A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Phill98]

Distance wise, @gluglu isn't that far from you and is in Romania.

@gluglu should we start our group?

And maybe I should get some turkeys before that?

 

[R2elk]

Thanks all!
I would keep them mainly for meat actually, but I also would like for them to be able to reproduce.

Plan is to keep a trio- would that be a good combination long term? And for how long would they be able to produce poults? I am asking here because I would like to hear from you guys that have first hand experience.

Keeping just a trio can be very hard on the hens. I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom but they can handle more than that.

I have an eleven year old hen who did produce fertile eggs last year but she is really slowing down in the egg production. Her daughter that was 9 last year produced fertile eggs and hatched eggs that I gave her that were not hers.

Porter's Rare Heritage Turkeys used to have an article posted about how they did with their breeding stock. I believe it said they kept their breeding toms for 3 to 4 years and their breeding hens for 4 to 5 years.

 

[Phill98]

Keeping just a trio can be very hard on the hens. I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom but they can handle more than that.

I have an eleven year old hen who did produce fertile eggs last year but she is really slowing down in the egg production. Her daughter that was 9 last year produced fertile eggs and hatched eggs that I gave her that were not hers.

Porter's Rare Heritage Turkeys used to have an article posted about how they did with their breeding stock. I believe it said they kept their breeding toms for 3 to 4 years and their breeding hens for 4 to 5 years.

So maybe four would be good? Guess it would depend on Tom as well? Maybe like 5 hens when younger and 3-4 after few years?
I will try to find that article and actually read more about turkeys since I just started thinking of them few months ago. That's why I may end up getting them next spring instead of this year.

I thought of two because I remember them breeding rarely, but again they don't have to breed as often.

 

[R2elk]

So maybe four would be good? Guess it would depend on Tom as well? Maybe like 5 hens when younger and 3-4 after few years?
I will try to find that article and actually read more about turkeys since I just started thinking of them few months ago. That's why I may end up getting them next spring instead of this year.

I thought of two because I remember them breeding rarely, but again they don't have to breed as often.

Just because you don't actually see the breeding, it does not mean they aren't breeding frequently. It is not uncommon for a tom to breed a hen multiple times during a day as well as breeding other hens multiple times during the same day. My current tom tends to do his breeding mainly in the morning but I have had others that would breed any time during the day.

 

[Phill98]

Just because you don't actually see the breeding, it does not mean they aren't breeding frequently. It is not uncommon for a tom to breed a hen multiple times during a day as well as breeding other hens multiple times during the same day. My current tom tends to do his breeding mainly in the morning but I have had others that would breed any time during the day.

Was thinking the same, but turkey people that I have talked to say they don't do it often so I must have assumed it just doesn't happen much. Thanks!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Well, Miss Mary may be gone, but Cynthia who could be her daughter has decided to go broody..... If Cynthia would fill Mary's position, then the entire broody bunch is broody again, just not together. Pebbles is doing good with her babies...

Princess has claimed the nest in the turkey coop and is sitting tight and today, Cynthia tag teamed with Ana (SPR chicken) and hijacked Ebony's (Muscovy duck) nest. So now, if all goes well, I'll have a turkey and a chicken working together to raise ducklings....

 

[aliciaplus3]

Wow....if no heat doesnt root her out you need to go to plan B....the brooder in the bedroom. Sorry about the furnace. That's a bummer. You may have to hand out lappers to keep everyone warm until fixed.

Alicia....that's the most darling little bug eyed baby bird! Just made my day! Thanks!

That's 3 of my dd s favorites, so far! If I am not careful she will try to house train them..... just what I need 6 turkeys loose in the house

 

[memphis]

LOL...oh come on Alicia....your daughter needs a few house turkeys!!!

Aurora....how funny! A chicken & a turkey raising ducks!! I just love the "Scoop from the Coop"...always something fun going on.

 

[memphis]

Its 24 here this morning. My aussie dogs bounded out the door. My coonhound stuck his nose out the door & disappeared. Found him asleep in my bed. Big difference between a double coated breed & a slick hound coat. Aurora...you may have to make him a hound coat!!
Not getting above freezing today. At least we didn't get any of the percipitation our lame weather people were predicting. And it's going to be in the 60's this weekend. Geez...

Hope everyone is surviving this cold. Ralphie...you still with us??

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I didn't know it was supposed to snow today. There was a fresh inch of snow on the car this morning and it was coming down heavy in small flakes. The roads are all covered but it's business as usual. The school bus was only 3 minutes late lol