POULTRY FOR PROFIT 201 



boned torn or a poorly marked one, for the torn is 

 half the flock. 



Breeding stock should never be allowed to get fat. 

 Infertility is almost sure to result. About a month 

 before the birds begin to lay, which is usually in 

 February or March, some breeders put them on 

 "starvation rations," a diet of oats, meat and vege- 

 tables. It is also important that breeding birds have 

 range with plenty of grass. Oats and wheat are the 

 best grains for breeders. Ground bone given once 

 or twice a week mixed with bran is said to help 

 fertility, but as a rule turkey eggs are fertile except 

 when the birds are too fat. 



LAYING AND HATCHING 



A turkey hen lays from two to four clutches of 

 eggs, with from twelve to twenty eggs in a clutch. 

 It is customary among breeders not to allow the 

 turkey hen to sit till she has laid two litters. The 

 first eggs laid are hatched by chicken hens, which 

 many prefer to turkeys because of their quieter 

 disposition, but the turkeys are made to mother them 

 in the following way : 



The eggs of the first clutch are put under the 

 chicken hens about three weeks before the turkey 

 hen is likely to become broody after laying her 

 second clutch. As it takes turkey eggs four weeks 

 to hatch, the turkey hen will have a week in which to 

 settle down on the nest and get ready for the poults. 



As soon as the turkey shows signs of broodiness 

 she is carefully removed at night to a nest that has 

 been prepared for her in a barrel. The barrel may 

 be laid on its side and fastened firmly in place or 

 stood on end, with an opening cut in the side for the 

 bird to go in and out. Whichever way you use it, 

 the main thing is to make the nest dark by covering 



