MANAGEMENT OF THE BREEDING STOCK 



pullet the wing bar is not more than two fingers wide and 

 the feathers do not grow out to an even length so as to 

 form a regular outline to its lower edge. In the mature 

 gobblers the wing bar shows a width of about four 

 fingers and has an even outline while in the young gobbler 

 the wing bar is not over three fingers wide and has an 

 uneven outline. See Figs. 7, 10 and 17. 



Prevent Injury to Hens in Breeding 



Where yearling or older toms are used they are very 

 likely to injure the hens in mating because of their weight 

 and their sharp spurs and toe nails. When they are used, 

 therefore, it is necessary to cut off the spurs and clip or file 

 down the toe nails short and blunt. Some breeders protect 

 their hens from injury during the breeding season by fas- 

 tening a cloth covering or sort of apron over their backs. 

 Injury to the hens during the breeding is more likely to oc- 

 cur where the hens are very fat as the skin of their backs 

 rips more easily in this condition or when the torn is very 

 much heavier than the hens. Care should be used to see 

 that there is a definite relation between the size of the hens 

 and the torn used. For instance, if it becomes necessary 

 or desirable to use a torn weighing 35 to 45 pounds, no 

 hen should be mated with him which weighs less than 25 

 pounds. The use of light weight small females with heavy 

 toms is very likely to result in breaking them down. With 

 the wild turkeys it is best to use toms which do not run 

 more than 2 or 3 pounds heavier than the hens used. One 



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