TURKEY RAISING 



stippling over these feathers and distinct bars are not 

 formed. Sometimes also the main tail feathers are nearly 

 black in color, being almost completely lacking in brown. 

 Birds with such tail feathers should not be selected as 

 breeders. Sometimes there occur near the base of the 

 two center main tail feathers, and more rarely this is true 

 of the four center feathers, white bars or penciling. These 

 are a serious defect and birds possessing them should be 

 avoided as breeders. 



In a general way it may be said that the plumage color 

 of the male is always more brilliant than that of the 

 female. Otherwise, the plumage color of the female is the 

 same as that of the male except that she shows a white 

 edging on practically all of her feathers. The more 

 closely the brilliance of the female's plumage approaches 

 that of the male the better. Young Bronze turkeys have 

 legs which are quite dark in color, being nearly black but 

 having some red in them. As the birds grow older this 

 color tends to get brighter and to show more red. 



The Narragansett Turkey. In general it may be said 

 that the Narragansett has much the same general color 

 scheme as the Bronze turkey. Because the feathers end in 

 a band or bar of white or gray this variety has a general 

 color which is lighter than that of the Bronze. In this 

 connection, however, it may be said that it is necessary 

 to guard against birds which are washed out or too light 

 in color. It is likewise necessary to guard against birds, 

 especially males, which run too dark in color. Such males 

 are likely to have solid black backs. In the wing, the pen- 



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