304 POULTRY BREEDING 
as young turkeys are rather delicate and require good 
care to bring them up to the age where they are safe. 
Aiter a young turkey has begun to show the characteris- 
tic red caruncles that cover the neck of the mature bird 
it is as hardy as anything in nature, enduring with per- 
fect impunity any stress of weather. 
The Bronze turkey is the favorite in this country, al- 
though considerable numbers of white turkeys are bred. 
The Narragansett turkey was at one time a general fa- 
vorite in some parts of the East, but it is now hard to 
find pure specimens, as the variety was crossed with the 
Bronze to improve its vitality and the stronger variety 
dominated to such an extent that the Narragansett in its 
purity it is hard to find. Bronze turkeys attain great 
weights but it has not been thought best to breed from 
the largest males, rather choosing the largest hens and a 
male slightly below the heaviest weight attained. Rather 
small-boned and plump turkeys are favorites in the mar- 
ket and make weight as economically as large ones. Tur- 
keys do not attain full size until two or three years old 
and two-year-old birds make better breeders than year- 
lings. One male is sufficient for 10 or 12 females, as one 
copulation fertilizes all the eggs in one laying or clutch 
and sometimes all laid in one season. 
Turkey hens should be given entire liberty and allowed 
to seek their nests at their own will. If barrels partially 
covered with brush are placed on their sides in fence 
corners and places somewhat hidden, hen turkeys will 
usually accept them as nests. «A thick coat of straw 
should be put.in the barrel for the hen to arrange as a 
nest. The eggs should be gathered regularly and handled 
carefully, keeping them in a dry cool place and turning 
them every day. Turkeys may be hatched in incubators, 
