A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[memphis]

RJohn's we are supposed to get a "wintery mix" sometime this evening. Friend in Paris TN said they already have 4 inches of snow. Good luck over there!

Feedman, you too!!

 

[memphis]

Yes RJohns, was referring to Giles. It is early Ralph, but out spring is the earliest I've ever seen. Not sure if that makes a difference.

R2elk...you turkey trouble starter!

 

[R2elk]

Yes RJohns, was referring to Giles. It is early Ralph, but our spring is the earliest I've ever seen. Not sure if that makes a difference.

R2elk...you turkey trouble starter!

I don't start the trouble, I just observe what I see.

I did start a rooster fight today by returning a rooster to the flock that had been separated for over a month. Of course the Sweetgrass tom did everything he could to break up the fights. BTW the Sweetgrass hen is growing a beard.

 

[feistychick]

If you want the fighting to start big time, just put some of your boys on one side of a fence and some on the other side.  Doesn't matter how good of buddies they were before or who was the top dog before.  When they are on opposite sides of a see through fence they get really bold and really go after each other.

If the fence is made of poultry (chicken) wire they might even end up cutting their snoods off.

LOL - no way would I even try that! My boys are currently getting along pretty well in a bachelor group. Adding fences would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull . It's funny how much a barrier of any kind can change their attitude. If I was trying to breed them, I'd have issues with my current setup, of course - but mine are mostly pets so it wasn't a concern. I can just imagine the fun I'll have when I move them to a new building and runs this summer.....

 

[OneMountainAcres]

No turkey news here but these guys hatched yesterday

 

[R2elk]

LOL - no way would I even try that! My boys are currently getting along pretty well in a bachelor group. Adding fences would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull

. It's funny how much a barrier of any kind can change their attitude. If I was trying to breed them, I'd have issues with my current setup, of course - but mine are mostly pets so it wasn't a concern. I can just imagine the fun I'll have when I move them to a new building and runs this summer.....

The main thing to do to minimize fighting is to make the fences so they can't be seen through. As Ralphie is (oh I forgot Ralohie) finding out if they can see through the fences they spend all their time trying to fight through the fences.

It can be a board fence or if using chain link, they make plastic inserts for it. The solid part only has to be high enough that the turkeys can't see over it or through it. Even a fence made of pallets can be helpful.

 

[duluthralphie]

I always thought it was just mine that fought through the fences. They are complete idiots when they have a fence to make themselves braver. I took my Toms out of the breeding pens for a while to give the hens a break from the fighting. As soon as they were outside to fence. No more fights.

However, I am still not happy with sidekicks behavior. The other Toms are off doing Tom things and hitting on the beady eyed lavender. Sidekick is walking around and around the breeding pens showing off to the hens.

 

[R2elk]

I always thought it was just mine that fought through the fences. They are complete idiots when they have a fence to make themselves braver. I took my Toms out of the breeding pens for a while to give the hens a break from the fighting. As soon as they were outside to fence. No more fights.

However, I am still not happy with sidekicks behavior. The other Toms are off doing Tom things and hitting on the beady eyed lavender. Sidekick is walking around and around the breeding pens showing off to the hens.

I recall a story about your beady eyed hen taking off right before dark one night. Are you saying that she survived her night out or is this a different beady eyed hen?

 

[duluthralphie]

I recall a story about your beady eyed hen taking off right before dark one night. Are you saying that she survived her night out or is this a different beady eyed hen?

This is her sister. I am not breeding either one. I have no idea if she has a nest or not. If she does she might finder herself in freezer camp before she can sit on the eggs. I do not need to breed a bird with an obvious defect. As I get better at this poultry raising I am getting more and more fussy.

I had thought about putting her with a black so I had all Blue poults. The eye problem would be gone, but then decided it was just going to be hidden and would come back if those birds ever breed. So they are now out of the pool....Of course, the one is helping to continue the coyote gene pool I think,

 

[JRNash]

Ralph, I may be catching your dislike of the web footed feathered rat's.....
They are destroying my once CLEAN brooder!!!! I cleaned it up,put new pine chips....two days later a sodden mess!!! I only have to clean it every other week with chicks!!!