25 



BEEEDING TURKEYS FOR EXPORT. 



To breed turkeys, plenty of land is required to rear them upon 

 with success, as they naturally seek for their own food. It is 

 always advisable to feed them each evening at the homestead 

 which they will look for, thus saving a lot of trouble, as turkeys 

 are noted for wandering very much from their homes. The best 

 method to adopt in breeding is to secure the largest birds 

 obtainable, and to be successful, breed from gobblers in their 

 second season, as the results of hatching will be more satisfactory. 

 The bronze-wing turkeys are noted for size, quick-maturing, and 

 quality of flesh — ^the breasts being longer and carrying more meat 

 than other sorts, therefore, this breed is recommended for crossing 

 with the largest hens of the ordinary stock. It is essential to 

 introduce a gobbler of a fresh strain each season. A shed should 

 be built without roosts for turkeys to be housed in at night to 

 protect them from the weather and pests, such as the fox, &c. 

 Turkeys prefer roosting on fences and trees round the homestead, 

 and these will serve the same purpose if the locality is suitable. 



Hatching Tuekets. 



The best method is to erect a hatching shed similar to that 

 described on page 13. Hen turkeys make the best sitters and 

 will cover about thirteen eggs each. All nests should be on the 

 ground. Turkey hens can be made to sit at all times, but those 

 should be selected which are not laying for this purpose. After 

 the seventh or eighth day the unfertile eggs should be removed 

 and used for chicken food. 



Feeding Young Tdkkets. 

 Young turkeys require much attention for the first few weeks; 

 the food should consist of hard-boiled eggs, chopped-up onions, 

 boiled rice, bread crumbs, oatmeal, pollard, and bran, which should 

 be scalded with milk or water, the former preferred ; this should 

 be mixed so as to be almost dry and crumbly. Tender green food 

 should be supplied. Bone-meal and animal food should be mixed 

 through the food once or twice a week. As the birds increase 

 in age, grain should be used for the evening meal, such as barley, 



