I'll add: We had a BBB hen that the state expert said was a Mis-breed, some cross with more heritage than true BBB. So we kept her thru the winter for breeding. She had no feathers across her large chest. I thought that she would freeze. She can't fly. She can't roost well -too top heavy to...
I love my Midgets. Littlebratfarm, can you give us an update of how it's going?
Our first flock (3hens, 1 jake were kept thru winter) just didn't figure out all of the steps to baby making. I blame Timmy. Even my 10-year old daughter noted that he didn't seem to be doing It Right. So...
Ours are only juveniles. But they're SO frightened. They'll just nearly kill themselves running away from us when changing the water in the brooder. And other breeds are right next to them in other brood tubs....it's really just These Guys that are so freaked out.
We are going to be asking...
Our last years results:
BBBronzes boys: both around 35 pounds at 21 weeks
BBW boys: at 19 weeks one seemed headed to heart failure and started getting mean - was put into the freezer at 52#. The other made it until week 21 at 55#. (4H Fair was at week 20 and the bigger brother just wasn't going...
One tell-tale sign is the bird's need for feed. The Jumbo CornishX are pigs. They can't deal with hunger.
Our county 4H leader was telling us that without the high protein feed, they JCX's will start to "fail" by week 6. In other words, they need to big protein food for their big growth...
OMG, so sorry. They are definitely a less-hardy bird than layers, but it sounds like something else may be going on. I had Cocci go thru our babies, resulting in 1 death and plenty "sickly" for a few days. Are you feeding medicated chick starter? The reddish, mucky poo is the sign that I...
Sorry for the slow reply. Somewhere else on BYC, the netting from 3t Products was recommended. Their 2" Heavy Duty was what I purchased. They have a good online store and I'm definitely liking my purchase. Again, I keep turkey IN- - nothing is coming in overhead for these fatties. I totally...
Love pet turkeys. My daughters love wild blackberry season for the same reason---hand feeding. Our midget whites were purchased to be mommas. We wanted a smallish bird that could raise their own babies. I can wait for them to start setting.
For your giggles,,, Smoresy, the misbreed turkey. We kept her thru the winter in hopes that she's breadable, since she isn't fully a Broad breasted. Depending on weather she sleeps in the dog house or a bale of straw. No netting needed for her--she's too fat to fly.
Closer look at the netting and posts. This is more to keep turkey IN but would work if you had a big hawk problem. We don't have a coon issue now that our great Pyrenee is on the job.
The netting is "sealed" via zip ties to the perimeter bunny fence, and I have enough drape for it to be...
My turkeys new pen.
The pen is made of 5' tall kennel panels. That's 20'x10' and has their roost and feed/water. There are 2 adjoining 5'x5' brooder pens. Overtop is either the 3t heavy duty netting or shade tarps
The run is 20'x 30' and is perimeters by 40" garden/bunny fence. Above is...
We just put up netting over our turkey run. I asked around this website and decided on 3t netting. But here in StL, we can easily put 3' deep holes, my 13 year old dug them all in less than an hour. (Jealous?)
I'm so sorry about your ozark rock. I second the jack hammer recommendation. I...
I'n in MO too. But overhead hawk issues haven't been a problem. As long as the birds had somewhere to run for cover when the Rooster alerted them. I use an old round water tank propped up on a huge stump. Provides shade, a dry spot and aerial assault protection. Because it had some holes in...
I really like your meat bird setup. Nice movable shelter.
We have also raised reds and cornishx. The Cornishx had wider body cavities, easier to process. And the difference in their foraging capacity didn't warrant the increase cost/time of raising. Thus- we now just do cornishx
My midget ladies are already showing broodiness...getting pissy about taking eggs, refusing to go back in the pen (large dog kennel). They're 10 months old. I had assumed that this was normal behavior for pre-Moms.
Roosting in the open air is their natural preference. In my kennel, they...
My mixed flock of turkey is getting an upgraded kennel/pasture. Our Midget Whites are quick flyers, so the pasture NEEDS a netting on Top. If anyone has used netting, can you tell me your brand?
The sides of the pasture will be tall enough to discourage our resident fox population. The...
Yes- same breed. Black is the typical Donald Duck look. Blue is more difficult to obtain and is the one with an APA standard. Unless you're planning on showing or starting a breeding operation, black is MY preference. They just look more---Duckish!