➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[BullChick]

So... since we’re talking turkey, I have three BBWs, all toms. I got them May 10th and they’re huge. No matter how much I feed, they’re always ravenous. They’ve started eating my chicken eggs. I sprayed some from the fridge with bitter apple to the point of dripping and put them in the nesting boxes. I was about to close up the back, and the biggest one was already poking his head in there to peck one.

DH loves the big white scruffy-looking turkeys (I do too) but I have loads of heritage boys and girls for him to fall in love with and I don’t want the whole flock learning to eat eggs if they haven’t already. How long does one generally keep BBWs before butchering?

I’m not sure I can even carry them (alive) at this point. I could shoot them, but I prefer to bleed them out. DH can’t help me “man-handle” them—not just because he loves them, but he has some health/strength issues and serious arthritis in his hands as well—so I’m on my own there. Any ideas? Sage advice? Magical quick fixes for egg eaters (in case it’s not just the three amigos?)

I think RUNuts covered what I was going to say. Use a rope to hoist them up, and use ceramic eggs in the boxes.

A simple hanger can be made with a few boards, and it can still be light enough to drag around.

 

[R2elk]

Check the pamphlets at TSC. I think that is where I found a chart that tells how much feed a BBW consumes by what age and sex.

Personally I would not trust anything that TSC says.

 

[CindyinSD]

Wagon? Truck bed? dolly? Good friend?

Use a deer hoist gambrel or throw a rope over a tree branch and haul the turkey to your working height. Tie the feet together.

Put ceramic eggs in the box and let them get a beak full of ceramic? Tie a leash around their necks and suggest they come with you?

I can see me leading around a big ol’ turkey on a leash. I’m not sure they’d cooperate much, but maybe they would. I have ceramic eggs in there. They seem to know the difference. If moving the turkeys doesn’t help, I guess I’ll have to turn the nest boxes into a roll-out community nesting area. I think there’s enough space to do that without too much trouble.

DH backed the pick-up up to the current temporary chicken (etc) yard and drove me and a turkey most of the way to the coop with us sitting on the tail gate—well, me sitting and the turkey hanging upside down. So the three amigos are now in their new home, which is reasonably close to my butchering spot. (sigh) I’m gonna have to make some fridge/freezer space available though, before I can do the deed. Not looking forward to it.

 

[R2elk]

How long does one generally keep BBWs before butchering?

I’m not sure I can even carry them (alive) at this point. I could shoot them, but I prefer to bleed them out. DH can’t help me “man-handle” them—not just because he loves them, but he has some health/strength issues and serious arthritis in his hands as well—so I’m on my own there.

Processing time for BBs is as soon as they are the size that you desire. Weigh one and subtract 30% of the weight to get an approximate processed weight. I used to process at 4 to 6 months for mid 30 lb. processed weights on toms and low 20 lb. weights on hens.

I shoot turkeys in the back of the head with a .22 and chop off their heads after about a minute. They bleed out good enough for me.

 

[R2elk]

Is one old for a quail?

Maximum expected life span for Coturnix quail is 2 1/2 years. That is under ideal conditions.

 

[BantyChooks]

Newest cot chick.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Newest cot chick.
View attachment 1858509

Soooo cuteeeeee

 

[CindyinSD]

Processing time for BBs is as soon as they are the size that you desire. Weigh one and subtract 30% of the weight to get an approximate processed weight. I used to process at 4 to 6 months for mid 30 lb. processed weights on toms and low 20 lb. weights on hens.

I shoot turkeys in the back of the head with a .22 and chop off their heads after about a minute. They bleed out good enough for me.

Thanks, R2. I feel silly asking this, but do you just put a pistol to its head, or use a rifle from a bit of distance?

 

[BullChick]

Personally I would not trust anything that TSC says.

Definitely don’t trust employees! Wherever I got the information, it was correct.

 

[R2elk]

Thanks, R2. I feel silly asking this, but do you just put a pistol to its head, or use a rifle from a bit of distance?

I have a small .22 revolver that I hold up against the back of the turkey's head aiming down at an angle to hit the brain. I am holding the turkey by both legs with one hand and allowing it to rest calmly on the ground. I usually also have the ends of the wing feathers in that hand and hold on tight until the turkey stops moving. That is when I chop off its head.