A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[memphis]

Another unusually temperate morning here. I could get used to this! Turkey's helped me water, rendering them "damp". They do love playing in the hose! After watering Annie decided on a dust bath. One damp rather bald turkey making a mud pie of herself! Blah!

 

[feedman77]

every time TSC has a sale on them, the web site keeps telling me they are out of stock online and the nearest store is in MO that has them...
so I gave up and bought one from amazon for 425 (free shipping like tsc has right now) It came Wednesday and I used it this morning... works great on chickens, I had a bachelor that I was going to process that came out of the coop with his head hanging down and acting like he was trying to swallow something...
I should have checked his throat and crop BEFORE I threw him in the plucker though..cleans the crop out too LOL
Things I need to remember:
my leaky bucket got plugged with feathers so I need to get the drill out..It was ready to overflow.
I had a feather stuck between the feather plate and the motor, around the shaft
and somehow I had feathers sucked into the motor vent on the underside of the motor.

I used mine this morning butchered 5 roosters.

The 1st 2 I did tore up the skin pretty bad. Used 155 degree water. But birds were clean.

Next 2 were 1 at a time. Did good except for wing feathers. Still 155 to 160 water. No skin tears.

Last bird was 150 water. But I cut head and neck off. Then after scald cut off feet and legs. It came out perfect not even a pin feather left..

I had some more to butcher but got rained out. It's pouring now with a lot of sky to ground lightening

 

[rjohns39]

Here's a better pic of Sam and her poults in my front yard.

 

[memphis]

Wow...Sam has a nice batch of babies!

Feedman, sounds like you got it worked out!!

 

[feedman77]

I hope I have plucker figured out. But my luck probably not. Lol.

But on the Turkey front the he/she Turkey that has kept me guessing for a year. Had certain features of a Tom and a hen. Laid no eggs strutted or gobbled. Actually pretty much a silent bird never talks.

Was in full strut this morning. So it is finally a he.

During some thunder clap 3 of my bourbon poults gave the 6 to 8 note yelps. Tells me the are little males.

 

[memphis]

Amazing that bird went a year before deciding he was a he! LOL!

 

[rjohns39]

Amazing that bird went a year before deciding he was a he! LOL!

If you guys remember last fall, I had a hen locked up in the bachelor pad until you folks convinced me he was a she...

 

[Finnie]

Since it has been so quiet, I thought I would share a few turkey shots.

View attachment 1121202

View attachment 1121203

View attachment 1121204

View attachment 1121205

View attachment 1121207

View attachment 1121208

They are beautiful!

 

[Finnie]

Poor Ralphie. He must be very sick to go this long without posting. I think I'll go lurk over on the Minnesota thread. They probably know more than we do.

I hope you feel better soon @duluthralphie

 

[Finnie]

Ok, he has pretty much been MIA over there all week too, but he did come on and post this today:

Hello all

I am alive but not doing great.

I am glad your Dad's surgery went well BC.

Things are just piling up here. We were going to Togo with the kids this coming week. We are not sure we can do that now.

I have to much I have not gotten done here. I find I can only work an hour or so a day, barely enough time to feed the birds.

Getting older is not fun. I hope to go out and sit with Cuddles for a while today and see how the rest are doing.

TTYl.