CHAPTER XI 

 Turkeys, Guineas, Peafowls 



The turkey is a funny bird 



For everybody knows 

 That when we "dress" we MMdress him; — 



That is — take off his clothes. 



And then he must be dressed again 



And all sewed up, or tied, — 

 How odd ! For now the "dressing" is 

 All put in , his inside! 



A. G. Butler. 



SELECTION AND CARE OF BREEDING TURKEYS 



No poulterer can hope to become a successful 

 turkey raiser ^yho resides in the midst of a thickly 

 settled neighborhood, and must therefore keep his 

 stock in close quarters. A prime requisite at the start 

 is to secure the best stock, even at fancy prices. For 

 vigor, hardiness, numbers and immunity from disease, 

 the stock raised from a cross between the American 

 w^ild and the domestic, a cross producing the Bronze- 

 turkey, is most satisfactory. Too great an admixture 

 of wild blood, while it gives increased hardiness, 

 decreases size, as does also breeding from young gob- 

 blers. 



One gobbler may run with a flock of from twelve 

 to twenty hens. The best results in breeding are from 

 old gobblers not related to the hens. Go to an expe- 

 rienced turkey grower two or three weeks before 

 Thanksgiving and select a good tom, not necessarily 



