A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[R2elk]

Have you been having a lot of cloudy overcasts days last few weeks or is this normal timing in your area?

Cloudy, overcast, snowstorms and yes all is normal. The yearling hens normally start laying on March 15. The older hens a week later.

 

[Huntmaster]

This morning when I was out taking care of turkeys thought I heard a turkey putting at me. Didn't see anything but all I could think was a wild bird around pens somewhere because my birds don't alarm putt at me. Was just out collecting eggs before dark and confirmed my thoughts. There he was a big old Eastern wild tom alongside of one of the pens. A big old beautiful long beard. I loudly mouth yelped at him, and he couldn't help but triple gobble at me setting all my birds off. Last year I had 3 long beards hanging around my pen for a few weeks until about 6 wild hens finally came and lead them away. Then one of those hens stayed until she got tired of me chasing her away each day. Will see what this breeding season brings in this spring.

 

[yesterDAYNE]

So one of my young sweetgrass hens has started squatting for me. I don't mind, but my tom is confusing me. Just now she was sitting at my feet with her wings spread and my tom came up behind her. He just stood there. Then he leaned down over her and just kept pecking her head until she ran. Didn't try to mount her. He just now chased her away. I noticed him doing this to both of the sweetgrass. He has never liked them. I thought he'd get over it when they were ready to mate. He seems fine with my blue red bronze who was raised with them, he leaves her alone mostly. He never did this to the other hens. It's so weird.

 

[Huntmaster]

That big wild eastern is still hanging today out, he is a beautiful bird. Putting at me again today but not totally running away, as not wanting to leave all the sexy gals.

 

[R2elk]

That big wild eastern is still hanging today out, he is a beautiful bird. Putting at me again today but not totally running away, as not wanting to leave all the sexy gals.

Isn't it about spring turkey season there?

 

[Finnie]

Got my first turkey egg of the year today. Right on time.... St Patrick's day

That is the same day I got my first one, too.

 

[Finnie]

I have a building inside one of my larger pens that I use for indoor brooding. Then they are moved to outdoor grow out pens. A few pics of setup. View attachment 3026842View attachment 3026845View attachment 3026847

This is really helpful. It gives me an idea of what to try to build, although on a much smaller scale.

 

[Huntmaster]

Isn't it about spring turkey season there?

Not until April 23rd

 

[Finnie]

I keep my breeding stock separated by sex Hens/Toms during most of the year except for spring mating. I have many smaller breeding pens to separate

This is how I used to breed my budgies, except for breeding they were put together in just pairs. By keeping the males and females separate, I didn’t have to worry about incorrectly sired offspring. And there is less fighting when the sexes aren’t mixed.

So basically what I need to do is build a giant Budgie breeding facility outside! (I already knew that, but it helps to see pictures of somebody’s set up that is already successful.)

It’s too bad we can’t just roll up layers of newspaper to throw turkey poop away!

 

[Huntmaster]

Isn't it about spring turkey season there?

Plus, that would be too easy I like the challenge of calling them in on their turf. But I do have a neighbor boy that lives next door that is Autistic I have taken out before. If any are still around at that time, I may try to set him up again. All the birds that come to my pens travel through their field. I helped him get his first last year.