TURKEY RAISING 



six layers of hen turkeys with five hens to the layer and 

 four or five layers of toms with four to the layer, this of 

 course depending on the size of the birds. On the aver- 

 age a barrel will hold about 250 pounds of turkey. 



There are two principal sizes of boxes used for packing 

 turkeys, one used for hens and the other for toms. The 

 standard dimensions for these boxes are as follows : Tur- 

 key torn boxes, ends 24 x 12 x ^ inches ; sides 28 x 12 x 

 % ; tops and bottoms 28 x 24^ x ^ ; turkey hen boxes, 

 ends 20 x 1 1 x % inches ; sides 30 x 1 1 x y% inches ; tops 

 and bottoms, 30 x 20^4 x ^ inches. 



The turkeys are packed in these boxes in two layers, 

 the torn boxes holding layers of six each or 12 to the box, 

 while the hen boxes hold layers of eight each or 16 to the 

 box. The boxes make a much neater package than do the 

 barrels and it is also possible to pack the turkeys in them 

 in better shape as they do not have to be doubled up as is 

 done when packed in barrels. It is claimed, however, that 

 the cost of packing in boxes is about a half cent per pound 

 more than packing in barrels. After the turkeys are 

 packed, the box or barrel should be plainly marked with 

 the number and kind of turkeys which it contains and 

 with the gross, tare and net weight. 



After the turkeys are packed either in barrels or boxes 

 they are put into what is called the sharp freezer, that is 

 to say, a cold-storage room where the temperature is con- 

 siderably below freezing. Here they are frozen solid and 

 held until they are to be shipped. They are shipped in re- 



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