keep watch of her, and make 

 her lay at least near where you wish her to. If she has 

 stolen a march on you and got a nestful of eggs, shut her up 

 at night and do not liberate her until the next afternoon. 

 When she wants to lay she will probably go straight to her 

 nest. When following her, do so without being seen, for a 

 hen turkey takes the lead for being sly and watchful. If 

 she outwits you, in four weeks from the time you saw her 

 last, if you have young turks, take one in your hand and 

 go near to where you saw her last, and the chirp of the 

 turk you have will bring an answering call from the hen. 



You can keep turkeys in any field that has a fence they 

 cannot crawl through, by taking a piece of shingle two 

 inches wide and over each wing hollow out grooves. Take 

 a piece of strong cotton cloth an inch wide, and pass 

 around the wing through the large feathers in the joint 

 next the body and around the grooves, and tie securely, 

 but not too tight, thus fastening the piece of shingle across 

 the back and wings. We never use this except when the hen 

 is turned out with her young turks. Turkey eggs should 

 be kept in a dry, cool place, and turned every day. As 

 soon as the first hen wants to sit, set her and a common 

 hen at the same time, the turkey on eighteen or twenty 

 eggs and the hen on from nine to eleven. Then if they 

 hatch over eighteen, as they should do, place their coops 

 near together and they will run together all the season. If 

 they hatch less, give them all to the turkey. Turkey eggs 

 hatch best on the ground, or low down on a nest prepared 

 by putting in plenty of moist earth. Do not make the 

 nest deep and hollowing, or set the largest hens until they 

 lay the second time, as they are more apt to break the eggs. 



