226 POULTRT-CRAFT. 



334. About Breeding Stock. The principles of breeding as given in 

 Chapter X., f 193 213, apply generally to turkeys. A few points, however, 

 require special mention here. In breeding exhibition stock size is of first 

 importance, markings next : big framed birds as near Standard in color as they 

 can be got, are most desirable. To produce quick growing market turkeys 

 small boned plump specimens are used. Old birds, if in good condition, 

 not too fat, are the best for breeding. The male turkey does not attain full 

 growth until his third year. Birds of either sex may be used for breeding 

 until eight or ten years old. 



One male to ten or twelve females, is the usual rule, though a male is some- 

 times used with twenty or more females with most satisfactory results as to 

 fertility of eggs and vigor of offspring. A single impregnation generally fer- 

 tilizes all the eggs in a litter, and sometimes all laid during a season. 



335. Management of Laying Turkeys. The hen turkeys usually 

 begin laying in March or April, the period varying with the latitude, and, to 

 some extent, according to the season. If the hens are yarded, nests are distrib- 

 uted about the enclosure, sometimes in coops,* boxes or barrels ; sometimes 

 heaps of straw or hay are placed in convenient half-concealed places in corners 

 or among shrubbery. When the turkeys are not confined at all it is still a good 

 plan to place nests near the dwelling house, and, if the hens are disposed to 

 wander off, prevent it until they have laid in one of the nests provided. 

 Having used a nest once, they rarely desert it. 



If at liberty the breeding turkeys find a variety of food, and need be fed only 

 with grain. Many growers feed corn only, but wheat and oats, or a mixture of 

 corn, wheat, and oats, is considered better. Some soak the grain thoroughly 

 before feeding. Some feed a mash f in the morning and hard grain at night. 

 If turkeys are yarded during the laying period, a variety of food must be fur- 

 nished mixed grains, green stuff, animal food, shell, grit, and plenty of 

 'water. 



As a rule turkeys are not very prolific. Many hens lay not more than eight 

 or ten eggs before going broody. Not many lay more than seventeen or 

 eighteen in the first litter. Eighteen or twenty eggs in the season is probably 

 the average, though an uncommonly good layer may lay twice as many. As 



* NOTE. A grower who uses coops in preference to either barrels or boxes makes the 

 coops three feet square on the ground, two and one-half feet high in front, and one and 

 one-half feet high in the back, with board roof, and a good sized opening in the front for 

 a door. 



t NOTE. In regard to feeding mashes to turkeys, it should be said that authorities are 

 mostly against it. Nevertheless, many people do feed mashes with the best of results. 

 The trouble with those whose birds go out of condition when fed mashes, is that their 

 mash feeds are wrong either in composition, consistency, or quantity fed, sometimes 

 in all. It is worth noting that one authority, while roundly condemning mashes, highly 

 commends soaked grain, which is to all intents and purposes a soft or mash food. 



