Evening star., 1919-05-11

volved in searching for stolen turkey
nests" in all corners and hooks or
the farm may be avoided by con-
fining the turkeys to limited areas.
fenced In by three and one-half feet
to four feet of woven-wire fencing,
! with sufficient strength to turn cat
tie and hogs. The inclosure should
embrace at least from one and a
half to two acres of land for each
ten to twelve hens. and the hens
should be confined to an orchard II
possible. where they may get the
full benefit of the shade and of the
usual advantages which an orchard
affords. At night the turkeys Will
| roost In the trees. and II the pen Is
of good size the fowls will be rea-
! sonably content.
The time of confinement to the in
! closure may vary according TO CIR
cumstances or to the views of the
poultryman: it may be constant. or
the turkeys may be shut in during
| the morning and given free range for
the rest of the day, as most OF the
eggs are laid before noon. 1t Is a
good plan, however, to keep breeders
const antly confined until practically
all have selected their nests and have
begun to lay. Another suggestion is
| to let the turkeys be at iloerty our
ing the afternoon and night, and then
drive them into their pen or incio-
| sure early in the morning and keep
them there until all eggs have been
laid.
As the turkey hen, in most cases.
| selects secluded spots for her nest,
boxes. barrels and piles of brush
| should be placed at intervals at con-
siderable distances apart along renee
rows. under trees and bushes. Bar
| rels laid on the side are often useo;
but the layer Is somewhat crampeu
when turning around in the nest.
Boxes of larger size are more sult,
able. One side of each box should
be knocked out and the nest made
directly on the ground. All that is
required in making such a nest IS 10
hollow the earth slightly, in the form
of a nest; then place the box over IT
and throw some loose straw in and
around the box-the turkeys will do
the rest. The nests are made more
attractive and tempting to the tur-
keys If the nest boxes or barrels are
camouf1aged with brush.
On the average farm we usually ma
from six to ten hens and one Tom. or
'gobbler''; occasionally there are two
Toms with from ten to eighteen or
twenty hens. Mr.. Andrew Weiant OF
the U. 9. Department of Agriculture is
| the authority for the statement that
as many as fifteen hens may be safely
mated with one vigorous Tom. Where
there are more than fifteen females In
one flock there should be at least two
males. the number Of males being
females, and if the hens are confined
las previously suggested it Is advfs-
liable to keep the males separated
placing each with the flock on alter
mate days. If. however. the turkeys
lspend much time on range. little dan
4 he
males to run together with the hens
particularly if they have been reared
together. Oftentimes the entrance OF
a strange Tom in a flock will cause
considerable fighting, which Is very
apt to interfere with the proper mat
ing.
The natural mating and laying sea.
son begins with the advent of spring
when the material instinct in all fowls
) becomes strongest; it includes Feb
. ruary, March. April and May, although
the season is Influenced by climatic
conditions. In our sections turkey.
begin to lay in March and stop during
the latter part of April, although
have known Of cases where the laying
; period extended into May.
The first eggs are laid by we'll
matured fowls in about ten days after
the first mating takes place. although
ditions- Unlike the chicken, one mat
ing of the male with the female fer
tilizes all eggs Of one litter, which
may be composed of from twelve to
| twenty, and even more. When turkeys
begin to lay they will, If they are
levery day. and If the hens are broken
up when they become broody they
|, will, as rule, continue to lay al
lleast two or more 1itters, often three
land occasionally four. The turkey
iraiser. wishing to get as much from
each hen as possible. takes the eggs
of the first two litters from the nests
at frequent intervals. and either dis
poses of them at good price or sets
them under hens or in incubators and
rears the poults under hens. Turkey
ieggs for Matching are now selling at
SO cents each. or $6 per dozen. The
turkey hen is then allowed to set on
1.-THE eggs of the third litter and brood
the young.
Whether the poults are with the
mother turkey hen or with the chick
en- hen they should for a time, until
they grow stronger, be kept in a
limited inclosure and not be per-
mitted to range over the fields. Young
turkeys seem to be more delicate than
chicks of the same age, which NAV
be the result of domestication and our
methods of management. They do not
thrive under unfavorable conditions
Exposure to dampness Is most harm
full, especially when the poults run out
on the early morning dew, through
the wet grass and weeds. In the wild
state they take advantage Of the pro-
lection Of the forests, where there is
little grass and few weeds. In order
to protect the young turkeys as much
as possible it is advisable to put the
mother in q large roomy coop with
Slated front, and then confine the
young turkeys to a pen In front of OF
surrounding the coop. Under these
conditions the young do not range far
away and return quickly to the coor