190 On the Rearing and Management of Poultry. 



and never allow her to remain off more than 20 minutes, unless 

 the weather be very fine, when she may have the indulgence of a 

 few extra minutes. We will not admit of any further interference ; 

 no one save the person in charge should be allowed to come near. 



Mr. Richardson has stated, as has also the writer on poultry in 

 Knight's Farmers' Cyclopaedia, that the turkey-chick leaves the 

 shell on the 3ist day of incubation. This does not agree with 

 my experience, as I have not found 31 days necessary. On 

 referring to mv note-book I find that one of our turkevs had 

 12 eggs given to her on Monday May 7, 1849. On Sunday 

 morning, June 3, 1 1 fine strong chicks were found beneath her : 

 the time she had sat was not quite 27 days ; the weather during 

 the time vvas very warm, which would of course have the effect of 

 bringing the chicks a little sooner out. Nevertheless 1 cannot 

 agree with Mr. Kichardson and others, Avho state that the time of 

 incubation of the turkey is 31 days; instances of such a long time 

 must be very rare indeed, and 1 should look on them as omens 

 of bad success. The number of eggs laid by the turkey I have 

 named was few ; but I must state that she was of a second 

 brood, hatched the previous year, and consequently was very 

 young. This fact proves the fallacy of the assertion that the 

 females of a second l3rood should not be allowed to sit. 



Should some of the turkey chicks be slower in freeing them- 

 selves from the shell than others, the same caution 1 have insisted 

 on as in the case of fowls will be necessary. And I again point 

 out the impropriety of interference, as the result will, in almost 

 every instance, be in favour of allowing nature to have her sway. 

 However, should it be found actually necessary to give assistance 

 to some, the directions given under this head on fowls are amply 

 sufficient. Many recommend the removal of the chicks from the 

 nest as they come out — I highly disapprove of the plan ; how- 

 ever, some people are so anxious to know the issue that no argu- 

 ment is sufficient to induce them to let well be well:" such, 

 therefore, may remove the chicks and put them in some warm 

 place, as the mother from being so much disturbed is apt, at 

 this critical juncture, to trample them to death. 



The Food and Management of the Turkey Chicks, — The turkey 

 chicks should not have food forced on them, at least not in the 

 manner some do, by forcing them to swallow it. A drop of milk or 

 water is of great service to them, and should be given by dipping 

 the finger into the liquid and then putting the drop on to the beak : 

 this is better than dipping the beak into the milk or water, as it 

 prevents the chick from getting wet — a thing to be scrupulously 

 avoided. 



The turkey chick is much more stupid than that of the fowl ; 



