VARIETIES, MATING AND SHOWING 



without partitions they will not arrive in as good con- 

 dition as if shipped single. The bird should have plenty 

 of room so that it can stand erect and be comfortable 

 but should not be given room enough so that it can turn 

 around in the coop. For a good sized gobbler a coop 

 30 inches high will be necessary. Not over 16 inches 

 of width should be allowed as this will keep the bird 

 from turning around. If the coop is 2 feet wide the 

 bird will be constantly turning and will injure its plum- 

 age in doing so. The sides of the shipping coop should 

 be solid. If the sides are slatted the turkey is apt 

 to be frightened by anything which passes by. The top 

 of the coop should be slatted in order to provide good 

 ventilation, but additional ventilation in the sides near the 

 top is desirable in order to allow for the possibility of 

 something being piled on top of the coop, thus shutting 

 off the ventilation from that source. Coops for smaller 

 gobblers or for hen turkeys can be built proportionately 

 smaller according to the size of the bird. 



In shipping breeding stock a distance of not over 200 

 miles, a coop 2 feet high and 12 to 14 inches wide will be 

 large enough for a mature gobbler. If they are to be 

 shipped further than this as much room should be allowed 

 as would be given where the birds are shipped to the 

 show. For short shipments no feed or water should be 

 provided. If the birds are to be over two days on the 

 road, however, a dish for water must be fastened to the 

 inside of the coop and a supply of feed shipped with the 

 coop so that the express agent can feed the birds. 



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