Hatching  and  Rearing. 
and  trouble,  especially  when  the  turkeys  have  been  accustomed 
to  roost  in  the  trees.  Turning  over  the  peat  moss  litter,  and 
occasionally  scattering  upon  it  a little  finely  slaked  lime,  will 
keep  the  air  sweet.  Under  these  conditions  turkeys  can  be 
maintained  in  a healthy  state,  provided  that  other  arrange- 
ments are  equally  satisfactory.  Such  shedding  would  only  be 
required  for  the  breeding  stock,  the  young  birds  intended  for 
killing  at  Christmas  not  needing,  unless  the  season  is  excep- 
tionally unfavourable,  to  have  special  arrangements  made  for 
them.  An  empty  barn  with  a well-sheltered  paddock  is 
sufficient  for  the  fatting  stage. 
Hatching  and  Rearing. 
Great  though  the  progress  in  artificial  incubation  has  been 
during  tlie  last  few  years,  and  widespread  as  is  the  use  of 
incubators  for  the  hatching  of  chickens  and  ducklings,  these 
machines  are  not  employed  for  hatching  turkeys’  eggs.  That 
they  can  be  successfully  used  is  unquestionable ; but  the  turkey 
hen  is  so  faithful  and  reliable  a sitter  and  mother,  that  there  is 
no  advantage  offered  by  the  artificial  method  over  the  natural. 
The  use  of  brooders  is  not  to  be  recommended  for  turkey 
chicks.  The  feeling  that  these  young  birds  are  by  nature 
tender,  needing  special  care,  has  made  breeders  afraid  of 
taking  unnecessary  risks,  and  as  there  is  no  benefit  in  early 
hatching  there  are  usually  plenty  of  sitters  available.  Under 
these  circumstances  the  most  satisfactory  method  is  to  use  the 
turkey  hen  for  hatching,  but  if  she  lays  more  eggs  than  she 
can  cover,  the  surplus  may  be  given  to  an  ordinary  hen. 
Turkey  hens  first  commence  to  lay  towards  the  latter  end 
of  March,  and  a second  time  in  August,  two  nests  in  the  year 
being  very  general.  As  the  time  approaches  it  is  desirable, 
with  a view  to  avoiding  the  trouble  of  searching  for  nests, 
to  place  sugar  barrels  or  roomy  boxes  in  out-of-the-way  corners 
well  secluded,  and  in  these  to  make  nests  with  a china  egg 
in  each.  Usually  the  hens  imagine  they  have  found  a secret 
spot  and  lay  there.  The  eggs  are  removed  every  day  aiul 
carefully  stored  in  a cool  place.  When  the  hen  commences 
to  sit  she  may  be  allowed  to  do  so  in  the  same  position.  A 
preferable  plan,  where  there  are  likely  to  be  several  hens 
sitting  at  the  same  time,  is  to  fix  large  nesting-boxes  (at  least 
twenty-seven  inches  square)  in  a well-ventilated  shed,  as  the 
hens  will  thus  be  under  more  complete  control,  and  the  labour 
of  attending  to  them  will  be  greatly  minimised.  Should  the 
former  plan  be  adopted,  the  male  must  be  removed  immediately 
the  hen  commences  to  sit,  or  he  will  disturb  her  and  probably 
break  the  eggs.  This  danger  is  entirely  avoided  by  the  secoiul 
method,  which  is  that  recommended.  The  nests  should  be 
VOL.  Go.  AA 
