CATCHING AND KILLING TURKLY5. 51 



1 avorable for fattening, this takes most of the early turkeys. Then for the Christmas market 

 as many as possible of the later turkeys are slaughtered, and what are left are sold as they 

 become fit. 



The dressing of turkeys requires no special description. The methods employed are the same 

 as for chickens, ducks, and geese dry picking being advisable for all stock to be sold in an 

 eastern market. It is in catching the turkeys to kill that precautions not so necessary with 

 other fowls must be taken to prevent these nervous, shy, and heavy birds from bruising 

 themselves and so damaging the appearance of the dressed carcass, and reducing the price. 

 When the turkeys have been accustomed to roosting in a shed, catching them properly pre- 

 sents' no difficulty. When they have roosted in trees or on poles in the open air, catching 

 them requires special care. The method has been described as follows: 



" The usual plan is to get the birds into a barn or carriage shed, and shut them in. In order 

 to do this, they are fed far a long time in front of, or just within the place where they are 

 to be caught. Later, the feed is placed within the building, and they become so familiar with 

 it that they are unsuspicious when within. When they are to be caught, the doors of the 

 building are suddenly closed; or a covered yard of wire netting is built in front of the 

 building and closed when all are in. Usually when they find they are confined they become 

 ir'ghteued, and fly back and forth, or huddle up in corners. * * * To overcome this 

 drawback, certain raisers have improved the usual makeshift catching place by building a 

 Idng, low, dark pen back of the barn or shed. This pen extends alongside of the building, 

 and is at right angles with the entrance to it, and at the extreme end is about two feet high. 

 Up to the time of their being caught, the end is left open, and the birds frequently find 

 their way through it. When they are to be caught, only what the pen will comfortably take 

 are driven in. They do not discover that the end is closed until it is too late to turn back. 

 The turkeys that are not to be caught, are first driven away; otherwise they may be 

 alarmed, and become unmanageable. No turkey that is thus caught, and has learned the 

 mysteries of the trap is ever allowed to escape, or its suspicions would be communicated 

 to the others. When shut in this pen they are quiet, and when a man goes to catch them, 

 there is no struggle; he simply reaches out and takes them by the legs. The pen is too dark 

 and narrow for them to fly, and too low for them to crowd one upon another." 



