A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Hardemans]

Hardaman...being as Houston is hot & humid, even worse than Memphis...here is my best bit of advise for handling those hot summers...




Daisy has perfected her technique....

Memphis, we had rabbits for a while and had a fan to keep them cool in the summer. During the heat of the day the turkeys would get on top of the rabbit cages to catch some wind. We moved a large trailer under the open barn and now they simply get under the trailer and find it cool enough during summer.

By the way - best to call me "Sparky". Got that name 63 years ago from my dad.

 

[duluthralphie]

Memphis, we had rabbits for a while and had a fan to keep them cool in the summer. During the heat of the day the turkeys would get on top of the rabbit cages to catch some wind. We moved a large trailer under the open barn and now they simply get under the trailer and find it cool enough during summer.

By the way - best to call me "Sparky". Got that name 63 years ago from my dad.

Hey Sparky!!


Good to see another one of us Chronologically challenged on here!

 

[Hardemans]

Thanks for that.

I apologize in advance for what I am going to say.

I do not think you should have turkeys, You said you have blackhead and predator loses. That is bad. Blackhead is terrible. When I got JJ and Ethel I had decided if they got blackhead they would be the last turkeys I would have. in addition to killing the birds, Blackhead makes them weak. A weak and sick turkey is like a flashing sandwich board advertising Turkey as the days special.

They will come in and the chickens will get picked off too,

The breeding pen idea is good, however, you would have to cover them, top and bottom. If the Toms can see each other they will fight through the fence instead of breeding. You have way too many Toms. Fill your freezer now.

If you do have any breeding it will be a gang bang on the poor hen. They will be raped over and over and die. ( I hope that description does not offend anyone) You might ask how I know this. It is simple I made these mistakes. I did not have a hen die, I stopped the rape and starting taking heads, literally.

You might be able to keep the turkeys if you limit the number of Toms, one or two only. Along with heavy worming often, I am not sure but I think it would break the cycle if there are no other poultry for miles around you.

Not a encouraging post I know, I am just trying to help you. I do not consider myself overly pessimistic I am just calling this as I see it.



I feel for you, I know how much I would miss my turkeys.

No need to apologize. Thick skin (mentally that is). At 65 I find that the outer skin is a little less thick. Refereeing the turkeys yesterday left a few bloody spots.

The predator thing was my fault. Had all of my Porters Poults in a separate area surrounded by and portable electrical fence. They were out of their coops that afternoon and i forgot to plug in the charger. You guessed it, a bobcat got 8 of them. They were 6 weeks old. I lost a group of Beltsville whites to what I believe was blackhead. Bright yellow runny droppings. Drooping wings, weak. 5 of my Narri's got it also but 4 made it through and are part of the renegade troop attacking the old boy. They are healthy and vigorous.

This is my third year with turkeys. We raised a number of BBBs and filled our freezer. Then went a got couple of grown turkeys. A black, Narri, and a blue slate tom and hen,. Hatched some eggs and harvested a couple for Christmas. Super good, better than the BBB's although smaller. Also gave some to relatives and sold a few.

I am going to take the general advice here and thin the herd, so to speak. See if we can have a large hatch come spring. I found that those I hatch seldom have any health problems.

 

[duluthralphie]

No need to apologize. Thick skin (mentally that is). At 65 I find that the outer skin is a little less thick. Refereeing the turkeys yesterday left a few bloody spots.

The predator thing was my fault. Had all of my Porters Poults in a separate area surrounded by and portable electrical fence. They were out of their coops that afternoon and i forgot to plug in the charger. You guessed it, a bobcat got 8 of them. They were 6 weeks old. I lost a group of Beltsville whites to what I believe was blackhead. Bright yellow runny droppings. Drooping wings, weak. 5 of my Narri's got it also but 4 made it through and are part of the renegade troop attacking the old boy. They are healthy and vigorous.

This is my third year with turkeys. We raised a number of BBBs and filled our freezer. Then went a got couple of grown turkeys. A black, Narri, and a blue slate tom and hen,. Hatched some eggs and harvested a couple for Christmas. Super good, better than the BBB's although smaller. Also gave some to relatives and sold a few.

I am going to take the general advice here and thin the herd, so to speak. See if we can have a large hatch come spring. I found that those I hatch seldom have any health problems.

