CHAPTER XXXVII 



TURKEYS IN CALIFORNIA 



There are seven distinct varieties or breeds of turkeys, but on 

 this Coast the most popular are the Bronze and the White Holland. 

 The Bourbon Red and the Narragansett are bred on a small scale by 

 fanciers, but the commercial breeds are the Bronze and the White 

 Holland. The former is the king of all turkeys in regard to size, 

 the White Holland being the smallest breed of all. 



Where there is range, the Bronze is the most profitable, but for 

 small holdings and acreage the White Holland will give better sat- 

 isfaction, because coupled with its smaller size is docility and an 

 inclination to stay at home and be satisfied. It will even content 

 itself in good-sized yards without any range at all, but as the turkey 

 never has been thoroughly domesticated, it stands to reason that 

 any variety will do better on range. Turkeys do not like the re- 

 straint of yards for any length of time, and unless natural conditions 

 are given them there is a certain amount of loss that no amount of 

 care or feed will offset. 



The foothill lands of California are the turkeys' paradise. In 

 most localities they can roam the hills, picking up acorns that drop 

 from oak trees, wild vines and seeds and the insect life that always 

 are a part of such growth. For the rancher with a few acres of hill 

 land there is not anything that will pay a better dividend than a good 

 flock of Bronze turkeys. 



Fix up a few high perches in the barnyard and feed them a little 

 when they come home at night and it is not often a band of turks 

 will leave their home, unless scared away by some animal. They 

 have a sense of safety in human nearness, hence, prefer to come home 

 rather than stay in the woods. 



Mating- and Handling. — When turkeys are properly mated one 

 may hope for a large measure of success, if other conditions are right, 

 but if improperly mated nothing will go right and the measure of 

 success will be very meagre. There must be no inbreeding, no weak- 

 lings of either sex, and neither male nor female must be too young 

 or immature. 



Old hens are preferable, and if young ones must be used, they 

 should be at least over one year old, for a small flock a good strong 

 yearling cock may be used if he has good bone and size, but for a 

 larger flock a two-year-old male will be the proper thing. Always 



