A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[RetiredRon]

Fiesty, I hate to hear about your broody getting up. I'm considering putting the incubator together for another try. . Out of all my trys, I hatched 10% at best.
As i shared, my only hen turkey got killed about a week ago. I feel so bad for my two Toms. I either have to sale these guys or find them a hen. They seem sad.
Today, I went outside and they were separate.. this isn't normal for them. . When I looked at them, they were both really bloody. .. I am assuming they were fighting each other...

 

[memphis]

Ron, I forgot, what breeds are your toms?

 

[feistychick]

Ron - you definitely need to get a couple of hens, that will keep the boys entertained

 

[RetiredRon]

Ron, I forgot, what breeds are your toms?

Blue Slates

 

[RetiredRon]

One of my Toms have a bad leg... I'd be willing to trade the one with the good legs for a hen.

I'm getting some splint material for this one when I go to Conway.

They were both in shock today after fighting. I brought them in and cleaned their faces and left them in my bathroom in nests I created. I have heard shock itself could really be bad for them if not treated. I thought I could at least give them heat and my bathroom is the only room with no windows so it's dark...
They are calm when it's dark

 

[duluthralphie]

I have found my Toms can get pretty beat up looking in the spring. ( well this time of year one).

I worried about it last year, I am not going to worry this year. Wild turkeys must do the same thing and I see wild Toms hanging together.

Last year one of them had such a bruised scabbed over head I thought he had blackhead, until I read more about blackhead.



I have decided I am going to give Sidekick 3 hens of his own this year. JJ will have 8. Sidekick is a self blue so I will give him the blue hen I have and 2 self blues. I will be over run with self blue poults. But hopefully they will sell.


Memphis Wanna come visit? Its a balmy -19.9 right now here. And the turkeys except for Ethel and one other hen are all outside. They must really hate the turkey house to not be in it tonight. I did throw them some shell corn again for the carbs to burn.

When it gets this cold I do not worry about the harmful aspects of shell corn, I worry more about them having enough carbs and calories to burn and stay warm.

 

[feistychick]

Ralph - your turkeys are crazy! I can't wait to see the babies that JJ and Sidekick produce I may make a roadtrip to get a couple of slate babies.... I'm sure they'd travel beautifully


Well I have to hit the road early in the morning to make my flight.

Darned if I don't have an egg peeping on my counter as I try to go to bed. It probably won't pip or survive, the timing is terrible. These eggs have certainly been put through the wringer. Poor dudes are in a shoebox under a heating pad with damp paper towels scrunched up inside for moisture. I can't give up on something that peeps at me when I talk to it :/ I have a brooder set up, just in case, since I won't have time in the morning to muck around. I have to admit I'm a wee bit upset with Blondie for leaving me with orphaned eggs at 20 days - we will not be doing this the next time she goes broody!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

You guys were talking about turkey talk. Lately Sweet Pea has been making this weird noise and I'm clueless what it means. It sounds almost like a very feminine gobble or like a long pigeon coo. Any thoughts?

 

[memphis]

Feisty. ...what a bummer. Not easy having to leave with a baby peeping. Maybe you should get an incubator, for a backup if nothing else. Poor little guys.

Aurora, what is Sweetpea doing when she makes that sound?

Ralphie. ..thanks for the offer....PASS! It's 20 here this morning. That's really cold for us. You realize we don't wear wool here. Can't even buy wool cloths here.

 

[memphis]

I think that's a good idea to give Sidekick a few girls. Have you considered putting Porter in a pen with a few girls? Just until Coffee picks him up? He's gorgeous. Are you still considering adding a Bourbon Red or Royal Palm hen to the mix?