A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Chaos18]

I wanted to eat my turkeys last thanksgiving, but they were way to small. They did not become large enough until Easter.

I bought 4 BB to eat this year 3 are alive still. They will make it for sure. The slates are just too small, unless I want "cornish game hen turkey" which I just might do. I ended up with a 13 pound chicken instead last thanksgiving.

Yea hopefully they will have enough meat on them for our small family of four. That's a big chicken.

 

[duluthralphie]

Yea hopefully they will have enough meat on them for our small family of four. That's a big chicken.

Yep it is. I like my big chickens. I hope to have bigger this year.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote:

 

[feistychick]

Well it is finally a bit drier out, and the babies were out rolling in the dirt (mud) a bit. We managed to get most of the storm damaged trees down, so had time to let them run free for a little while. They are adventurous and growing so darn fast!

 

[memphis]

They look great! I want babies....:/ !!

 

[feistychick]

They look great! I want babies....:/ !!

It's so neat having them from a few days old. One is a week older and not nearly as people-oriented. They come when they are called and jump up when you ask them to. I thought they'd be hard to put back in the coop after running around, but they've been super easy - just open the door and motion them in. I'm sure that will change when they hit "teen-age" and stop listening lol

 

[mountain mom]

I want to get 1 male turkey when I move on to more property but can't find a place that will sex the turkeys. PLEASE PRIVETE MSG ME IF YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN.

Earlier in this thread, R2Elk had posted a link on an interesting way to sex turkeys. You hold them upside down. Males will kick and wiggle, females will be docile and hold one or both legs in.

If you have a feed store nearby that will be bringing in turkeys, see if they will let you pick out your poult.

 

[duluthralphie]

Earlier in this thread, R2Elk had posted a link on an interesting way to sex turkeys. You hold them upside down. Males will kick and wiggle, females will be docile and hold one or both legs in.

If you have a feed store nearby that will be bringing in turkeys, see if they will let you pick out your poult.

I have found that to be the one piece of information that R2elk has given that does not work. All my poults kicked!

And I have some hens from my young'uns.



I think the best way to get a hen is drive to Minnesota and take a prisoner on an out of state parole.



Otherwise, I think he could be the volunteer to try my whizbang chicken plucker when I finish it.

 

[R2elk]

Quote:
The upside down trick is from @Celie and the hens will hold both legs up to their chest. It is just one indicator that when combined with other indicators can be very helpful in sexing very young poults.

He original post made in August 2013 describing her method of telling toms from hens. She claims 94% accuracy using her method.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/725829/turkeys-for-2013/2750

None of my day old poults held still using the upside down trick this year but did hold still several days later. Unfortunately of the group that I was trying to sex only two or three of them turned out to be hens and at least ten of the thirteen are toms now that they are old enough to sex by conventional means.

Good luck.

 

[duluthralphie]

The upside down trick is from @Celie and the hens will hold both legs up to their chest. It is just one indicator that when combined with other indicators can be very helpful in sexing very young poults.

He original post made in August 2013 describing her method of telling toms from hens. She claims 94% accuracy using her method.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/725829/turkeys-for-2013/2750

None of my day old poults held still using the upside down trick this year but did hold still several days later. Unfortunately of the group that I was trying to sex only two or three of them turned out to be hens and at least ten of the thirteen are toms now that they are old enough to sex by conventional means.

Good luck.

They have to be day old for it to work?


That could be my problem.