A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Hi everybody, been pretty busy lately and haven't had a chance to catch up. Hope all is well!

A couple questions for you experienced turkey keepers.

1. Is there anything I can do in addition filing my Tom's nails to keep him from injuring my hens? His last hen that he had before I got this batch of young ones passed away from an infection on a bad gash he gave her during mating. I saw him trying to mount one of the BRs yesterday and I don't want a repeat. He is a bit clumsy.

2. Is there any harm in letting some of my turkeys sleep outside the coop through the winter? We are USDA zone 7 I believe. They sleep pretty high up in the trees next to the coop (some of them). I have tried getting them out several times, but a couple of the girls seem to persist.

Thank you in advance for any help!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

And just some pictures for fun.

My big Tom.

Teenage Henry and Tom.

The ladies enjoying some pumpkin.

 

[Molpet]

hen saddle, someone on here makes them

I worry about predators getting the birds if left out.

 

[R2elk]

Hi everybody, been pretty busy lately and haven't had a chance to catch up. Hope all is well!

A couple questions for you experienced turkey keepers.

1. Is there anything I can do in addition filing my Tom's nails to keep him from injuring my hens? His last hen that he had before I got this batch of young ones passed away from an infection on a bad gash he gave her during mating. I saw him trying to mount one of the BRs yesterday and I don't want a repeat. He is a bit clumsy.

2. Is there any harm in letting some of my turkeys sleep outside the coop through the winter? We are USDA zone 7 I believe. They sleep pretty high up in the trees next to the coop (some of them). I have tried getting them out several times, but a couple of the girls seem to persist.

Thank you in advance for any help!

My first recommendation is to use a different tom for breeding. In my experience "clumsy" (poor breeders) do not get better at it and will continue to injure and kill hens. Make sure that only one tom has access to the hens. Many hen injuries occur due to one tom attacking the other tom while he is on the hen.

My turkeys spend the nights outside all year long. It gets down to -30°F here during the winter. They do fine. The turkey roosts are in the run under a section of flight netting.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Hi everybody, been pretty busy lately and haven't had a chance to catch up. Hope all is well!

A couple questions for you experienced turkey keepers.

1. Is there anything I can do in addition filing my Tom's nails to keep him from injuring my hens? His last hen that he had before I got this batch of young ones passed away from an infection on a bad gash he gave her during mating. I saw him trying to mount one of the BRs yesterday and I don't want a repeat. He is a bit clumsy.

2. Is there any harm in letting some of my turkeys sleep outside the coop through the winter? We are USDA zone 7 I believe. They sleep pretty high up in the trees next to the coop (some of them). I have tried getting them out several times, but a couple of the girls seem to persist.

Thank you in advance for any help!

I can make a turkey saddle for you. I tried it once on Sweet Pea and it didn't work out too well but that was before I perfected them lol. I just need to buy more denim first. PM me if you'd like any.

As for sleeping outside, mine did that for a while. I've found that hanging a light in the coop helps encourage them to go in but honestly, I think they'd be fine. Wild turkeys don't seem too bothered by it.

 

[sfgwife]

SOMEONE who shall not be named got the near drownin experience today.... this is how the rest of our day has been..... yanno... poutin, givin me the brush off, stink eyes, the BUTT. lol. Poor poor hound so neglected i tell ya. He wont even get in his FAV spot beside me on the couch with his noggin on my leg. Jerkface!

 

[sfgwife]

Oh! Saturday we are goin to look at a pair of RP teenagers. Anything special we should be lookin at other than normal bird stuff for these two?

 

[generaldsherman]

What's the ideal ratio for toms to hens? I've got 3 of each (toms and hens) and figured that two of the Toms would be Xmas dinner for my family and my in-laws family. Can one Tom cover 3 hens?

 

[generaldsherman]

Hi everybody, been pretty busy lately and haven't had a chance to catch up. Hope all is well!

A couple questions for you experienced turkey keepers.

1. Is there anything I can do in addition filing my Tom's nails to keep him from injuring my hens? His last hen that he had before I got this batch of young ones passed away from an infection on a bad gash he gave her during mating. I saw him trying to mount one of the BRs yesterday and I don't want a repeat. He is a bit clumsy.

2. Is there any harm in letting some of my turkeys sleep outside the coop through the winter? We are USDA zone 7 I believe. They sleep pretty high up in the trees next to the coop (some of them). I have tried getting them out several times, but a couple of the girls seem to persist.

Thank you in advance for any help!

I'm zone 7 as well, and my turkeys have been sleeping on the stake rack of my 1-ton Ford. They don't want to go inside, and they're too high for coyotes or anything like that to get them. They've been ok so far.

 

[rjohns39]

What's the ideal ratio for toms to hens? I've got 3 of each (toms and hens) and figured that two of the Toms would be Xmas dinner for my family and my in-laws family. Can one Tom cover 3 hens?

One Tom can support 3-5 hens.