A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Flashpoint]

I went looking for a missing poult. He was there this morning when I let the 3 out. Found snoodless, (he lost his snood fighting with a hatch mate) dead in with the older turkey poults. I think the jakes killed him.
I had been hoping to integrate them before winter. The 3 youngest poults were in with some chickens with a 3' fence in-between them... for a month or so.. it's not like they never seen them. Infact the older sometimes visit
Figures it's one that had a name.

I am so sorry Molpet - I hate losing any of them

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Yup - lol - and that's the dilemma. According to all I can find, there is a big difference in the sizes. On average, Midget White toms as adults weigh 13-14 lbs and hens up to 10 lbs. My rooster weighs 10 lbs.

Narragansett on the other hand - Size: Adult tom: 33 lbs, adult hen: 18 lbs, yearling tom 30 lbs, yearling hen 16 lbs, young tom 23 lbs, young hen 14 lbs. This is more in line with the ones I have here other than I think I am a little low weight-wise since I am not trying to fatten them up.

I expect there will be some variation, but I wouldn't think that much within either variety. I'm not even sure how tall they may get as there is little to next to nothing information about the birds - at least that I have found so far. Both Tommie and Iron are at least (or close to) 3 feet tall from foot to head.

Anyway, I hope to know more as they continue to grow.

And, I will keep investigating. Geesh, it had never crossed my mind to write to the guy I bought the eggs from until today (duh) ....

I didn't realize they'd be that much smaller lol. I would need measurements from wing pit to wing pit over the back and from between the wings to the base of the tail. The bad thing is, i wouldn't be able to make them until they're full grown.

 

[Flashpoint]

I didn't realize they'd be that much smaller lol. I would need measurements from wing pit to wing pit over the back and from between the wings to the base of the tail. The bad thing is, i wouldn't be able to make them until they're full grown.

I know, Auroa lol. That's why I needed to know HOW to measure for a saddle.

Yes, they are the smallest of the turkeys - and I do HOPE Midget means Midget! I figure the soonest I could measure would be late spring, but time will tell.

They are already doing things differently than the other turkeys - like gobbling at 6-7 weeks old. I heard one of the "alleged" hens making "turkey hen clucks" the past two days. The problem is - if I am turned back to them - by the time I turn around to look, they are just staring at me.

And they have this set of tones - often done VERY LOUD - kind of a Beep beep BEEP Beep beep BEEP - over and over again and esp if I walk out of the room. I can hear them even when I am clean down at the shed - about 150 feet away with them inside the house.

I am working on getting their outside temp pen ready and - by next spring - I WILL have a chicken house brooder!! Btw, the dog strap is to keep them from opening the doors - they learned how to do that last week.

 

[CindyinSD]

I went looking for a missing poult. He was there this morning when I let the 3 out. Found snoodless, (he lost his snood fighting with a hatch mate) dead in with the older turkey poults. I think the jakes killed him.
I had been hoping to integrate them before winter. The 3 youngest poults were in with some chickens with a 3' fence in-between them... for a month or so.. it's not like they never seen them. Infact the older sometimes visit
Figures it's one that had a name.

Poor little guy.

 

[rjohns39]

I went looking for a missing poult. He was there this morning when I let the 3 out. Found snoodless, (he lost his snood fighting with a hatch mate) dead in with the older turkey poults. I think the jakes killed him.
I had been hoping to integrate them before winter. The 3 youngest poults were in with some chickens with a 3' fence in-between them... for a month or so.. it's not like they never seen them. Infact the older sometimes visit
Figures it's one that had a name.

So sorry Molpet

 

[memphis]

Flashpoint....they are so cute! I'm curious about them. They sound interesting. How much longer will they be in the house? Do you let them loose? Are the friendly??

 

[Flashpoint]

Flashpoint....they are so cute! I'm curious about them. They sound interesting. How much longer will they be in the house? Do you let them loose? Are the friendly??

Memphis - so far.......

Super Friendly!!

Which is exactly what I wanted. These guys are born lappers. They watch me constantly. Yell if I leave, but I leave anyway since I have so much to get done before winter. They fight over who is first out the gate (door on cage). And, there are multiple snood pulling contests. All are now calmly sitting in my lap or in the lap of my two grandsons (who visited over the weekend). They were allowed to walk around the room on a sheet and they have flown from the floor either to one of us or to the cage. When it's just me - I only let one out at a time.

I am very hard at work revamping a temp pen into a more secure temp pen. I have wire laid all around and it's tall enough they can practice some flying. All my temps for the next 10 days are between 90 degrees day (and I will probably make sure they are inside) to between 60 and 70 at night. They can get inside another cage if necessary or they can sit on top. As I get time, I will add at least a roost big enough for all four to get on. With it being only myself doing this - I have to list by priority and a roost can wait a few days.

The permanent pen will be inside my big chicken shed. I am changing my feed room over to the 19-foot camper - because I decided I wanted ALL birds inside the shed for winter. Next spring I will work on making the camper into a pen - either for the midget whites or one of the other pair of turkeys. I figure half can be a feed room and the other half a pen. That one will have its own run. My other turkey room will also have a big run attached to it. Fortunately, I also have the option of extending my big run and adding another pen. That's another spring project at this time.

As to getting out in the yard to roam free - no, I haven't gotten that far! I think I want a few more weeks age-wise before I attempt that - and only one at a time. I'm getting too old to try and chase down 4 birds. For the past week or so, they have been outside in a large cage made out of a 4 foot high dog fence - and for hours. It's covered top, bottom, and today it will get 1-inch chicken netting on the sides. It's giving them a chance at eating grass (and rocks) and getting used to outside noises.

If I don't get the temp pen ready over the next couple of days, I will extend this one with another dog fence. Love those things.


Plus while I had the grandsons here, I built a new roost for the new chickens inside the big shed - large enough to hold 40 chickens. I have 27 - I think. It helps to have someone else hold or hand me a board since neither one of them can swing a hammer or use a saw. lol

 

[CindyinSD]

Plus while I had the grandsons here, I built a new roost for the new chickens inside the big shed - large enough to hold 40 chickens. I have 27 - I think. It helps to have someone else hold or hand me a board since neither one of them can swing a hammer or use a saw. lol

That’s what power tools are for, Flashpoint! Pneumatic nailer, reciprocating/skill/jig saws, power drill/driver, etc. I’m useless without them.

 

[memphis]

They sound delightful Flashpoint. Born lappers! What sweeties. I'm going to be interested in your adventures with them! So far they seem like wonderful little guys! And they are so stinking cute!!

 

[Flashpoint]

That’s what power tools are for, Flashpoint! Pneumatic nailer, reciprocating/skill/jig saws, power drill/driver, etc. I’m useless without them.

I have a reciprocating saw and a jigsaw. I have my own tools in general and I fight constantly to make sure what is "borrowed" - is returned!

I WANT one of the pneumatic nailers, but that's only found on my wish list right now.

Hammering nails into 40-year-old oak and chestnut is HARD. I am so glad I grew up with a father who had a construction company and a trucking company. My first ever "real job" was rebuilding/repairing/modifying Exxon, Arco, and Crown gas stations (other than my egg route). I bought my second motorcycle working there.

My second job was driving big rigs. I like big trucks, but not my favorite form of work. That said, my son, one son-in-law, a sister, a brother, and an ex - all drive or drove.

And that doesn't count the number of horses and ponies I raised, broke to ride, and trained for pleasure and show.

However, age is now catching up. I can usually manage to do what I need to do, but the hands and shoulders protest constantly.