144 TURKEY CULTURE. 



and but few are lost. In the spring a sufficient number of 

 nests are made for the hens by placing barrels by the 

 walls and fences near the house and barns, or by laying 

 wide boards against the walls. In them is placed leaves 

 or cut straw. The turkeys readily take possession of these 

 nests, although some persist in seeking out one of their 

 own. This is usually allowed unless a swampy location, 

 or one too far away, is chosen, when the nest is broken 

 up and the hen induced to choose another. 



Sometimes several lay in the same nest. To prevent 

 this, a nest in which a turkey has commenced to lay is, 

 after she has deposited her egg, shut up for the remainder 

 of the day, to keep out intruders. When the crows eat eggs 

 laid in the nests that are far from the house, they are 

 frightened away by strings stretched across near the nest. 

 Glass nest eggs are used. Eggs are gathered daily, to pre- 

 vent their being chilled, and that rats may not get them. 

 They are kept in pans, having a few oats in the bottom to 

 prevent their rolling about. Each panful holds two sit- 

 tings, and is dated, that their age may be known. When 

 a hen stays on the nest for two nights, seventeen of the 

 oldest eggs are given her; the eggs laid by her during the 

 two days are not left in the nest. The nests are first 

 shaped, so that they will not be so flat as to allow the 

 eggs to roll out, or so deep as to cause them to be piled 

 one upon another. The turkeys seem to do better if not 

 fed while sitting. Those occupying nests near together are 

 looked after daily, to see that they return to their own 

 nests. 



Mr. Tucker at first experienced some trouble in hav- 

 ing turkeys come off with a few young, those late in 

 hatching being left to their fate. This was partly over- 

 come by setting eggs of the same age. By feeding hens 

 with dough when the eggs are due to hatch, they are also 

 contented to stay on the nest longer. When the turkeys 

 are a couple of days old and seem quite strong, they are 



