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I know, I got complacent. Been raising layers, meat birds, and turkeys now for about 3 years. I've seen the occasional possum but never saw a racoon, fox, or coyote although I know they roam the woods a couple of miles away. I'll be beefing up the layer run today.

Went out this morning and found 4 dead and 19 missing. On the back side was this hole. It's approximately 14" in diameter. I know a fox will carry them off but will anything else?

It has completely healed now and his head is a lot smoother than it was. I also had a hen come down with the same thing and she died within 12 hours. I don't see any scarring or marking so I don't think it was a bite of some kind. Googling it has been useless. Could it be some kind of pox?

Here are some pictures taken today. You can see that the rest is starting to peel off, almost like a scab.

He went through a day where it seemed like his appetite was off but it was only for a day. It almost looks like all the skin on the top and back of his head was burned.

I went out to check on my turkeys the other day and one was on the roost with his head hanging toward the ground. I thought he was dead. When I got close he raised his head and the top of his head and back of his neck was black. He was lethargic and staying away from the rest of the flock. Now...

I have chickens that I let out every day to free range. I also have 14 Narragansett turkeys approximately 15 weeks old. They are in an enclosed run which is 32' x 20'. If I let them out to free range will they go back in at night like the chickens or is that not a good idea? I am not concerned...

I've got a laying flock of 26 hens and 3 roosters. They are a mixed bunch. I normally get an average of 18 eggs per day and they lay in the same 4 boxes day in and day out. The eggs are distributed fairly evenly between the boxes. Today my blue laced red wyandotte went broody. I expected this...

Las week I had a 2 year old red sex link that died in a nest box. I checked her over and didn't see any outward signs of anything wrong so I chalked it up to mother nature and carried on. I watch them everyday and everybody seems fine (flock of 28 now). Today I went in the coop to clean it out...

I'm expecting my first shipment of Narragansett turkeys the first week of April. I was planning on building a run and coop, similar to what I have for chickens, but after reading Storey's Guide To Raising Turkeys I was wondering if all I need to do is build and 8 X 12 sun porch. According to the...

They are absolutely delicious!

They'll be day old chicks when they ship. I have a brooder set up that I use for raising broilers, fully enclosed with a heat lamp, feeders and waterers. I'll make sure to clean it out and sterilize it prior to their arrival. As far as roaming, do they go far? Do they always return home prior...

Ordered 15 Narragansett poults to be delivered end of March. Gives me plenty of time to set up the coop and run. So, for all you experienced turkey raisers, if you could give a newbie one piece of advice, what would it be? Anything is game, advice can range from coop size, run size, feeding, as...

Processed 24 White Broilers from Meyer yesterday. They were 8 weeks and 1 day old. Average weight was 6.1 lbs with the largest weighing in at 7lbs 6.2ozs. I've got another 29 that are 2 weeks old now. Think I'll process them at 6 weeks, these were a little on the large size.

And your veterinary degree came from where?

Citation showing decapitation is being shown inhumane http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2010/nov/decaps_not_best-10542 The study boils itself down to the following: "Viewed in toto, the almost inescapable conclusion from these facts is that decapitation is a painful procedure and that...

Thank you, and I did. Seems like those that do it right really like it and prefer no other way. I'm getting ready to do 24 birds and will probably give it a try.

I'm sorry but you are completely mistaken, and confusing facts with what you believe, your 'opinion' or what you 'feel'. Scientific studies, including new Dutch studies on laboratory animals show that decapitation does not instantly kill and that animals are capable of feeling pain for up to 29...

That's not true at all. Just because you pierce the brain doesn't mean you have killed it. If it was then they would die instantly after removing the head instead of struggling and running around if let loose. After doing more research it is touted as a very humane way to do it. By severing the...

I was reading a book titled Basic Butchering of Livestock and the author recommends using a knife through the roof of the mouth to pierce the brain prior to cutting the chickens neck. He claims it is more humane and, while it doesn't kill the chicken, it relaxes the muscles making it easier to...