1F2M

[R2elk]

What about option 2? I don’t plan to let the hen brood or raise poults.

The hen needs to have a nest that the tom does not have access to. She also needs to be able to get away from the tom when she does not want to breed.

My hens either get up on their roost or on top of their shade structure when they don't want to deal with the tom.

Toms that have access to the hen's nest will take the hen sitting on the nest as an invitation to breed. The hen will resist the unwanted breeding attempt which can lead to a severe injury caused by the tom trying to claw his way into place on her back. In a worst case scenario, the hen can be killed.

It is best to have multiple hens for one tom.

If you don't want to raise turkeys, just keep hens or don't keep any at all.

 

[fat brown hen]

The hen needs to have a nest that the tom does not have access to. She also needs to be able to get away from the tom when she does not want to breed.

My hens either get up on their roost or on top of their shade structure when they don't want to deal with the tom.

Toms that have access to the hen's nest will take the hen sitting on the nest as an invitation to breed. The hen will resist the unwanted breeding attempt which can lead to a severe injury caused by the tom trying to claw his way into place on her back. In a worst case scenario, the hen can be killed.

It is best to have multiple hens for one tom.

If you don't want to raise turkeys, just keep hens or don't keep any at all.

Understood. Last question, I promise: Can I keep 2 toms alone with no hens, or will they kill each other?

 

[R2elk]

Understood. Last question, I promise: Can I keep 2 toms alone with no hens, or will they kill each other?

You can keep multiple toms as long as there are no hens around. They will fight from time to time. It's a part of the pecking order.

You definitely do not want to keep toms only around chickens. They will eventually kill the chickens trying to breed them.

 

[fat brown hen]

You can keep multiple toms as long as there are no hens around. They will fight from time to time. It's a part of the pecking order.

You definitely do not want to keep toms only around chickens. They will eventually kill the chickens trying to breed them.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I can't believe no one sells sexed poults! Seems like anyone who raises heritage turkeys will run into this problem.

 

[R2elk]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I can't believe no one sells sexed poults! Seems like anyone who raises heritage turkeys will run into this problem.

One site sells sexed poults but they are broad breasted only and have been developed to be feather sexed. Of course you have to buy a minimum of 15.

Poults are not easily sexed which is why they aren't sold sexed.

There is at least one site that will blood or feather sex birds. Personally it isn't worth it to me to pay the amount they charge.

With my own birds I have accurately sexed poults as young as two weeks old but will not guarantee the sex until they are at least 3 months old.

 

[fat brown hen]

There is at least one site that will blood or feather sex birds. Personally it isn't worth it to me to pay the amount they charge.

With my own birds I have accurately sexed poults as young as two weeks old but will not guarantee the sex until they are at least 3 months old.

If I bought a batch of poults and paid for DNA-sexing, it would come out to about $40 per poult, which is cheaper than feeding everyone for 3 months. The problem is I wouldn't know what to do with male poults. There's no market for them here, and I don't think I could bring myself to cull them.

 

[R2elk]

If I bought a batch of poults and paid for DNA-sexing, it would come out to about $40 per poult, which is cheaper than feeding everyone for 3 months. The problem is I wouldn't know what to do with male poults. There's no market for them here, and I don't think I could bring myself to cull them.

There's always a market. Some people want the toms to raise for meat.

The prices I see are $20 per poult and $25 for DNA sexing unless you are buying broad breasted poults.

 

[casportpony]

@fat brown hen, where do you live? I'm in Gilroy.

 

[fat brown hen]

@fat brown hen, where do you live? I'm in Gilroy.

Sent you a message!

 

[casportpony]

Sent you a message!

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