354 
Turkey  Farminy. 
made  on  the  ground  or  upon  a thick  bed  of  moist  earth,  well 
hollowed  in  conformity  with  the  shape  of  the  hen,  and  covered 
with  straw  or  grass.  If  she  is  removed  from  the  outside  nest 
at  night,  there  is  seldom  any  difficulty  in  inducing  her  to  take 
to  the  new  nest. 
The  number  of  eggs  laid  by  turkey  hens  varies  considerably. 
At  one  time  twelve  or  fifteen  was  the  usual  nest,  but  by 
removal  of  the  eggs  twentj"  to  twenty-five  can  often  be  secured 
from  each  hen  ere  she  commences  to  sit.  It  would  be  unde- 
sirable to  give  so  many  to  one  bird,  large  and  roomy  though 
she  may  be,  and  thirteen  or  fifteen  are  quite  enough.  The 
remainder — not  exceeding  nine — should  be  placed  under  a 
well-feathered  ordinary  hen.  Both  lots  should  be  put  down 
at  the  same  time,  for  when  hatching  is  completed  all  the  chicks 
can  be  given  to  the  turkey,  which  can  brood  a larger  number 
than  she  should  be  allowed  to  hatch. 
It  is  often  the  case,  especially  when  under  cover,  that 
turkeys  are  very  close  sitters,  and  must  be  lifted  off  for  feeding 
every  daJ^  They  should  be  cai-efully  handled,  and  by  the 
same  person,  as  a stranger  will  frighten  them  at  this  period. 
A feeding  place  is  desirable,  such  as  an  open  yard,  and  in 
addition  to  grain  and  fresh  water  a good  dust  bath  should  be 
provided,  whilst  an  occasional  dusting  of  the  feathers  with 
insect  powder  is  desirable.  The  process  of  incubation  takes 
about  twenty-eight  days.  With  such  heavy  birds,  and  especially 
as  the  turkey  chicks  are  very  stupid  when  first  hatched,  there 
is  great  danger  of  their  being  crushed.  To  avoid  this  Mrs.  Gage 
Harper  places  the  eggs  in  a large  Hearson  incubator  on  the 
twenty-sixth  day,  or  as  soon  as  chipping  of  the  shells  com- 
mences. They  are  hatched  out  in  the  machine  and  dried  off, 
when  they  are  returned  to  the  hens,  who  make  no  objection 
to  this  arrangement,  and  it  is  claimed  that  a considerable  amount 
of  loss  is  thus  prevented. 
For  the  accommodation  of  turkeys  and  their  broods  large 
i-oomy  coops  of  the  ordinary  pattern  are  employed.  These 
should  be  placed  about  thirty  yards  apart  on  a good  piece  of 
short  grass,  where  they  will  be  sheltered  from  the  noi’th  and 
east  winds.  For  the  hrst  few  days  it  is  desirable  to  attach  to 
the  coop  a wooden-framed  run,  about  a foot  deep  and  covered 
with  wire  netting,  as  the  chicks  at  this  stage  are  very  slow 
in  finding  their  way  back  should  they  stray.  After  ten  days 
the  turkey  hen  may  be  given  her  liberty,  but  where  a hen  is 
employed  it  is  safer  to  keep  her  cooped  for  a longer  period. 
Care  must  be  taken  to  close  in  the  hen  and  her  brood  at  night. 
In  all  cases  the  coops  should  be  moved  on  to  fresh  ground 
dailj’.  Where  there  is  plenty  of  natural  shelter  nothing  more 
need  be  done,  but  in  the  wind-swept  districts,  and  more 
