A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[OneMountainAcres]

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.

We borrowed one from a friend this summer to use on our meaties. It was fantastic but every couple birds, we had to reach under and unclog all the feathers. It's amazing how much they clog. And apparently, no matter what you do, feathers get sucked up underneath the motor. No clue how that happens, but it does lol

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

It took us a little bit to figure out the timing on that thing. We tore the skin on quite a few while we were figuring it out and ripped a few wings. We didn't cut off the feet though before tossing them in so I'm sure that didn't help any.

Here's a better pic of Sam and her poults in my front yard.
View attachment 1122376

She has quite the brood! We saw the wild turkeys hanging around here a few weeks ago. There were about 5 hens and 30 poults. They were older too, beeps the fragile stage, so they must've had a successful year.

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

Thank for posting that. I hope he gets some relief soon.

You're in our thoughts and prayers @duluthralphie

 

[Flashpoint]

Ok, today when I let the birds out, the turkey pen looked like there had been a pillow fight from the number of feathers scattered around. Yet, I am not sure they are trying to molt or not or if it's just because of the "growing out more "adult" feathers" at this time. When I watch them preen, and then fluff out and shake, a lot of little feathers (almost like down feathers) go swirling.

Brandie staring up but can you see the little whitish feathers at the bottom of her wing? Closer photo of the little feathers underneath this one.

All of them have the same thing going on with the little feathers, but the loose feathers on the ground is everything from tail feathers to wing feathers to other feathers.

Tommie's little white feathers and some of the others scattered around them.

This photo is mostly to show how huge Tommie's feet are. Iron's feet size is nowhere close.

Another thing they have been doing is cleaning each other's faces. This is being done primarily by the hens to the toms. Anyone else see theirs do that? Just wondering.

 

[memphis]

Flash, seems like your gang is starting to molt. Tom (the Tank) is a handsome boy! Good looking flock.
And how cool to see all the wild hens with their babies?
So...was getting ready to take the girls on their evening stroll. Ran in the backdoor to feed dogs before we set off. Friend of mine from work was in the neighborhood ( looking at a house for sale) & stopped by. Had them follow me to the kitchen to finish feeding dogs when they spied two turkey heads staring in the back door. I guess they didn't realize I had turkeys. They were quite startled. It was pretty funny.

 

[rjohns39]

Flash, seems like your gang is starting to molt. Tom (the Tank) is a handsome boy! Good looking flock.
And how cool to see all the wild hens with their babies?
So...was getting ready to take the girls on their evening stroll. Ran in the backdoor to feed dogs before we set off. Friend of mine from work was in the neighborhood ( looking at a house for sale) & stopped by. Had them follow me to the kitchen to finish feeding dogs when they spied two turkey heads staring in the back door. I guess they didn't realize I had turkeys. They were quite startled. It was pretty funny.

flash I'm seeing the same thing in my boys--but I've got feathers everywhere right now as my teens are trading juvenile feathers for their adult feathers... Your kids are still stunning.

Memphis its so funny how people react to a turkey being around My other birds run away when someone new comes around, my turkey run to them to check it out.

 

[Bantambird]

flash I'm seeing the same thing in my boys--but I've got feathers everywhere right now as my teens are trading juvenile feathers for their adult feathers... Your kids are still stunning.

Memphis its so funny how people react to a turkey being around My other birds run away when someone new comes around, my turkey run to them to check it out.

I had a couple come to purchase some Marans a week ago, and Esther was very proudly showing off all her favorites while I rounded up the pullets (don't have much in the way of cages, just closed up runs to catch em'). The young jakes were on full display near the lady, and it made her rather nervous, especially after Esther said, just don't sit down or he may jump on your back....
I made Esther shoo both jakes away. Poor woman! The turkeys we're just curious.

 

[rjohns39]

I had a couple come to purchase some Marans a week ago, and Esther was very proudly showing off all her favorites while I rounded up the pullets (don't have much in the way of cages, just closed up runs to catch em'). The young jakes were on full display near the lady, and it made her rather nervous, especially after Esther said, just don't sit down or he may jump on your back....
I made Esther shoo both jakes away. Poor woman! The turkeys we're just curious.

I am convinced that one particular coo they do when they cock their heads translates to: "What you doin?"

 

[Flashpoint]

Flash, seems like your gang is starting to molt. Tom (the Tank) is a handsome boy! Good looking flock.
And how cool to see all the wild hens with their babies?
So...was getting ready to take the girls on their evening stroll. Ran in the backdoor to feed dogs before we set off. Friend of mine from work was in the neighborhood ( looking at a house for sale) & stopped by. Had them follow me to the kitchen to finish feeding dogs when they spied two turkey heads staring in the back door. I guess they didn't realize I had turkeys. They were quite startled. It was pretty funny.

Ah @memphis , I will have to add (the Tank) to Tommie's name.
Tommie (the Tank) Tucker Turkey


Well, if they are molting, I hope they do it fast in case the weather goes downhill fast into an early winter!!!!

I have had people stop at the front of the house to watch the turkeys. That's when I know the birds have wandered into the front yard again. So, I go out and herd everyone up and head them to the back. I seem to do a lot of herding around here! People going by look at me rather strangely when they see me running back and forth as the turkeys and chickens just keep going around and around the big koi pond out front - cause they know they are faster than I am.

 

[holm25]

Ethel Jr is molting.. I didn't realize how dark she was until now!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Ethel Jr is molting.. I didn't realize how dark she was until now!

how was the show? any pics for us?
though this may be the wrong thread...

 

[Flashpoint]

flash I'm seeing the same thing in my boys--but I've got feathers everywhere right now as my teens are trading juvenile feathers for their adult feathers... Your kids are still stunning.

Memphis its so funny how people react to a turkey being around My other birds run away when someone new comes around, my turkey run to them to check it out.

Thank you @rjohn39 and @memphis on the nice comments regarding my flock - if 4 turkeys can even be called a flock! lol I did see someone is advertising white turkey poults on craigslist and located about 40 miles from me. I've been debating....... but not sure I want to go that route this late in the season. Mostly because I'm chicken!

I walked out on the back porch yesterday and Tommie and Iron startled me. They were both sitting on the railing and their heads were right at eye level and only inches away (it's a small porch). I guess they were waiting for me to come outside, but I startled them too. I thought for sure Tommie was going to fall off the railing backwards.