POULTRY KEEPING 01 



able market qualities. The Black turkey of to-day is almost as large 

 as the Bronze and fully its equal in many ways. This is due to 

 crosses made with Bronze turkeys, and to proper selection thereafter. 

 This variety is much the same as the English Norfolk turkey. No 

 turkeys are more desirable for table purposes. When dressed they 

 present the yellow color of skin and meat and the plumpness and 

 finish that are desirable. The Blacks round up nicely at an early 

 age, are quite hardy, and mature in time for early markets. Black 

 turkeys, like the White, do not have so great a tendency to roam as 

 the Bronze. The young are quite hardy. 



Rules for Selecting Stock. 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 select the smaller 

 ones. Do not strive to have them unnaturally large. Second, the 

 male may be a yearling or older. Do not imagine that the large 

 overgrown males are the best. Strength, health, and vigor, with 

 well-proportioned medium size are the main points of excellence. 

 Third, avoid close breeding. New blood is of vital importance to 

 turkeys. Better send a thousand miles for a new male than to risk 

 the chances of inbreeding. Secure one in the fall so as to be assured 

 of his health and vigor prior to the breeding season. 



Suggestions in Regard to Breeding Stock. No matter what 

 variety of turkeys may be selected for keeping, they should, above all 

 things, be strong, vigorous, healthy, and well matured. Better secure 

 the females from one locality and the male from another to insure 

 their nonrelationship, rather than run the risk of inbreeding. In all 

 fowls it is well to remember that size is influenced largely by the 

 female and the color and finish by the male. Securing overlarge 

 males to pair with small weakly hens is not wise policy. 



A medium-sized male with good fair-sized females of good con- 

 stitutional vigor and mature age will do far better than the largest 

 with the smallest females. 



Kind of Males to Select. When we stop to consider that the 

 male turkey is one-half of the entire flock in the matter of breeding 

 we may be led to greater care in his selection. None can be too good 

 for the- purpose; constitutional vigor is of first importance; without 

 this he can not have any value whatever for the purpose intended. 

 Plenty of bone, a full, round breast, and long body are important. 

 No matter of what stock or breeding the hen may be the male should 

 be selected from some standard variety. 



Number of Females to One Male. The best rule for mating is 

 to have four or five females to one male; some say twelve, and the 

 writer has heard of a fine hatch and vigorous poults from a two-year- 

 old torn with twenty hens; but this is unusual. When they are 

 yarded and from eight to ten females are kept, it is better to have 

 two toms and keep one shut up while the other is with the hens, 

 changing them at least twice a week. When they run at large on a 

 farm they will naturally divide into flocks; under such conditions 

 one male to not more than six females is best. 



