CHAPTER II 

 Varieties, Mating and Showing 



Where turkeys are raised in the United States, the birds 

 kept may be one of the standard varieties, various crosses 

 between the standard varieties, or, somewhat rarely, the 

 common or Eastern wild turkey. Standard varieties are 

 those which are listed and described in the American 

 Standard of Perfection.* The standard varieties consist 

 of the following: The Bronze, the Narragansett, the 

 White Holland, the Black, the Slate and the Bourbon 

 Red. In referring to individuals of any of the standard 

 varieties there are three separate classes of males recog- 

 nized and two classes of hens. The males are adult 

 cocks, that is, birds two years old or over ; yearling cocks, 

 birds one year old and less than two; and cockerels, birds 

 less than one year old. The female classes consist of 

 hens, birds one year old or over; and pullets, birds less 

 than one year old. Males of all classes are frequently 

 referred to as toms or gobblers rather than as cocks or 

 cockerels. The young turkeys of both sexes are gener- 

 ally called poults. 



*The American Standard of Perfection is a book published by 

 the American Poultry Association describing all the breeds and 

 varieties of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys recognized by that 

 association. This book is the guide by which all poultry shows in 

 the United States are judged. 



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