POULTRY FOR PROFIT 203 



week, but this does not always improve the hatch 

 and should be done with judgment, if at all. It is 

 safer, I think, to use no moisture unless the weather 

 is exceedingly dry or the eggs are slow in pipping; 

 and then, if it seems necessary, to immerse the eggs, 

 two or three at a time, in a pail of water which has 

 been warmed to 100 degrees. 



Nests for turkey hens are made about as for 

 chicken hens, except that they are wide and shallow, 

 about the size of a wash-bowl, but not so deep. A 

 piece of grass sod turned upside down and hollowed 

 out is the best nest. 



Turkey eggs should be collected daily and kept in 

 a place with a temperature of from 50 to 60 degrees. 

 If they are kept long they should be turned occa- 

 sionally. When the eggs are removed from the nest 

 china eggs should be left in their place, for turkeys 

 do not like an empty nest. 



FEEDING AND CARE OF THE POULTS 



It is in rearing the young that most of the losses 

 in turkey culture occur. After the age of three 

 months a turkey is as easily cared for as a chicken, 

 much more easily if it has proper range, and almost 

 as hardy. 



Leave the poults quiet in the nest for 48 hours 

 after they are hatched. If the hen will eat she may 

 be given a little wheat out of the hand, but my ex- 

 perience is that a good mother is rarely willing to 

 eat unless she can feed her babies. At the end of the 

 48 hours, or sooner if they seem very lively, trans- 

 fer hen and poults to an open front coop with a wire 

 run. Fasten the hen into the coop by means of slats 

 or wire and let the poults go in and out as they 

 please. If you have a small, clean pen where they 

 are protected from the wind this will be better than 



