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New to turkeys with questions

post #1 of 9
Thread Starter 

This is our first year keeping turkeys. We have 10 BBB and 3 BR. So far everything has been great! 10 are 4 months old and 3 are 3 months old.

 

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All but the BR will be used for meat so I'm wondering, what is the best to feed them to fatten them up and at what age do we start fattening them up more? 

 

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Do the males have longer tails? What are some other ways to sex them? This is one I've wondered if it was a male.

 

 

At what age do the males fan out? After a year old? I'd love to see these guys fan out but I have a feeling they will be dressed out before then. Although I might be keeping all 3 BR.

 

Any other advice?

Too many chickens and ducks, 3 rabbits, 14 turkeys, 3 dogs and 2 beyond spoiled pot bellied pigs! Oh and 2 kids and one nearly perfect boyfriend!
I can be found on facebook - Keyt Harrington
or my photography page on facebook https://www.facebook.com/NaturalCharmPhoto. Offering specials on portraits and special events as well as photo restorations.

 

COLLECTING PENNIES!!! Taking any quantity!

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Too many chickens and ducks, 3 rabbits, 14 turkeys, 3 dogs and 2 beyond spoiled pot bellied pigs! Oh and 2 kids and one nearly perfect boyfriend!
I can be found on facebook - Keyt Harrington
or my photography page on facebook https://www.facebook.com/NaturalCharmPhoto. Offering specials on portraits and special events as well as photo restorations.

 

COLLECTING PENNIES!!! Taking any quantity!

Reply
post #2 of 9

This is my first year with the turkeys too.  Not sure about the fattening up, but our BR was fanning out and puffing up at about 7 weeks.  Super cute!!

Always do what you want and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. - Dr. Seuss
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Always do what you want and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. - Dr. Seuss
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post #3 of 9

Also new to Turkey's this year. We have two Narragensetts, a Jake and  Jenny. Awesome birds. They are eating the same as the chickens, plus all the bugs they can find and catch. Growing very nicely.

W K Smith

Windy Ridge Dominiques

American Dominique LF chickens

DCA, ALBC, NPIP CO-124

Southwest El Paso County, CO

 

ChickenFest 2013

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/763649/colorado-chickenfest-2013

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W K Smith

Windy Ridge Dominiques

American Dominique LF chickens

DCA, ALBC, NPIP CO-124

Southwest El Paso County, CO

 

ChickenFest 2013

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/763649/colorado-chickenfest-2013

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post #4 of 9

Turkeys should not be fed less then 16% protein, including forage. For fattening eating birds, 21% to 28% protein feed should be used. If you want to really fatten the BBBs, have a light on 24/7, and feed them 28% fed right up to butcher time. The Bourbon Reds can be fed less protein (especially if they are going to be breeders or pets) and go without full-time lighting, but do not let their feed protein drop below 16%.

post #5 of 9

One way to tell if it's male or female is the comb, the longer and redder it is, the more likely it is to be a male...

A Rottweiler (Roxy), a Labrador retriever (Gypsy), 2 breeding turkeys, 7 poults, 3 goats (Charlotte, Tata & Oreo), four ducks, 3 geckos and a yard full of chickens... 

 

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm paralyzed from the neck down in over eight feet of water!" ~Derek Hale ~Teen wolf

 

Going back home. No internet at the house, so I won't be online as much. Sorry for any RP inconveniences.

 

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A Rottweiler (Roxy), a Labrador retriever (Gypsy), 2 breeding turkeys, 7 poults, 3 goats (Charlotte, Tata & Oreo), four ducks, 3 geckos and a yard full of chickens... 

 

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm paralyzed from the neck down in over eight feet of water!" ~Derek Hale ~Teen wolf

 

Going back home. No internet at the house, so I won't be online as much. Sorry for any RP inconveniences.

 

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post #6 of 9

i would judge by the snood.  Males snood will grow longer and redder. And turkeys can dispaly early. Mine did it for the first time at 6 1/2 or 7 weeks.

I am a Wife and a Mother. We have 2 dogs, and our always growing flock of chickens(Barred Rocks, White Rocks, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Easter Eggers, Olive Eggers, Marans, Japanese Bantams, Silkies, Silver Laced Cochin, Silkie/EE crosses, and a Cream Legbar Roo). We also have Bourbon Red Turkeys!  And now Ducks!!! Soon to be arriving Nigerian Dwarf doelings.

 

 

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I am a Wife and a Mother. We have 2 dogs, and our always growing flock of chickens(Barred Rocks, White Rocks, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Easter Eggers, Olive Eggers, Marans, Japanese Bantams, Silkies, Silver Laced Cochin, Silkie/EE crosses, and a Cream Legbar Roo). We also have Bourbon Red Turkeys!  And now Ducks!!! Soon to be arriving Nigerian Dwarf doelings.

 

 

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post #7 of 9

Turkeys often start strutting within days of hatching and both sexes will strut. Watch the head and snood development, the toms will be larger and more red. Look for hens to develop white or light edges on the breast feathers as they get older, toms breast feathers will remain dark or have a darker edge. Listen for attempts to gobble. Only the toms will gobble.

Regal Red Turkeys and LF Dark Cornish Chickens

 

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Regal Red Turkeys and LF Dark Cornish Chickens

 

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post #8 of 9

My Tom's snood was much redder and easy to distinguish anytime they got nervous at about 2 months, now its clearly getting the droopy ruffles you'd expect on a male.

Then the tail gets much longer and I can see some other colors coming in on the feathertips.

post #9 of 9

 I had  4 turkeys 2 toms and 2 hens one tom would get really mad at me when i picked up another bird he would turn his head dark red and peck the other bird that i was holding he strutted for me at a few days of age.

3 white leg horns,1 danish brown rooster,3 RIR,3 EE's,1 buff orp,1 black australorp,1 partridge silkie cockerel, And 1 Rouen duck drake quacker's and his wife quacket and a crazy love for hatching!!!!

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3 white leg horns,1 danish brown rooster,3 RIR,3 EE's,1 buff orp,1 black australorp,1 partridge silkie cockerel, And 1 Rouen duck drake quacker's and his wife quacket and a crazy love for hatching!!!!

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