290 Farm Poultry 



over a nest on the ground answer the purpose. As a 

 good turkey hen will lay more eggs than she can cover 

 well at one sitting, it is customary to remove the 

 eggs from the nest daily and to place the first laid 

 under broody hens. The last eggs should be given 

 the turkey hen to hatch. 



Some attempts have been made to rear turkeys 

 by means of artificial incubators and brooders, but 

 in many instances the results have been far from satis- 

 factory. Most turkey-raisers depend upon natural 

 methods of incubation and brooding. Turkey eggs 

 hatch in twenty-eight days. 



Selection of breeding stock. Many farmers un- 

 doubtedly make mistakes in selecting young and 

 immature birds for breeding stock. Experienced 

 turkey-raisers insist on breeding from mature and 

 well-tried birds. If a hen proves to be a good 

 breeder and a careful mother, she should- be kept as 

 long as she proves profitable. The young of mature 

 parents are thought to be considerably stronger 

 than those of immature fowls. Two- or three-year- 

 old toms are sometimes preferred to older ones 

 on account of the great weight which older birds 

 attain. 



"A few plain rules which may be observed to 

 advantage are as follows : 



"First. Always use as breeders turkey hens over 

 one year old. Be sure they are strong, healthy, and 

 vigorous, and of good medium size. In no instance 



