You can start to incubate as soon as they are layed. Check for eggs daily, but a turkey hen usually only lays ever other day. If you leave the eggs they will lay until they get any where from four to about ten eggs then stop while they brood them. Normally laying season for most turkeys is from...
Many turkeys choose not to use them so don't be disappointed if they don't. Most turkey hens will lay every other day starting in the spring when there is enough day light. Some will also lay in the fall but not very often. Yes 18 x 18 is a good size to try.
It takes work to get one to be a good pet. You need to start when the are small by handling then and giving them lots of attention.
Females make better pets then males, males make better guard birds.
There hens, small snoods, no carnuckles to speak of. the fine feather on top of there head. They are BBB"S there legs are far apart and big breast. Free range BBB's will be smaller then those fed nothing but bagged feed, but they do taste better.
Only feeding them small amounts? No more...
Your heritage turkeys won't grow as fast or as big as the BBB's. you can save some money by free ranging the heritage turkeys. They will eat at least 1/4 the feed or less when free ranged.
BBB's and Great White usually about 20 weeks for butchering plus or minus a few weeks.
On those BBB's...
Most likely they won't hatch. You might try candling them to see if the embryos inside are growing. But most likely they are not.
If they don't show any signs of growing you should take the eggs and dispose of them. She will lay more.
Tom
-Is there a difference between "Broad Breasted White Turkey" and "Broad Breasted Bronze Turkey"?
(These are my options)
A: The whites tend to be slightly bigger when grown, BBB tend to have shorter and wider set apart legs.
When it comes time to butcher the small hairs will be white and...
The only absolute rule when it comes to free ranging turkeys is:
"When it comes to free ranging turkeys you have to teach the turkeys what to do. Other wise your flock will disappear on you."
Each flock is going to be a little or a lot different. It can depends on what type of turkeys you...
jack & mommy's duckies :
Maybe I should ask this........
How safe is it to let them free range and sleep with ducks and geese??? Maybe I should test the water with a heritage breed first. People are always needing homes for toms/jakes. And get just one or two and see what it is like and go...
BBB and BBW are eating and pooping machine, but it takes less time to get the to a weight to butcher, about 20 weeks. This is the time when cost of feed per size if about optimal. Of course you can butcher sooner or later, 15 weeks is about the soonest to get decent meat from them. Since they...
The sound and behavior is that she is challenging you because something is upsetting her.
She got use to the the way you looked and can't deal with the change. She just doesn't like the color of your shoes. This is most likely why she is upset, turkey can key off of certain colors or...
For any 4H or FFA projects you should check with your local farm stores first. Many times they will work out some sort of deal for advertising when you display the turkeys.
At time one of our local farm store held with reduced cost for feed and supplies for the local 4H. But you must be aware...
There might be several reason:
1. The turkeys have some sort of infestation, like mites and the others are trying to get to.
You can spray blue coat over any open wounds, the treat for the infestation. You also need to treat the area they are in at night.
2. They simple don't like each...
How long you smoke meat depends on what kind of smoker you use and the technique you use.
The one we have has the heat directly under the meat, with a water pan. Its a combination unit that
you can use charcoal, wood, or propane. This type usually takes about 1/2 the time as the indirect
heat...
We use tarps also, i just wanted to inform about them shredding and having to be changed if you didn't know about that, and it appears you do.
Trees help a lot keeping the wind down. As long as the wind doesn't blow to much we have had no problem down to minus temps. We have never used nipple...
It depends on the what kind cold winds in winter you get. When the wind chill gets below about -5 or so is when more problems start to occur. If the turkeys can't find adequate shelter against the wind they won't last. If you do have high winds tarps won't last the winter they will be shredded...
Yes wild turkeys can survive cold temps but a significant number of them don't make it.
Those we have in our flocks needs some help. Fresh water is very helpful because your water will freeze. The do eat snow in a pinch but it lowers there body temps when they do. so be prepared to haul water...