POULTRY RAISING TURKEYS 359 



necessary to show the turkeys the way to and from the roosts. The roosts 

 are built on a level in the front of the house, with a rolling or sliding door in 

 the rear. Turkeys should not be confined so the door should be left open all 

 day that they may come and go as they wish. In cold, snowy weather they may 

 be fed in the house. 



Good House for Cold Climates. A good house for the cold climate of 

 Canada is the double inclosed apartment house. This is used for breeding stock 

 in winter. Connected with the house is an inclosed run to protect the birds from 

 the cold and at the same time furnish opportunity for fresh air exercise during 

 the day. It will keep the turkeys from being carried away by all kinds of mid- 

 night marauders. Such a house is easy to build and inexpensive. 



Coop for Poults. The following makes a splendid roosting coop for 

 poults in mild climates. It keeps out incursions of night animals. The frame 

 should be 6 ft. long, 4 ft. wide, 5 ft. high in front and 4 ft. high in rear, back 

 and roof boarded, ends and sides enclosed with small mesh poultry netting. Put 

 in low perches and keep brood until they are ready to fly up out of danger. 

 Move this coop to fresh ground frequently, thus keeping the ground pure. 



Do Not House With Chickens. Turkeys will not do well if housed with 

 chickens. They easily become infested with lice from them and lice are sure 

 death to young poults. 



BREEDING. 



(Including Valuable Information on the Care of Breeding Stock and 



Hatching.) 



Selection of Breeding Stock. "Like Begets Like" is a good rule to follow 

 in breeding turkeys. The careless selection, or no selection at all, of breeding 

 stock has given no end of trouble to turkey raisers. In many localities all of the 

 turkeys raised have descended from the same original pair, no new blood having 

 come into the neighborhood. Such a foolish procedure means the destruction of 

 the constitutional vigor of the birds and failure is sure to follow. A wise farmer 

 always selects the best corn or grain he has for seed ; he should exercise as much 

 care in the selection of his breeding stock in turkeys. In fact if a person wishes 

 to succeed in this profitable industry, he must give much care to the breeding of 

 his birds. 



Kinds of Hens to Select. The hens to be used for breeding should be 

 strong, healthy and well matured. They should be of medium size, well formed, 

 strong boned, and possess constitutional vigor. Exceedingly large hens as well 

 as very small ones are seldom the best of breeders. Vigor and stamina are ab- 

 solutely necessary. The best producers are turkey hens in their 2nd or 3rd 

 year of laying. The best young hens should be kept with this in mind. 



Kind of Males to Select It is of first importance to have a first class 

 male serve as breeder. This, can easily be seen when we say that the male is 

 one-half of the entire flock in the matter of breeding. None can be too good. 

 The male should be of long body ; he should have a full, round breast and plenty 

 of bone and should not be oversized. 



The male should be of some standard variety, no matter whether the hens 



