148 POULTRY CULTUBB 



TURKEYS 



In selecting turkeys for breeding purposes one must take 

 those with good-size bone in the shanli, heavy weight, mature 

 birds, and they must possess constitutional vigor and breed 

 true to type. The turkey reaches maturity at the age of 

 about three years. 



Birds two or three years old are most suited as breeders. 

 Turkey hens give fairly good result when about twelve months of 

 age. The turkey hen begins laying at about ten months of 

 age. There are two laying periods during the year, at spring 

 and at mid-summer. One mating is sufficient to fertilize a 

 whole litter of eggs. 



The turkey hen shows that she wants to sit by remaining 

 on the nest a little longer than usual. The nests should be 

 30 inches square. The nests are prepared on the ground 

 with straw or hay. Sitters should be so placed that they can- 

 not see each other. A barrel turned face toward tlie wall is a 

 good nesting arrangement. Turkej^s like to lay "away" 

 when they are allowed range; they usually make their nests 

 in thickets. On account of the fact that, at times, it is hard 

 to make the hens lay in nests prepared for them, some breeders 

 make a practice of shutting them in a room till noon. Others 

 pen them during the breeding season. Unless the range is 

 large the birds will not receive many kinds of feed, as bugs and 

 green feed, unless these are carried to them in different forms 

 each day. 



When a turkey hen is sitting she should always be attended 

 by the same person. The number of eggs laid by a turkey 

 hen will vary from 20 to 50. One large hen can cover as many 

 as 25 eggs. One turkey hen can take care of about 25 poults. 

 Turkeys are very delicate and frail till they are two months 

 old. Cold, rain, dew and hot sun may prove fatal. 



The caruncles and fleshy part which surrounds the lower 

 part of the head and throat develop at the age of two months. 

 This is the critical time in the life of the young turkey. Dur- 

 ing this time they must be kept in a warm, dry, clean place 

 and have wholesome food, including buttermilk and green 

 feed. 



