258 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



as will allow room, they will have all the shelter they 

 require. 



The best time to hatch the chicks out is in the months 

 of May and June, or even July ; and all eggs set should be 

 marked, as the turkey often lays several after commencing 

 incubation. A very good plan is to give a turkey's first 

 eggs to a common hen. In a state of nature, the turkey- 

 cock is constantly seeking to destroy both the eggs and 

 chickens, which the female as sedulously endeavours to 

 conceal from him. There is generally more or less of the 

 same disposition when domesticated, but the behaviour of 

 many cocks is quite unexceptionable ; and as such a quiet 

 disposition saves a great deal of trouble, it is always worth 

 while to ascertain the character of the cock of the year in 

 this respect. 



Domestication has also, in England, profoundly affected 

 the fecundity of the turkey. Early in the nineteenth century 

 the hen often laid only a dozen eggs, rarely more than 

 eighteen at one laying, and her second batch was rarely in 

 time to hatch with profit. Very recently we heard of a hen 

 (hatched in June, 1896) which laid her first egg on Decem- 

 ber 22nd of the same year. The second batch is very often 

 now in time to hatch and rear if desired, and the number 

 has considerably increased. A batch of 20 eggs is now not 

 at all uncommon, and we have heard of occasional hens 

 laying as many as 50 eggs in one year. One was recorded 

 as laying 70 eggs, but we do not know on what evidence. 



The turkey-hen is very prudish, but gives scarcely any 

 trouble while sitting. She sits so constantly, that in con- 

 finement it is needful to remove her daily from her nest to 

 feed, or she would absolutely starve, unless she has made 

 her own nest in a shrubbery or plantation, when she may be 

 trusted. Nevertheless, when absent she is apt to be forget- 

 ful, and, therefore, if allowed to range at liberty, care should 