It is very possible it was not blackhead then. I would do the same. unless I was sure it was blackhead. Those senior moments and the birds pay for it don't they. I wish I was 21 and retired, instead of an old fart and retired. life would be so much better...

 

[memphis]

Wonder how Feisty's trip is going. Think she'll find any turkeys?

And Aurora is amoung the missing...

Rained all day...blah. Well at least it isn't ice. By Monday its supposed to be 70. Such a weird winter here so far. Even here, 70 is not right the first part of January.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I'm still around. There's nothing new going on in the turkey front here but these are new as of yesterday

2 silkies, 2 show girls. I would've had 4 show girls but we had a 5 hour power outage two days before hatch that killed 2 of them :/

I also won 5 Ayam cemani chicks that will arrive sometime in January

Still waiting on the turkey girls to start laying. They're really taking their good old time!

Happy New year everybody! Don't party TOO hard!

 

[memphis]

Aww...thanks for the chix fix Aurora! Too cute!

 

[casportpony]

Last day to nominate!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/812597/byc-recognition-awards-educator-friend-spirit-greeter

--- NOMINATION SUBMISSION FORM ---

We are very excited to announce the Official Launch of Phase 2 of the BYC Award Program! Phase 2 isYOUR opportunity to recognize those outstanding BYC members that always enrich your BYC experience. Do you know a BYC member that is exceptional and always goes Above and Beyond in their commitment to their fellow BYC members and the BYC community? If so, we want to hear about them!

We are now accepting nominations from the Community for those individual Members that consistently demonstrate a commitment to excellence in one or more of the following areas:

1. BYC Educator: This is a Staff awarded accolade. We have changed this award to reflect only the highest standards. Only those who adhere to the highest standards of knowledge and education will be considered for this award. While nominations will be accepted for this award, the Staff will thoroughly vet each person and only those who meet/exceed the Staff's high criteria will be awarded the Educator Badge. Nominees must, among other points, have a verifiable reputation of providing information more than just "common knowledge," assist members in a positive and courteous manner, be open to feedback without getting defensive, and should maintain their good standing with little disciplinary action for rules violation.
2. BYC Friend: These individuals are just plain fun and great to have around! They are our favorite comedians and enablers; our most cluckative. They are always accessible to lend a cordial and helping hand. Their enthusiasm encourages us, their empathy comforts us.
3. BYC Spirit: These individuals best demonstrate ALL-AROUND outstanding service and commitment to the BYC members and community. While maybe not expert educators, they are trusted Educators nonetheless, as well as Friends to all. They are dedicated to the BYC Community as a whole, and strive to help promote, support and uphold its values and goals.
4. BYC Greeter:
   
   These individuals are our BYC "Welcome Wagon!" They are the members that are most active in welcoming the new members to our community, especially in the "New Member Introductions" forum. Nominees will be judged on a) How long they've been welcoming new members; b) How many new members they welcome; and c) The quality and friendliness of their welcome.

See all the awards here.

Nomination & Award Process:

1. Use this Nomination Submission Form to make your nomination, and be sure to include a brief comment on why you are nominating the individual. Nominations with no comment and only a name cannot be accepted.
2. Members may place in nomination a maximum of four (4) members per month; however, you may nominate only one (1) member per award category per month.
3. Nominations are automatically forwarded to the BYC Awards Committee. They will validate and tabulate all nominations.
4. Member must be active and in good standing in the BYC community to receive and/or retain awards.
5. Members may be nominated for, and be awarded, in more than one award category; eligibility requirements must be met for each individual award.
6. Members may not nominate themselves for any award; all self-nominations will be voided.
7. Qualified Awardees will be announced quarterly and Badges given.
8. The Awards Committee, at its discretion and by majority vote, may elect to reclassify a nomination to a more appropriate award classification.
9. All nominations shall remain confidential and known only to the Awards Committee and BYC Staff.
10. The Members of the Awards Committee shall remain confidential and known only to BYC Staff.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Hardaman...being as Houston is hot & humid, even worse than Memphis...here is my best bit of advise for handling those hot summers...




Daisy has perfected her technique....

I love that picture!

-Kathy

 

[feistychick]

I'll start out by saying that my family thinks I'm nuts!! But I saw turkeys today e. They were grazing along the side of the road and I'm not sure what they were, looked like a bronze or wild turkey color. They are not native here in New Zealand, but there are small populations of wild/feral turkeys. Totally made my afternoon

And happy new year all!!