RAISING TURKEYS. 205 
much within the control of their owner. and can be 
hastened or retarded by more or less feed at his pleas- 
ure. Some of our best breeders feed light after the first 
of February for the purpose of delaying the laying sea- 
son. They do not care to have chicks before the first of 
June. Coming out at that date, they feel reasonably 
sure of raising the large majority of the hatch. After 
the birds have begun to lay, and get used to the nests, it 
is well to feed generously to keep up the strengh of the 
hen while she is laying, and so prepare her for the sit- 
ting season. The number of eggs that a hen will lay 
depends a good deal upon the feed. The average is 
from fifteen to thirty eggs, while in some cases among 
the thoroughbreds they keep on laying all summer with- 
out manifesting any desire to sit upon the nest. These 
perpetual layers become very much exhausted in the 
fall, and it takes them a long time to recover. 
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SETTING THE HEN-TURKEYS. 
As turkeys require a good deal of attention while 
they are upon their nests, they should be in one yard, 
or building, or at least not far distant from one another, 
to take up as little time as possible in the frequent 
visits. In making the nests, study nature and build 
upon the bare earth, lined with leaves or hay, or any con- 
venient soft substance; give the eggs room “enough, and 
yet have the nest deep enough to prevent their rolling 
out of the nest. A hen will lay from fifteen to thirty 
eggs at a litter, but they cannot always cover the whole 
litter. Very large old birds will cover twenty eggs. 
Smaller birds will cover from fifteen to eighteen, and 
this is about the right average. Jf you have a dozen 
turkey-hens in your flock, which is about the right- 
number for a good range, it will not be difficult to set 
