1132 



Breeding and Bearing of Turkeys. 



[Mar , 



advisable to provide some roosting shelter during the worst 

 months of the year, for which purpose an open cart shed is 

 very suitable. On the other hand, in order to keep the birds 

 away from the yards, or from the neighbourhood of other 

 poultry stock, it is frequently better to provide a house in the 

 vicinity of a copse, or a stackyard where the birds can obtain 

 shelter from wind and rain. 



A very simple affair is required as a roost. A framework 

 of rough timber with a thatched roof, and three sides composed 

 of faggots, furze or broom, or of straw, bracken or similar 

 material packed between two layers of wire netting, will suffice. 

 The fourth side should always be open to the air, preferably 

 facing south, and covered with netting for protection against 

 foxes, and for the purpose of controlling the birds in order 

 to save time in finding the eggs. Even if the hens cannot be 

 persuaded to lay in the house, they are more easily tracked to 

 their nests if confined until the attendant arrives to liberate 

 them in the morning. During the summer and autumn months 

 the birds will be better roosting in the trees, and only for their 

 protection from enemies and control for the owners' convenience 

 need a roost house be provided. 



The birds are not full grown until 18 months to 2 years of 

 age, and, therefore, at their best for breeding at about this age. 

 Turkeys can be used for this purpose at 10 to 12 months, 

 although it is preferable to use a more mature bird of one 

 sex to mate with young birds of the other. Tf poults are used 

 the stag bird should not exceed 25 lb. weight, which is small for 

 a 2nd year bird. As an average a male of the Bronze breed 

 weighing 20 lb. to 25 lb. and hens of from 14-16 lb. in the 

 commencement of their first season are desirable, but it is 

 most important that the birds should not have undergone any 

 special preparation in fattening for table before they are set 

 aside for breeding purposes. Every care should be taken to 

 select neat, strong but fine boned birds which are bright and 

 active. 



Rearing. — Turkey rearing should not be lightly undertaken; 

 the young birds require intelligent and careful attention for 

 the first eight to ten weeks, and it is questionable whether the 

 time spent in rearing a few birds could not be better employed. 

 A flock of 50 birds takes up very little, if any, more time in 

 attention than one of half the size, and in consequence the labour 

 charge is approximately reduced. Losses in rearing, apart from 

 those due to careless breeding already mentioned, often occur 



