INCUBATION OF TURKEY EGGS 



couple of nights in succession that they are ready to sit. 

 When they have shown that they are in proper condition 

 they can then be removed to a nest previously prepared for 

 them and a couple of nest eggs placed under each hen. 

 This should be done in the evening, and if by morning 

 they are still sitting closely and seem to be contented in 

 their new quarters the sittings of eggs can be placed under 

 them. Chicken hens are best set in a house or shed and 

 should be confined to the nest. They should be let off once 

 a day, preferably toward evening, to get a supply of feed 

 and to drink. Whole corn is a good feed for sitting hens. 

 As soon as they have eaten and drunk and have exercised 

 a few minutes they should be put back on the nest if they 

 do not return of their own accord. 



Hatching with an Incubator 



Turkey eggs can be hatched in an incubator almost if 

 not quite as successfully as hens' eggs. In fact, in many 

 cases turkey eggs will be found to hatch better than the 

 average run of hens' eggs, as turkey eggs when fertile and 

 from good vigorous stock usually hatch very well. One 

 turkey grower has reported as the result of a considerable 

 experience in hatching with incubators that he secures 

 about 60% vigorous poults from the fertile eggs set. An- 

 other grower reports much better success than this, as is 

 shown by an instance where 109 poults were secured out 

 of 112 fertile eggs. Any of the different styles of incuba- 

 tors giving success with hens' eggs can be used for turkey 



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