A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[FredsGobblers]

Omg I one of their tiger bronze turkeys. I want one so bad!

If I can get the pencill gene into my flock I hope to one day breed to get a blue tiger. Doing crosses and working with the calculator gets the curiosity up about what some offspring would look like. Such as a red red color dilute lilac semi.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I actually have room for the 15! Maybe I will just get them. Not many options where I'm at for turkeys. Hoping I can remedy that some day. Going to get a bunch of meat turkeys too to sell around thanksgiving.

Well, you know if you wanted hatching eggs...lol

 

[Bantambird]

I'm helping my daughter for 4h by doing these little updates, so I thought I would share another one, now that the eggs are over two weeks, it's dancing baby time! Sadly, my lack of skill in filming is also on display as I cut myself off at a particularly great shot, but hey, everyone loves dancing babies. Out of the turkey eggs shown, only 2 are open, so I'm pretty happy with them.

 

[rjohns39]

That's so cool... I love candling during a hatch.

 

[PolarBerry]

My hens are being butts and picking at my tom’s tail plumage... they’re on 20% protein feed plus mealworms... I’ve given them other things to peck and they have new grass growing in but they always run up as he’s strutting and pick at him.

My family visiting said they now understand where the term being hen pecked comes from lol.

But any other tips to stop this? More distractions to peck at? I’ve been giving them scratch, random branches, and short grass clippings.

 

[R2elk]

View attachment 1262491 My hens are being butts and picking at my tom’s tail plumage... they’re on 20% protein feed plus mealworms... I’ve given them other things to peck and they have new grass growing in but they always run up as he’s strutting and pick at him.

My family visiting said they now understand where the term being hen pecked comes from lol.

But any other tips to stop this? More distractions to peck at? I’ve been giving them scratch, random branches, and short grass clippings.

The only thing I know that works is more room or more free range time.

 

[PolarBerry]

Well 3 of the 8 birds will be going to freezer camp soon enough so I assume that might help.

I have too many predators to free range. Today a hawk was sitting in the trees watching. Last week a bocat ran by as well as a bald eagle circling them overhead..

Should add their coop is about 9-10 square feet per bird and the pen/run they have is about 50-60 square feet per bird. I’m assuming because they ate all the interesting weeds/grass they’re bored now.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Mary started laying today, I caught her in the nest box! That means 2 of 7 are now laying! Pebbles has rejoined the flock. She's not completely healed but good enough that she should be fine. She's still sporting her saddle for protection. Azul went to his new home last Thursday and when I dropped him off, I ended up with an order for hatching eggs. It looks like once the girls all start laying, the first 4 dozen eggs are spoken for. I'm trading a dozen for silkied serama eggs, a dozen for showgirl and polish eggs, and I owe some for showgirl and quail eggs that I got earlier. I like bartering lol

 

[R2elk]

Well 3 of the 8 birds will be going to freezer camp soon enough so I assume that might help.

I have too many predators to free range. Today a hawk was sitting in the trees watching. Last week a bobcat ran by as well as a bald eagle circling them overhead..

Should add their coop is about 9-10 square feet per bird and the pen/run they have is about 50-60 square feet per bird. I’m assuming because they ate all the interesting weeds/grass they’re bored now.

When my turkeys are confined to their 50'x100' run they have approximately 600 Sq. ft. per bird. When I get up in the morning I release mine to free range on approximately 2 acres that are fenced in with a 6' tall 2"x4" welded wire fence. They get to free range all day until it is time to shut them in for the night.

I find hawks to be no problem for adult turkeys. I used to have Bald and Golden Eagles circle and fly over during the winter months but none ever bothered the turkeys. Fox used to be a problem many years ago but pretty much disappeared when the coyotes moved in. I have not had any dogs or coyotes inside my perimeter fence since I put it up but dogs were a big problem before this perimeter fence. I have heard of neighbors losing livestock to mountain lions and one day even found mountain lion prints walking up the trail between my property and the paved road but have not had a problem with them.

I keep a live trap baited with eggs set year round and eliminate any skunks, cats and raccoons that venture into the trap.

You could probably toss a soccer type ball into the pen to give your turkeys something to amuse themselves with.

 

[yoopergirl1211]

Well, you know if you wanted hatching eggs...lol

Worked out well last time!