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JOTJKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



[ May 16, 1866. 



hens boUi one colour. A few sport from the ordinary 

 colour to black. Their feathers have been tested by the 

 best fishermen and found to be the best for artificial flies, 

 for which purpose these fowls have been kept. 



The hens lay about fifty eggs each before they give signs 

 of incubating. I have found them the best of mothers, well 

 adapted to rear Pheasant-s, being in theii' habits somewhat 

 similar. I first procured them in the market, where they 

 caught my attention by being all of them of one colour, 

 pale blue shaded with ochre coloui-. By making inquiries 

 I discovered what I have mentioned in the former part of 

 my letter. — H. Lewortht, Barnstaple. 



HENS' NESTS. 



It is a common complaint which youi' correspondent 

 " Pekct Cross " makes that hens choose other nests than 

 those generally made for them, and with all respect for Mr. 

 Geyelin's ingenuity his proposed plan of Using pans will 

 not remedy the evil. Any close receptacle for the nest 

 harbours vermin, which breed to a certain degree in all 

 poultry-houses, and if that is the case the contents of the 

 nests have been a source of iiTitation to the fowls, and they 

 hare sought another nest for themselves. To remedy this 

 annoyance, which too fi-equently occurs, we produced the 

 " Sanitary nest," which is advertised by us in your columns, 

 and which has given general satisfaction, the orders we have 

 received for them having been repeated in almost every 

 instance. Those nests are more particularly intended for 

 laying hens; the nests for sitting hens are at all times best 

 made on the ground, the eai-th being hollowed out a little 

 to receive the short straw. — E. and P. Crook, 5, CanuO/y 

 Street, London. 



THE DOMESTIC TUEKEY, WITH ITS 

 BEEEDING AND MANAGEMENT. 

 The following very practical article is from "Wilkes' " Spirit 

 of the Times " (American) : — 



The domestic Turkey can scarcely be said to be divided, 

 like the common fowl, into distinct breeds ; although there 

 is, indeed, considerable variation in colour, and also in size. 

 The finest and strongest Turkeys are said to be those of a 

 bronzed black, resembling as closely as possible the original 

 stock ; they are reared the most easily, are large, and fatten 

 rapidly. Some Turkeys are of a coppery tint, others of a 

 delicate fawn colour, others parti-coloured, grey and white, 

 and some few of a pure snowy white. All these are con- 

 sidered superior to the black ; their colour indicates some- 

 thing like degeneracy of constitution, and they are seldom 

 very large-sized. 



To describe the domestic Turkey is superfluous; — the voice 

 of the male, the changing colours of the skin of the head and 

 ueck ; his proud strut, with expanded tail and lowered wings 

 jarring on the ground ; his irascibility, which is readily ex- 

 cited Vjy red or scarlet colours — are points with which all 

 are conversant. Turkey cocks arc pugnacious and vindic- 

 tive, and often ill-treat the hens; they have been known 

 to attack children ; and combats between them and the 

 Game cock have taken place, in which the latter was more 

 oppressed by the weight of his antagonist than by gladia- 

 torial skill ; in fact the bulky hero has been worsted, as he 

 cannot use hia spurs with the address exhibited by the Game 

 cock, which, moreover, fights with method. 



The adult Turkey is extremely hardy, and bears the cold 

 of our winter with impunity; during the severest weather, 

 flocks will rooflt at night upon the branches of taU trees, 

 preferring such accommodation to an in-door dormitory. 



The impatience of restraint and restlessness of the Turkey 

 render it unfit company for fowls in theu' resting-place ; in 

 fact the fowl-house is altogether an improper place for these 

 large birdu, which re<)uire open sheds and high perches, and, 

 altogether as much freedom as is consistent with their safety. 

 Although Turkeys will roost, even during the winter months, 

 on trees, this shonld by no means bo allowed ; the feet of 

 the \niia are apt to become frozen froi.i such exposure to 

 the air. It must be remembered that the domestic Tui-key, 

 hardy aait ie irhen adult, is not C(£ual in point of endurance 



to its wild relative, bred in the woods and inured to the 

 elements. 



