Recent content by emptynesterMom

I will bid $50.00.

Hello, I'm not a turkey expert by any means, but this is how I introduced adult birds into my flock. Last spring I rescued a pair of 2-3yr old bourbon reds. I quarantined them for a month from my original flock while addressing their health issues. Next, I had them in a run next to my other...

I'll bid $22.00.

One thing that has been very useful for keeping my flock safer in their run, is a hot wire run about 18 inches off the ground and another one at the top of the 6 foot enclosure. I have seen a couple of neighbors dogs hit the wire and they have never been back for a second try. So far, I have not...

I have been wanting to try fermented feed for my birds, but was unsure if I should wait until the weather is warmer. Do you keep your fermenting feed in the house or in the coop? I am in VA and the temps are 20s-30s at night and 40s-50s during the day. Is that too cool to keep the fermentation...

One of my turkey hens tangled with a coyote early this morning. She has a cut above her hock that is completely through the skin and partially gloved that portion of her leg. I cleaned the wound with a weak betadine solution and coated it with Nustock. I considered suturing the wound but was...

My birds are similar to KuntryGirls in that some roost on my 6' fence, some are on the roof peak of the barn, and a few in with the chickens. The hens are very curious and will investigate everything, including the swimming pool. By the way, they can swim quite well, just don't tell my DH how I...

This is the BR Tom I kept from McMurray. No the dog isn't after him, he is after the dog. Lol. Fortunately the dog is a big baby and very fast. Runs away quickly.

I haven't smoked a turkey yet, but when I have processed one of my heritage breeds early they don't seem to have the layer of fat that I see in my birds who are over 9 months old. If he had just gobbled and hadn't begun to strut yet, I think he was probably on the young side to have finished his...

I've seen quite a few posts about processing older hens but none about turkeys. What age are they considered "older"? (mine are heritage breed not BB) How would you cook them; low and slow or grind for turkey burgers? Thanks

I have had a mixed flock of chickens and turkeys for the last year and a half. My shipped turkey poults were way more fragile than the shipped chicks. They had trouble learning to drink and then when they found the water, one fell in less than a 1/2 inch of water and drowned. So, I now put...

Thanks guys, I'll post pic when he is fully feathered again. In spite of the way he looks now, I am really pleased with his progress. When I got him in the early summer, he had been raised in a raised wire cage all of his life. His feet were in terrible condition, swollen to twice the normal...

Lagerdogger, Thank you for answering my unasked question. I have a bourbon red hen who apparently took a walk on the wild side early last spring. I have a beautiful teenage hen with the colors of, what I now know is, a Red Bronze. Shoot, I wish they bred true to the same color - she really is...

Hello Shiny, My birds like a variety of treats: watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, any fruit a little too ripe, left over breakfast oatmeal, and a few sunflowerseeds. I don't give them potatoes, onions, or garlic, I've read that that is not good for them. I usually toss it in the...

This is RT formerly rescue tom, now ratty tom. Have you ever seen a more bedraggled boy. Lol. He struts around like he still has a full set of feathers and he is sooo proud.