BROODING AND REARING YOUNG STOCK 



this provides additional room and sources of food supply 

 for the flock. 



It is desirable to arrange the hatching in such a way 

 that two or three turkey hens with broods of about the 

 same age can be turned out to free range at the same time. 

 If they are turned out together in this manner they usu- 

 ally remain in one flock, which makes it easier to hunt 

 them up and care for them than would be the case if each 

 brood was by itself. It is not, however, desirable to turn 

 more than two or three broods into one flock as there is a 

 tendency for the poults all to try to crowd under one or 

 two hens to be hovered, with the result that this is not 

 properly accomplished. Occasionally one or more hens 

 has a bell hung around its neck. This serves a useful 

 purpose in making it easier to locate the flock of turkeys 

 at night when they are to be driven home or at any other 

 time when it is desired to find them. The young turkeys 

 usually remain with their mother until October or No- 

 vember, when they are weaned. At this time the males 

 usually separate from the females and range by them- 

 selves. 



101 



