' ' ' TURKEYS ' 267 



cocks three years old or more. They will prove 

 useful for eight or ten years or even longer. The 

 customary size of a flock is ten to 12 hens to one 

 torn, though often as many as 18 or even 20 hens 

 are used. 



THE LAYING SEASON 



As a rule, turkey hens begin to lay in the latter 

 part of March or early April. Both season and 

 latitude vary this considerably. 

 For best results it is desirable that 

 they be encouraged to lay in places 

 convenient for the poultryman. 

 Boxes, barrels, coops, etc., may be 

 placed where desired or hay, 

 straw, shavings, or other conven- sheltered 

 lent material left in piles par- water 



tially concealed by bushes. If the 

 hens find such places ready, they will usually 

 choose them in preference to wandering away, but 

 if they do show a tendency to wander they should 

 be confined as already noticed. During the breed- 

 ing season grain should be fed in fairly liberal 

 quantity. Corn, wheat and oats are all good, pro- 

 vided the fowls have free range. Many turkey 

 raisers soak the grain for a day or more before 

 feeding, others feed mash in the morning and grain 

 at night. If turkeys are confined, great care should 

 be exercised to supply not only plenty of grain and 

 grit but animal feed, cut clover, alfalfa or other 

 green feed and ample fresh water. 



Turkey hens, especially young ones, rarely lay 

 more than a dozen eggs before becoming broody. 

 They may then be broken and made to lay a second 



