TURKEYS. 



215 



DOMESTIC TURKEY. 



stout bird, proud and majestical, for when he 

 walketh dejected he is never good." And Mas- 

 call says, " He should be passing a year or two 

 years old three years is the most, and too 

 much." According to Parmentier, both the 

 cock and hen ought to have short legs, a full 

 shape, and great vivacity and energy in all their 

 actions. For breeding, it is peculiarly neces- 

 sary that both should -be well formed and in 

 healthy condition. 



The plumpness or leanness of the hen, the 

 climate or localities, will alone forward or re- 

 tard her laying. By feeding and taking proper 

 care of her in winter she will be disposed to lay 

 earlier in spring, and to begin afresh at the end 

 of the summer. Nature seems to have taken 

 all the trouble on herself. 



Laying. In the wild state, about the middle 

 of April, when the season is dry, the turkey 

 hens begin to look out for a place in which to 

 deposit their eggs. In a domestic state, the 

 time of laying is usually a month earlier than 

 that of the wild turkey. It may readily be seen, 



indeed, Avhen a hen is about to commence lay- 

 ing, by her vivacity, and also by her endeavors 

 to secrete herself, and steal away from the ob- 

 servation of the keeper. She utters, besides, a 

 peculiar note, indicative of her feelings ; and 

 when this has once been heard, it can never 

 afterward be mistaken. 



The time of laying is almost invariably in the 

 morning of every second day, though some hens 

 will lay every day, till from fifteen to twenty 

 eggs have been laid ; in a wild state, more usu- 

 ally from ten to fifteen, according to the age of 

 the bird ; for a young bird, two or three yeans 

 old, will lay nine, and larger eggs than when 

 only one year old. 



During the time of laying, it is advisable to 

 confine the cock, at least in the morning, when 

 she is laying ; otherwise, if he finds her on the 

 nest, he will ill-treat her, drive her away, and 

 break her eggs. 



It does not appear, from Audubon's account, 

 that the wild turkey has usually more than one 

 brood in the year, unless her eggs have been, 



