I have six Royal Palm turkeys that are now about 5-6 months old. Thus far, I have not butchered any of the toms, but will once once we are through the rough part of our Minnesota winter. They are very good at foraging for their own food and come a running when some corn is scattered about for the chicken prior to roost. They roost most often on a fence rail, but sometimes in a large pine above the chicken coop. They get along with the rest of the critters; guineas, geese, goats, chickens and a Maremma, but sometime don't see eye to eye with one on my ganders. They seem to be handling the Minnesota climate just fine. Right now the temps are at a daytime high of 0 and nighttime around 15-20 below. No signs of frost bite. The toms are just learning they can gobble, which to me is a cool sound indeed.
We enjoyed watching the six of them hunt for grasshoppers and such in the hay field right after a cutting. I am looking forward to hatching a few out come spring and adding to the flock. If interested, I might even have enough eggs or chicks to sell in the spring. Let me know if interested!
These are not large turkeys, so do not expect to find large meaty breast at butchering time, like those of those over-breed, chemically feed store bought's. They are friendly enough to pet when on roost, but do not like to be picked up.
They have been a good addition to my hobby farm!
Update: We here in NW Minnesota (Jan 2014) just experienced a bitter cold Polar Vortex that pushed the temperature down into the -30° and lower range and wind chill down into the -50° range. Only one of the hens decided to use the coop to roost at night, the rest roosted in a large pine. Not one issue, thus far, with these turkeys and bitter cold weather.
We enjoyed watching the six of them hunt for grasshoppers and such in the hay field right after a cutting. I am looking forward to hatching a few out come spring and adding to the flock. If interested, I might even have enough eggs or chicks to sell in the spring. Let me know if interested!
These are not large turkeys, so do not expect to find large meaty breast at butchering time, like those of those over-breed, chemically feed store bought's. They are friendly enough to pet when on roost, but do not like to be picked up.
They have been a good addition to my hobby farm!
Update: We here in NW Minnesota (Jan 2014) just experienced a bitter cold Polar Vortex that pushed the temperature down into the -30° and lower range and wind chill down into the -50° range. Only one of the hens decided to use the coop to roost at night, the rest roosted in a large pine. Not one issue, thus far, with these turkeys and bitter cold weather.