130 TURKEY CULTURE. 



search of nests, which ought to be provided for them by 

 turning a barrel upon the side, setting it in some out-of- 

 the-way corner, and covering it with brush. The turkey 

 loves to think that her nest is hidden from the eye of 

 man. If the nest is provided with an egg, so much the 

 better. In this barrel the turkey should be allowed to sit 

 upon twenty eggs. Secure a large board in front of the 

 barrel, which may be taken away for a short time each 

 day, allowing the turkey to come off and feed. Care 

 should be taken that the turkey returns ; drive her to the 

 nest if she stays off too long. A turkey may be moved 

 to a barrel nest if treated after the above manner. After 

 a week or two I find that they are as well pleased with 

 their new quarters, and sit as well as if they had origi- 

 nally selected the spot. After eighteen years of turkey 

 raising, I would not be willing to trust eggs to the nest 

 unless I could secure the turkey upon it for the first week 

 or two. After this time they become quite tame, and can 

 be lifted off for food, which should be at hand. They will 

 almost always return immediately. 



When the eggs begin to hatch, take the young turkeys 

 off and cover in a warm basket. The hen often crushes 

 the young at this time if they are not removed. Fifty or 

 sixty turkeys may be placed with two hens ; they will not 

 part company, and are not so apt to stray. It is natural 

 for the turkey to wander away when she nests or rears her 

 young. I pluck the long feathers from a wing of each 

 mother ; this renders them unable to fly over a tall fence. 

 Young turkeys should be fed five or six times a day. Care 

 should be taken to give only what the young turkeys can 

 pick up. The best feed is curd, made from milk. This 

 prevents the bowel trouble which is so fatal to young tur- 

 keys. No grain should be fed for the first six weeks. A 

 pint of milk, boiled and thickened wich three or four eggs, 

 is fine food for young turkeys. A little pepper may be 

 added to the feed from time to time. Corn meal bread 



