A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[R2elk]

R2elk....are you getting your girls a nesting kayak? Apparently that's a "thing" with the MN hens!

No. Fortunately I don't have any MN turkeys.

 

[duluthralphie]

R2elk....are you getting your girls a nesting kayak? Apparently that's a "thing" with the MN hens!

He doesn’t need a nesting kayak they are just as happy on a work bench or storage shelf.

 

[Stormer04]

Hey I am raising turkeys starting in a month or so for thanksgiving! Does anyone have any advice?

 

[R2elk]

Hey I am raising turkeys starting in a month or so for thanksgiving! Does anyone have any advice?

Don't play with them or become attached to them when they are poults. It will make it much easier when processing day rolls around.

 

[duluthralphie]

Hey I am raising turkeys starting in a month or so for thanksgiving! Does anyone have any advice?

What kind of turkeys are you getting?

If you plan to eat them at thanksgiving they should be a broad breasted variety, otherwise you will be eating skinny turkey compared to what your use too.

 

[Molpet]

What kind of turkeys are you getting?

If you plan to eat them at thanksgiving they should be a broad breasted variety, otherwise you will be eating skinny turkey compared to what your use too.

But the heritage taste better because they are older

 

[CindyinSD]

Hey I am raising turkeys starting in a month or so for thanksgiving! Does anyone have any advice?

Where do you live, Stormer? You can add a general location to your profile--it helps people help you. As Ralphie says, if you need a large TG turkey, you'll want to get a broadbreasted or three... or four. They come in white and bronze. White is bigger, I think. Turkey poults can be delicate, though once they get a little bigger they're incredibly healthy and resilient.

Read anything on here about chicken chicks. Turkeys in the brooder can be raised similarly. Don't put the babies in with waterfowl (nothing that needs to be warm & dry should be with waterfowl in the brooder). I'm not sure about putting them with baby chicken chicks. I've done that when they're a little older and wouldn't recommend it. They can be kind of bullies once they reach size dominance.

If you do get the broad breasted, butcher them before they get too big. They'll be more tender and much easier to handle during butchering. You don't want to be the person pulling a soaked-through 40 lb (dressed weight) turkey out of the scalding pot. (Don't ask me how I know... ).

 

[duluthralphie]

But the heritage taste better because they are older

While this is true.

They said they were going to get the turkeys in a month or so. Which means no matter which kind they get the turkeys about 6 months old at Thanksgiving when they butcher them.

A 6 month old heritage is not real meaty.

 

[R2elk]

A 6 month old heritage is not real meaty.

Maybe 12 lbs. if a tom or 8 lbs. or less if a hen.

 

[duluthralphie]

(nothing should be with waterfowl .).

I fixed your sentence for you...


I have raised chick with turkeys from day one it goes well. The chicks kind of teach the turkeys how to eat and drink. Turkeys are not known for their intellect.