Turkeys are fond of wandering about hedgerows and the 

 borders of fields ; thoy love to visit turnip fields, where, be- 

 sides the leaves of turnips, which thoy relish, they find 

 insects, slugs, itc, which they greedily devom-. 



In the morning they should have a good supply of grain, 

 and after their return from their peregrinations, another 

 feed ; by this plan not only will the due return home of the 

 flock be insured, but the buds will be kept in good condition, 

 and ready at any time to be put on fattening diet. ^ 



In the choice of birds for stock, care is requisite.^ The 

 cock should be vigorous, broad in the breast, clean in the 

 legs, with ample wings and a well-developed tail plumage ; 

 his eyes should be bright, and the carunculated skin of the 

 neck full and rapid in its changes of colour. 



The hen should be like the cock in plumage ; those with 

 white feathers appearing amidst the black should be rejected ; 

 her figure should be plump, and her actions lively and 

 animated. The hen breeds when a year old, or rather in 

 the spring succeeding that in which she herself left the egg ; 

 but she is not in her prime until the age of two or three 

 years, and will continue for two or three years more in full 

 constitutional vigour. 



About the middle of March, generally speaking, the female 

 commences laying : she indicates the coming event by a 

 peculiar cry, by strutting about with an air of self-satisfac- 

 tion, and often by prying into out-of-the-way places, evi- 

 dently in quest of a secret spot for incubation; for the in- 

 stinctive dread of the male is not removed by domestication, 

 nor has the male lost that antipathy to the eggs which is his 

 characteristic in a state of nature. She should now be 

 closely watched, and some management is required to induce 

 her to lay in the nest assigned to her. The nest should be 

 prepared of straw and dried leaves ; it should be secluded ; 

 and to excite her to adopt it, an egg, or piece of chalk cut 

 into the form of an egg, should be placed in it. When her 

 uneasiness to lay is evident, and symptoms prove that she is 

 ready, she should be confined in the shed, barn or place. In 

 which her nest (which should be a wicker basket) is prepared, 

 and let out as soon as the egg is laid. The Turkey hen is a 

 steady sitter ; nothing will induce her to leave her nest; in- 

 deed, she often requires to be removed to her food, so over- 

 powering is her instinctive affection. The hen should on no 

 account be rashly disturbed, no one except the person to 

 whom she is accustomed, and from whom she receives her 

 food, should be allowed to go near her, and the eggs should 

 not be meddled with. 



On about the twenty-sixth day, the chicks leave the eggs, 

 and these, like young fowls, do not require food for several 

 hours. It is useless to cram them, as some do, fearing lest 

 they should starve. When the chicks feel an inclination for 

 food, nature directs them how to pick it up. Tliere is no 

 occasion for alarm if for many hours thoy content themselves 

 with the warmth of their parent and enioy her care only; 

 yet some food should be provided for them, and this should 

 be of course suited to their nature and appetite ; here, too, 

 let the simplicity of nature be a guide. 



The first diet offered to Turkey chicles should consist of 

 eggs boiled hard and finely minced, or curd with bread-crumbs 

 and the green part of onions, parslej', &c., chopped very small 

 .and mixed together so as to form a loose, crumby paste ; 

 oatmeal with a little water may also bo given. They will 

 require water ; but this should be put into a very shallow 

 vessel, so as to insure against the danger of the chicks get- 

 ting wet. Both the Turlcey hen .i^d her chickens should be 

 housed for a few days ; they may tlien, if the weather bo fine, 

 be allowed a few hours' liberty during the day, but should 

 a shower threaten, thoy must be put immediately under 

 shelter. This system mast be persevered in for three or four 

 weeks. By this time they will have acquired considerable 

 strength, and will know liow to take care of themselves. 

 As they get older, meal and grain may be given more freely. 

 Thoy now begin to search for insects and to dust theii' 

 growing plumage in the sand. At tho age of about two 

 mont):s, or perhaps a little more, tho males and females 

 begin to developo tlioir distinctive characteristics. 



In tho young mahis, the carunculated skin of tho neck 

 and throat, an<l the liorn-like contractile comb on tho fore- 

 head assume a marked oharacter. This is a critical period. 



