TURKEYS AND GUINEA-FOWI^S. 99 



at this time are great shyness and secretiveness. She 

 will seldom deposit her eggs in houses or nests where 

 hens lay, but will choose rather a secluded fence 

 corner or a bush, or bunch of weeds, or briars at 

 some distance from the premises. 



Before the laying season begins the poultry keeper 

 should provide the hens with suitable nests not far 

 from the buildings. This may be done by setting a 

 few boards or an old door against a fence corner and 

 throwing a bunch of hay under it, or by laying barrels 

 or boxes on the ground in some secluded spot and 

 putting a little hay in them. By a little strategy they 

 may be induced to locate near "by, and thus save the 

 keeper much labor in looking after them and their 

 broods. 



As fast as the eggs are laid they should be removed 

 from the nest, placed in a basket or box lined with 

 woolen, and turned every two da3's. A nest-egg should 

 always be left in the nest. By removing the eggs in 

 this manner the hens will not become broody so soon 

 and will lay a greater number. When the hens 

 become broody, if there are more eggs than they can 

 cover, set the rest at the same time under chicken 

 hens, and when the}^ hatch, which will be in thirty or 

 thirty-one days, put all the poults with the turkey 

 hens to brood and rear. 



When the hens are tame and can be handled the 

 young birds may be removed from the nest to the 

 house, as they are hatched, until the whole brood is 

 out, and then returned the night before the brood is 

 put into the coop. 



During the period of incubation the hen will 



