➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[ShrekDawg]

They all like that spot since I fenced them out of the green area. They like to eat the trees and the bucks like to destroy the trees when they are shedding their velvet and again when they are shedding their antlers. He is not a Whitetail but I suspect that he is a hybrid between a Whitetail and a Mule deer. His ears appear to be a length between those of a mule deer and those of a Whitetail. His tail is not as long as a Whitetail but is longer than expected for a Mule deer. His twin sister is the same.

One neighbor got a Sweetgrass tom from the same batch of eggs that my Sweetgrass tom came from. He did the same as me and bred his Sweetgrass tom to Royal Palm hens to produce more Sweetgrass hens.

Ah that makes sense then. They can definitely be destructive! They seem to much prefer domestic plants to wild ones

And huh, that is so interesting! So I’m guessing you guys do have white tail there too then? I wasn’t sure cause I know you post about the mule deer a lot so wasn’t sure if white tails were out there. Would these ones be sterile then if a hybrid?

And that’s cool! Is that a good cross? What do you use them for? Meat? Or just fun?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[R2elk]

Ah that makes sense then. They can definitely be destructive! They seem to much prefer domestic plants to wild ones

Nah, they do the same to the native plants. They love to eat sagebrush. They are browsers. While grass is a big part of their diet so are bushes and trees. They really like the Russian Olives when they are ripe.

And huh, that is so interesting! So I’m guessing you guys do have white tail there too then? I wasn’t sure cause I know you post about the mule deer a lot so wasn’t sure if white tails were out there. Would these ones be sterile then if a hybrid?

There are both Mule deer and Whitetail deer here. They will crossbreed but the male offspring are reported to be infertile while female offspring are reported to be fertile.

And that’s cool! Is that a good cross? What do you use them for? Meat? Or just fun?

Because their is only one color gene different between a Sweetgrass turkey and a Royal Palm turkey, and that gene is a sex linked gene which the hen cannot pass onto her daughters, the female offspring of such a mating will be pure Sweetgrass. The male offspring will be carrying a hidden recessive Narragansett gene they got from their mother and should not be used in a breeding program for pure Sweetgrass.

I started raising turkeys for grasshopper control. I keep raising them because they are special birds. I sell the new poults that are not going to be part of my breeding program. If they don't sell, then someone gets to eat them.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Nah, they do the same to the native plants. They love to eat sagebrush. They are browsers. While grass is a big part of their diet so are bushes and trees. They really like the Russian Olives when they are ripe.

There are both Mule deer and Whitetail deer here. They will crossbreed but the male offspring are reported to be infertile while female offspring are reported to be fertile.


Because their is only one color gene different between a Sweetgrass turkey and a Royal Palm turkey, and that gene is a sex linked gene which the hen cannot pass onto her daughters, the female offspring of such a mating will be pure Sweetgrass. The male offspring will be carrying a hidden recessive Narragansett gene they got from their mother and should not be used in a breeding program for pure Sweetgrass.

I started raising turkeys for grasshopper control. I keep raising them because they are special birds. I sell the new poults that are not going to be part of my breeding program. If they don't sell, then someone gets to eat them.

Ah okay. That’s good at least! Here they always eat our hedges and used to eat the vegetables. But at least the hedges are every greens and we never noticed. They keep them trimmed.

But they do appear to eat plenty of native stuff too cause we always see them in fields or in the woods too. But they seem to love destroying planted stuff ha

Seems a lot of things like those Russian Olives! I think you said lots of the birds and other wildlife love it too?

And wow that is fascinating about the deer and also about the color genetics for the turkeys! I never knew all of that. Thanks for all the info!! I always figured they were completely separate breeds or something I guess. Never knew they were so closely related or it was just a color gene.

And judging by the reports, that buck would be infertile? Too bad. He’s beautiful.

And that’s neat! Didn’t realize they were such prolific grasshopper eaters haha they do seem like special birds though. I once befriended some of the wild ones but I haven’t seen them in a little while. Well, actually they were here this spring and also recently we’ve been having two females hang out in the yard all summer but I haven’t seen them in a week or two now come to think of it. they’re funny. They come and sun bathe in the yard and also dust bathe in the ash in the middle of the yard leftover from spring brush burning. So funny to watch these huge turkeys bathe just like the chickens just saw a deer the other day too.

 

[R2elk]

And wow that is fascinating about the deer and also about the color genetics for the turkeys! I never knew all of that. Thanks for all the info!! I always figured they were completely separate breeds or something I guess. Never knew they were so closely related or it was just a color gene.

All domestic turkeys are the breed Turkey. The APA recognizes only the breed Turkey and 8 different varieties. There are many more varieties but only 8 are recognized by the APA. Turkeys only have about half the genes that chickens have which is one of the reasons they are all so closely related.

 

[ShrekDawg]

My butt and driving leg hurt so bad Finally got out to stretch about 10 minutes ago thankfully lmao but we were stuck in the car like over 3 hours, most of that time spent in traffic.

But now we’re eating a good dinner at the rest stop diner so all good haha

 

[ShrekDawg]

All domestic turkeys are the breed Turkey. The APA recognizes only the breed Turkey and 8 different varieties. There are many more varieties but only 8 are recognized by the APA. Turkeys only have about half the genes that chickens have which is one of the reasons they are all so closely related.

That’s really cool, I figured maybe there were less breeds in turkeys or they were newer or something, but didn’t realize it was only one.

 

[Tesumph]

She is our vet.

You think that’ll hold up on a resume? I could use the work experience.

Now that's a solid business plan.

I volunteer Conan as tribute.

 

[Kiki]

You think that’ll hold up on a resume? I could use the work experience.

I volunteer Conan as tribute.

Yeah. I'll help you fake one.

 

[R2elk]

I volunteer Conan as tribute.

She can't be away from her animals long enough to get here. Besides she would probably demand payment in the form of a freshly baked cherry pie and I don't feel like sharing.

 

[ShrekDawg]

You think that’ll hold up on a resume? I could use the work experience.

I volunteer Conan as tribute.

I’m sure it will! You’re doing some real important work here! And all for charity too! How kind!

And OMG perfect.

Yeah. I'll help you fake one.

You’re an expert in fakers (fake dog, fake quail, fake scale, etc. etc.) so I’m sure it will turn out flawless!

She can't be away from her animals long enough to get here. Besides she would probably demand payment in the form of a freshly baked cherry pie and I don't feel like sharing.

Oh come on, I’m sure you’ve got more than enough cherries to bake another one!