TURKEYS AND GUINEAS 393 
small yards, at least until the hens have decided upon a 
place to lay. After the first two or three days of laying, 
the hen turkey will rarely desert her nest, so that when 
the whole flock has begun to lay it may be allowed full 
freedom. As a modification of this plan, breeders keep 
the flock confined until about noon each day, until the 
hens are laying. This practice saves much time which 
otherwise would be needlessly wasted in watching tur- 
keys to find out their nesting places and then walking 
daily from nest to nest to collect the eggs. A score of 
BREEDING FLOCK OF BRONZE TURKEYS 
This farm flock has the run of the feed lots and fields. Ordinarily, best success 
with turkeys is attained when range conditions are resorted to. The eggs hatch 
better and the birds are stronger and more thrifty. 
hens may be kept without difficulty in a yard 75 feet 
square. This inclosure need not be fenced very high. 
Few turkeys will attempt to fly over a woven wire fence 
5 feet high. 
9. Breeding stock.—For best results turkey hens should 
be two years old and cocks three years old or more. They 
will prove useful for eight or 10 years,or even longer. The 
customary size of a flock is 10 to 12 hens to one tom, 
though often as many as 18 or even 20 hens are used. 
