POULTRY 



227 



TURKKYS 



The turkey is one of the finest meat birds in the 

 world. In our country the turkey dinner at Thanks- 

 giving time is one of the 

 important events of the 

 year. These birds are 

 of American origin, and 

 the wild turkey is still 

 found in parts of the 

 United States. 



Ducks and geese are 

 raised for their meat 

 and feathers. They are 



called water fowls, because they have web feet and 

 swim in the water. They may be successfully raised, 

 however, on farms without ponds or streams. 



Pigeons are raised for pets and for food. A full- 

 grown, young pigeon ready for the table is called a 

 squab. Near cities 

 the raising of squabs 

 is an important line 

 of the poultry busi- 

 ness. 



Poultry raising is 

 light work that may 

 be done by women 

 or children. There 

 is always a good 

 market for the products, and poultry are often the 

 most profitable animals on the farm. 



