A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[OneMountainAcres]

Ralph-I'm just glad they got there in one piece and didn't freeze! Just sorry it took you an hour to unwrap them lol.

I mark all my air cells at lockdown. Mostly so I know which way to lay them down lol. And, I only mark dates on them when they'll be mailing out so the other person knows how old they are.

 

[feedman77]

Well I found another yearling hen that is starting to sprout a beard.

That makes 3. 2 Bourbon and now a palm.

There is only a 10 percent chance of that in wild turkeys.

Are heritage percentages higher?

Or am I just lucky to have such rare hens?

 

[feistychick]

Well I found another yearling hen that is starting to sprout a beard.

That makes 3. 2 Bourbon and now a palm.

There is only a 10 percent chance of that in wild turkeys.

Are heritage percentages higher?

Or am I just lucky to have such rare hens?

It's funny that so many of us have hens with little beards I think it must be a higher percentage than wild turkeys. Big Bird definitely has one, and Coco doesn't care for being touched so I can't tell lol.

 

[gevshiba]

That was a good idea - planting what's in your scratch grain. )

I didn't plant herds, I planted herbs. Sorry, I missed that typo. My scratch is non GMO, no soy whole grain, so it does pretty well. There was a stalk of milo (several but the neighbor mowed them down) that grew near the coop door. When it was mature, I pulled it up and gave it to the birds. They loved it. All that was left was half the stalk.

 

[gevshiba]

Aurora and I traded some eggs.

She is the egg packing champion of the world. Mine got there was a couple broken and detached air sacs. I thought I was packing them so well. I have sent 2 batches of eggs and both have had broken eggs in them. Disgusting! I think the post office completely ignores the words "FRAGILE" and "EGGS" when written on the package.


My mailman left the eggs on my deck in with below freezing temps. I may or may not have live eggs. I candled her eggs and found some of the air sacs. I must admit I have trouble finding air sacs in turkey eggs. I did find one that now has 2 air sacs. one on the top and one on the side.

I got the eggs on Saturday and left them in the package to warm and relax. I opened them yesterday and they have been sitting since then. I will be putting them in the incubator today, after they get washed and rinsed. It appears she puts the date on hers, so the oldest egg is 8 days old today. It is time to hatch.

I only mark mine with which breeding group they come from. I place eggs every 7-10 days so I know they never get old.

Just curious how or what do you mark on yours?

I mark the air sac on all chicken eggs, I do not on Turkey eggs as it is just too hard to see. I have found if I do not mark chicken eggs I will put and egg in upside down. Especially with creamette eggs, which are a little on the round side.

I mark dates. I also marked weights on the chicken eggs this time. I'm trying to increase the size of my birds and eggs, so a little experiment. I've written other things like question marks for something or a mark to remind me what egg might need re-candled. I've not had any ill affects from writing on the eggs, as far as I can see, so why not.

 

[Goronson Chicks]

I didn't plant herds, I planted herbs.  Sorry, I missed that typo.  My scratch is non GMO, no soy whole grain, so it does pretty well.  There was a stalk of milo (several but the neighbor mowed them down) that grew near the coop door.  When it was mature, I pulled it up and gave it to the birds.  They loved it.  All that was left was half the stalk.

What brand of scratch did you find that is nonGMO?

 

[mom of silkies]

I'm new to turkeys, and my chocolate turkeys just stating laying, how long can I hoard the eggs, before putting them in the incubator?

 

[feedman77]

I'm new to turkeys, and my chocolate turkeys just stating laying, how long can I hoard the eggs, before putting them in the incubator?

I would say 10 days. Keep them small end down in a cool area. And tilt or rotate at least twice a day.

Congrats.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I'm new to turkeys, and my chocolate turkeys just stating laying, how long can I hoard the eggs, before putting them in the incubator?

I save for a week at a time but I don't bother rotating or tilting them. They just sit on my counter in a tray, pointy end down.

 

[mom of silkies]

I would say 10 days. Keep them small end down in a cool area. And tilt or rotate at least twice a day.

Congrats.

Ok, thank you! I will post pictures of the babies when they hatch!