For an ordinary place, select from a good breed (I prefer the bronze)
a large gobbler and two or three hens. As soon as the warm weather
comes, place about the barn in sheltered places two or three barrels
on their sides, and in them make nice nests. In these the hens will
lay. Gather the eggs every day, keeping them in a cool place. When a
box contains 23 eggs mark it No. 1 and begin to fill a second box, and
when it contains 23 eggs mark it No. 2 and so continue. It is well to
leave turkey hens on the nest two or three days, for they often lay
one or two eggs after they begin to show signs of sitting.
When you have decided to sit a hen, give her a good nest and 15 eggs
and at the same time give a common hen eight eggs. These, when
hatched, are all to be given to the turkey hen. Never try to raise
turkeys with a domestic fowl. If you have no place free of grass, you
can start turkeys with difficulty. Feeding is of the greatest
importance. For the first week I have found wheat bread moistened in
water the most satisfactory. If you can feed them by sunrise for the
first three or four weeks, you need lose hardly a bird. Each evening
try and call them nearer and nearer home, so that you will not be
troubled with their wandering to the neighbors'. As early as possible
train them to roost high, so as to be out of danger at night. Bird
dogs are often very destructive to turkeys, at times destroying a
whole flock in a single night. Fatten with corn. The turkey crop ought
to be one of the most profitable on our farms.
Dr. G.G. GROFF.
Pennsylvania.