2,2 w. cook's turkey, goose, and pheasant book. 



piece of skin on the top of the beak comes down over the 

 beak, while in the hen it sticks up like a little horn. 

 The male birds have power either to let it down 

 over the beak from 2 to 3 inches, or draw it up in 

 the shape of a horn. It also has power to change the 

 colour of its head and neck, sometimes the latter 

 is quite blue, another time perfectly white, but as a rule it 

 is red. 



A turkey cock is very amusing to look at, especially 

 where one has a nice place for him to strut about. It is 

 very seldom a hen spreads her tail out in the same way as 

 the cock, though they do occasionally, but when they do 

 the tail is a little on one side. 



One or two large nests should always be provided for 

 turkey hens, they should not be less than 2 or 2^ ft. 

 square, if so the tails get rubbed so much. The nest 

 should have a top to it. A large tub or barrel makes a 

 very good nest for them, and it should be made as dark as 

 possible, if not, when the birds have their liberty they are 

 likely to go and lay away, as turkeys are very shy when 

 laying. There is a great difference in the laying strains of 

 these birds. I have had them lay not more than fifteen 

 eggs before coming broody, and I have had them lay as 

 many as 45 before wanting to sit. 





