44 



LL550N5 IN POULTRY KEEPING SECOND SERIES. 



adult cock 36 Ibs. ; yearling cock 33 Ibs. ;' cockerel 25 II)?. ; hen 20 Ibs. ; pullet 16 Ibs. The Bronze 

 turkey is more popular than all other varieties combined, in most sections where turkey culture 

 is extensively carried on. 



Wliite Holland Turkeys are second to the Bronze variety in popularity in many sections. 

 They are much smaller, the Standard weights being, cock 26 Ibs. ; cockerel 16 Ibs. ; hen 16 Ibs. ; 

 pullet 10 Ibs. Breeders of White Holland turkeys claim that they are much more docile and 

 nave less of the roving disposition of the Bronze, and are better adapted to close quarters or a 

 narrow range. 



Narragansett Turkeys are often mentioned as the favorite variety with Ehode Island 

 growers, but in a two days trip through the best turkey growing section of that state with a 

 friend a few years ago we found very few of them, both Bronze and White Holland seeming 

 more numerous. We did, however, see a few very fine specimens of the Narragansett. They 

 are second in size, the Standard weights being, cock 30 Ibs.; cockerel 20 Ibs.; hen 18 Ibs.; pul- 

 let 12 Ibs. In color they are gray, the plumage having a black ground with each feather tipped 

 with a gray band edged with black. 



The other three varieties of the turkey are Buff, Slate, and Black. All are quite rare in this 

 country, and good colored 

 specimens of the Buff and Slate 

 varieties are very rare indeed. 

 The weights for these three 

 varieties are the same, cock 27 

 4bs.; cockerel 18 Ibs.; hen 18 

 \b$. ; pullet 12 Ibs. 



Accommodations for 

 Turkeys. 



The turkey Is essentially an 

 out door fowl. Like the goose, 

 it will generally by preference 

 remain out doors in all 

 weathers, though that a part 

 of this preference is due to 

 habit, would seem apparent 

 from the fact that in continued 

 very severe weather when 

 they cannot feed out doors, 

 they seem to appreciate shelter 

 and a comfortable spot to feed 

 in. I kept a few turkeys in a 

 room in my stable one sea- 



Bronze Turkeys. 



son, letting them run about the barnyard and dooryard, but while the old birds seemed con- 

 tented to keep within bounds, and were thrifty and bred well, they had to be driven into the 

 shed nearly every night, and the young ones, after two weeks old, were anywhere and every- 

 where but at home. 



Turkey growers generally provide roosting places for their turkeys out doors in a sheltered 

 place where the roosts cun be high enough from the ground to protect them from marauding 

 animals. The sheltered side of a barn or other outbuilding is a favored place for the turkey 

 roost. Occasionally a high open shed is used. 



On most farms where turkeys are grown, the breeding stock is either not yarded at all, or 

 yarded only during the breeding season, to prevent the hens straying away and hiding their 

 nests. The hen turkey is very cunning in this matter, and I have known of their going a mile 

 or more from home to lay, going and returning daily, and taking many precautions to throw 

 anyone following off the track. 



Some turkey growers yard their turkeys during the laying season. Some yard them until 

 after the eggs have been laid each day, giving them liberty then, and of course seeing that 



