A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[mountain mom]

Well, the turkey eggs look good! I can see the eye in most! There is one that I think may be a dud. No new development, but the airsack is still growing.
Anyhow, today is 10 or 11 days... not sure exactly how to count it with Clyde ditching the nest. I will candle again at 14 days.

 

[duluthralphie]

I am glad to hear that MM!!


I got a card from Colorado on Saturday,

I was disappointed, the card promised beer, but when I opened it there was no beer!



MM thanks for the crisp new bills.. Did you just finish printing them?

 

[mountain mom]

Fresh out of the printer!
Sadly, my money printing machine was so expensive I could not afford the beer dehydrating machine.
Although I do believe you would not enjoy the fancy Fort Collins brews I would dehydrate to send you. Corona, they are not.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ethel and JJ are free ranging it, and happy. I got those eggs from Ethel's nest the other day, and she must have moved to a new spot..no new Ethel Eggs.

I have the other three hens and the young Tom in a covered pen. I have enough eggs, maybe even more than I need and am running out of space in the incubators.

I am tempted to let the 4 out to free range with JJ and Ethel, reasons not to are, they are yearlings so stupid as can be, Who knows where they will nest and if something will get them. If I let them out I will have no way of knowing if the young are slate blues or Slate JJ's...


Should I risk letting them out, I know they will do a better job of hatching the babies, but I will do a better job keeping the babies alive. (turkey mothers are so iffy)

 

[mountain mom]

Ethel and JJ are free ranging it, and happy. I got those eggs from Ethel's nest the other day, and she must have moved to a new spot..no new Ethel Eggs.

I have the other three hens and the young Tom in a covered pen. I have enough eggs, maybe even more than I need and am running out of space in the incubators.

I am tempted to let the 4 out to free range with JJ and Ethel, reasons not to are, they are yearlings so stupid as can be, Who knows where they will nest and if something will get them. If I let them out I will have no way of knowing if the young are slate blues or Slate JJ's...


Should I risk letting them out, I know they will do a better job of hatching the babies, but I will do a better job keeping the babies alive. (turkey mothers are so iffy)

Wish I knew!
I am sure the other turkeys would love out, but you don't want them getting eaten because they picked a dumb spot for a nest. If you stop collecting eggs, you think they will go broody and hatch in the covered pen?
That way you could steal the babies and raise them. And know who the dad is.

So far, I think I am doing an okay job hatching the babies... I am very hopeful. My concern is actual lockdown and hatching and being sure I have enough humidity so nobody gets shrinkwrapped.

 

[SilkieSensation]

 
Ethel and JJ are free ranging it, and happy.  I got those eggs from Ethel's nest the other day, and she must have moved to a new spot..no new Ethel Eggs.

I have the other three hens and the young Tom in a covered pen.  I have enough eggs, maybe even more than I need and am running out of space in the incubators.

I am tempted to let the 4 out to free range with JJ and Ethel, reasons not to are, they are yearlings so stupid as can be, Who knows where they will nest and if something will get them.  If I let them out I will have no way of knowing if the young are slate blues or Slate JJ's...


Should I risk letting them out, I know they will do a better job of hatching the babies, but I will do a better job keeping the babies alive. (turkey mothers are so iffy)

Wish I knew! 
I am sure the other turkeys would love out, but you don't want them getting eaten because they picked a dumb spot for a nest.  If you stop collecting eggs, you think they will go broody and hatch in the covered pen? 
That way you could steal the babies and raise them.  And know who the dad is.

So far, I think I am doing an okay job hatching the babies... I am very hopeful.  My concern is actual lockdown and hatching and being sure I have enough humidity so nobody gets shrinkwrapped.

Mine tried to brood in the coop with the chickens last year, right in the nests everyone used...2 old tires laying on the floor filled with bedding.

 

[mountain mom]

There you go Ralph! Just keep them in. Have you already let them out and are now running around with a net wearing socks and sandals trying to lure them into your clutches?

 

[duluthralphie]

There you go Ralph! Just keep them in. Have you already let them out and are now running around with a net wearing socks and sandals trying to lure them into your clutches?

Nope, I got another incubator, I was at runnings, just looking, you know...

And I found a great deal on a (coughing spell here, hang on) close (cough again) out on a still air incubator, I can use as a hatcher.


Now I need more eggs..

And I have found a way to help prevent losses to eggs laid outside the coop....




It works wonders, and look how happy Reagan is just modelling it,,,,, Pearl is not as happy..

 

[chickadoodles]

Oh, my Ralph that is funny. I feed my dogs the duck eggs as I don't want to hatch any more, I can't get rid of the ones I have now. lol And in return the dogs think the ducks are theirs and protect them from any predators! lol

 

[mountain mom]

Seems like you found a great deal at Runnings!