HOUSE AND GARDEN 
28c 
November, 1914 
varieties, through inbreeding. The fact that one fecundation is 
sufficient to render fertile all the eggs of one laying hen has caused 
the undermining of the health and vigor of some of our finest 
flocks, as the farmers depend on their neighbors’ birds for the 
sefvices of a male, and pay no attention whatever to their breeding 
stock, except to keep a few hen turkeys. The outcome of this 
policy is the worst kind of inbreeding, and, 
if continued, will sooner or later end in the 
extermination of our turkeys. 
Despite his close association with civiliza¬ 
tion for many years, the turkey still retains 
many of his original characteristics. He is a 
great rover, prefers an outdoor sleeping room 
and dislikes confinement. Although, if space 
for raising turkeys is limited, they will do 
well if their range is planned with a view to 
giving at least the appearance of spacious¬ 
ness ; that is, build a wire fence around it and 
encourage wild shrubs, such as sumac, alder, 
willows, cedars, etc., along the fence line: 
weeds, grasses, some grain and corn should 
be included in the enclosure, thus giving the 
same conditions to be found in the open 
fields. If there are no trees in the enclosure 
provide a high artificial perch at least 10 or 
12 feet above the 
ground an d 
roofed w i th a 
light thatch of 
cornstalks or 
evergreen boughs, 
and it will also be 
well to place a 
lower perch in 
front of it for the 
birds to use in 
flying up. The se¬ 
lection of breed¬ 
ing stock is of 
vital importance, 
for on it depends 
success or fail¬ 
ure ; the males 
should be year¬ 
lings or older, and 
the best is none 
too good, but 
never buy males 
and females from 
the same section 
of the country. 
For example, if 
the females are 
ordered from a 
breeder in Rhode 
Island, send to 
Pennsylvania or 
Virginia for the 
male, thus elimi¬ 
nating all chances of inbreeding. The points to be considered in 
a cock are constitutional vigor, plenty of bone, a full, round 
breast, long body and a medium size. His consorts (four or five 
is the general rule) should be over a year old, strong, active, well 
matured and of fair size. If there is unlimited range, several 
flocks of five may be kept, but it is wise to keep them on different 
parts of the farm, especially during the breeding season, when the 
The turkey is a great roamer and prefers the outdoors to a confined yard 
cocks become very pugnacious. The breeding cocks should not be 
too fat, and, to avoid such a possibility, keep them away from the 
hens. It is safer not to raise turkeys on the ground where hens 
have been or are kept, for they are then subject to the same dis¬ 
eases, and are very susceptible. If the novice will bear this in 
mind many unfortunate experiences will be avoided. 
An excellent 
feed for the 
breeders during 
the autumn and 
winter months 
may consist of 
boiled oats well 
d r a i 11 e d, some 
wheat and corn, 
with the oats fed 
in the morning 
and the wheat 
and corn at night. 
As the laying sea- 
son approaches, 
about the middle 
of March to the 
first of April, the 
feed should be 
changed, adding 
to the boiled oats 
equal proportions 
of high - grade 
meat scraps, bran, 
middlings, corn- 
meal and about a 
teaspoonful of 
powdered char¬ 
coal. Mix this in¬ 
to a crumbly 
mash, and give 
only what the 
birds will clean 
up in ten minutes; oyster shells should also 
be kept where they may get them. 
Madam Turkey likes to hide her nest, but 
by skillfully placing coops, or barrels laid 
on their sides, under bushes in secluded 
spots she may be induced to lay in them, 
and by watching her the nests may easily 
be found. As the nights at this season are 
cold, the eggs should be collected daily and 
china ones substituted. Should a hen select 
a place not suitably protected it will be wise 
to make an A-shaped coop without a floor 
and set it over the nest. If two “clutches” 
of eggs from each hen are wanted, they may 
be discouraged from setting after they have 
laid the first 15 or 20, which may be sold for 
“settings” at fancy prices, or set under 
chicken hens and the little poults given to 
the turkey hens later. When the hens 
have laid their second clutch they should be 
allowed to set, giving each as many eggs as can be properly cov¬ 
ered. While incubating, the hens should be fed good wheat and 
corn, with plenty of water and grit near the nest. 
Up to this point the turkey raiser will experience but few diffi¬ 
culties, but from the time the little poults are hatched eternal 
vigilance should be the watchword. Provide a large, comfortable, 
well-ventilated coop, with ample room for the hen to stand up, 
Enclosures may be planted 
with shrubs, grasses, or corn 
