W. COOKS TUKKKV. CiOOSli, AND PHEASANT liOOK. 29 



Other only weighs, about 23lbs. or 25lbs. Both these birds 

 may be bred from the same stock, though one may be lolbs. 

 heavier than the other, but the larger bird will not produce 

 any larger young stock the following season than the other 

 bird, and in some cases the eggs will not be anything 

 like so fertile. I mention this to show that people who 

 want such immense turkeys can only get them to such an 

 extraordinary weight by forcing them and feeding them up 

 with stimulating food. 



I find by practical experience that when birds are forced 

 to such a weight, no matter whether they are cocks, drakes, 

 ganders or turkey cocks, the eggs from them will not turn 

 out so reliable for breeding purposes. A lot of surplus fat 

 is no good for breeding stock as it is rather detrimental as 

 regards the fertility of eggs than otherwise. 



No other variety of birds lose weight so quickly, when 

 sent on a journey, as turkeys. 



A bird weighing 25lbs. is sent on a journey, and perhaps 

 has not been on the road 24 hours before reaching its 

 destination, and has lost from i to 2j^lbs. in weight. 

 This may appear to many people almost an impossibility, 

 but I have many times proved it to be a fact. I have 

 myself sent off turkeys weighing so many pounds, and they 

 have been weighed at the other end of the journey and 

 found not to be so heavy by i to 2j^lbs. I may say also 

 I have bought in turkeys and of course have had the same 

 disappointment in the weight myself. 



Some people when they weigh turkeys tie a string upon the 

 legs and allow the bird to hang head downwards ; but this is 

 a very dangerous practice, nothing is so injurious to turkeys 



