TURKEYS, DUCKS, GEESE, GUINEA FOWLS 



239 



tion of breeding stock. The breeders should be selected for 

 vigor, size, shape, strong bone, early maturity, and color of 

 plumage as given in the American Standard of Perfection. 

 Ordinarily 15 turkey hens can be mated to a vigorous tom, 

 or male bird. Turkey hens usually lay about 18 eggs in 

 their first Utter. The period of incubation for turkey eggs 

 is 28 days. When it is not desired to have the hens incubate 



Figure 230. — Turkey hen and brood. 



the eggs, they can be broken up as soon as they become 

 broody and made to lay a second and frequently a third 

 Utter. Turkey eggs can be incubated either artificially or 

 by natural means. 



Mortality. Young turkeys, or poults, are hard to raise 

 unless all conditions are favorable. The high death rate 

 among poults is usually due to one or more of the follow 

 ing causes: Exposure to dampness or cold, improper feed 

 ing, close confinement, lice and weakness in the parent stock. 



DUCKS 



The production of ducks is carried on both as a farm side 



