The Christmas crew I am currently running is a flock of 5 Bourbons. The heaviest is maybe 10 lbs. I just clipped their wings for second time. They can jump and flap, but defy not fly. I contain my chickens with 48" poultry netting, probably much like whay you're using. The turks can't clear...
These Bourbon reds are from the local feed store the ordered in a hatchery choice. Guessed my best and picked out 6 bourbon reds in total. Lost one to an owl attack during the transition to the farm and range. Here's the chasing grasshoppers and what not in the farm's native range.
My first season with turkeys this year and they're interesting and amazing. Turkeys are highly trainable due to their predisposition to imprinting. I was hesitant to allow my Christmas crew to free range our acreage at first, but they come when called and coop up with easy basic herding. They...
This is a great resource to get you started +1
Then the book, Call of the Hen, which can be found free on the Internet is further reading with more specifics regarding type to look for when selectively breeding. This method also served as the underlying evaluation guide for the ALBC Buckeye...
Hand held digital fishing scale with both turkey's legs in loop then put on scale hook. Quick and easily done in the field once birds are caught. I can weigh my Thanksgiving grow-outs ( 3 Bourbon Reds) in less than 2 minutes.
All depends on what you're looking to get out of the birds and end goals. If you're looking for just the experience, Royal Palms are very showy (lawn art) and a bit smaller birds. Narragansett are larger and beautiful in their own right and have the definite edge when it comes to the dinner...
I just paid $9.99 each for poults of "Hatchery Choice" at the local farm store. The poults were in the store less than 24 hours when I purchased. There were several white poults that I avoided (looking for heritage meat) and didn't want to get Palm'd. I bought the minimum of six and...
We have a local small animal auction every Sunday not far from my farm here in Florida. A trio of turkeys went up for sale this past auction and the auctioneer sold them individually. Hens went for $22.50 each and the tom, a very large healthy one, went for $45. As already stated, time of...
Yeah, tried a couple of time with Hortsman and best I could get was an email back stating he wasn't hatching any dorkings. I requested be added to a "waiting list" but never heard anything more. Did send a follow up, but no response. He's a poultry judge as well and travels with that so don't...
Day 10 and just finished candling the 81 eggs. Ended up pulling a total of 10 eggs (just over 12% of eggs set) due to blood ring or clears. Half the eggs (5) pulled were from one breeder pen where there are 7 hens for the one black copper marans cock. I figured I probably jumped the gun a bit...
Purchased a new Dickey's cabinet incubator earlier this month and loaded up the first set on the 13th. I then remembered the BYC hatch-a-long threads and decided to jump right in. I will be just incubating in the Dickey's and hatching in two other units. Much better for cleanliness of cabinet...