A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[UThobbyfarmer]

Just remember when processing them to leave several days for them to be in the fridge before cookin. . That will help a TON with the toughness.

Thanks for the reminder. We've since figured that out with our roosters. But that's definitely where things started to go wrong with the first batch of turkey.

Grats on the birds..

Beware those are most likely BB so 30 weeks may be hard for them..

They will need good protein when young. As they get older keep them as active as possible. Free range if possible. Make them forage for food.

When I process I feed them gobs of corn for the last month. I find it packs on fat and seems to make them tenderer and tastier.. of course that could just be in my mind too. I butcher my thanksgiving day turkey on Sunday afternoon before thanksgiving to help tenderize it..

Good luck

Hmm. I was told Bourbon red. Plus they cost almost twice price of the BB varieties! I'll snap a better picture for identification. If they're actually BB we'll just butcher them earlier. I've read 16-20 weeks for those. They came from the feed store for what that's worth.

Thanks for the tips on food. I like the idea of finishing on corn or quality grain. That makes a big difference I bet.

 

[duluthralphie]

I gave up breaking them..

She had her own eggs that froze and cracked months ago.. when I let the chickens out to free range I caught a chicken hen laying eggs next to her.. I have no idea what is under her.. if she keeps them under her or anything..

She is not a very socialable bird. I spread a bag of chips under her hopefully that will help her hatchlings when they take that first big step to the ground..

 

[duluthralphie]

Thanks for the reminder. We've since figured that out with our roosters. But that's definitely where things started to go wrong with the first batch of turkey.



Hmm. I was told Bourbon red. Plus they cost almost twice price of the BB varieties! I'll snap a better picture for identification. If they're actually BB we'll just butcher them earlier. I've read 16-20 weeks for those. They came from the feed store for what that's worth.

Thanks for the tips on food. I like the idea of finishing on corn or quality grain. That makes a big difference I bet.

They can be bourbon reds from the feed store and still be BB..I doubt many feed stores sell heritage birds.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

I did NOT know that. Good to know. Guess we'll just watch and wait.

This is what they look like now (approximately 2 weeks old). And what they're eating. The ingredient list is cringe worthy. Third ingredient is pork? l'll have to source a higher quality food for long term. Luckily I have an idea where I can get some.

 

[duluthralphie]

I did NOT know that. Good to know. Guess we'll just watch and wait.

This is what they look like now (approximately 2 weeks old). And what they're eating. The ingredient list is cringe worthy. Third ingredient is pork? l'll have to source a higher quality food for long term. Luckily I have an idea where I can get some.

View attachment 1735543 View attachment 1735544 View attachment 1735545

That does not look like a bad feed to me. I use a 30% protein starter.. but that is just what my mill makes..

What’s wrong with pork? Soybean meal was number one.

 

[duluthralphie]

Oh.. I cannot tell a BB from a heritage at young ages.. maybe @R2elk can help on that.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

That does not look like a bad feed to me. I use a 30% protein starter.. but that is just what my mill makes..

What’s wrong with pork? Soybean meal was number one.

That's good. Since I have a 50lb bag of it. I thought they'd use fish as a protein source It seemed like it has a lot of vaguely worded ingredients I haven't seen in other poultry feeds. Made me think it was lower quality food.

 

[duluthralphie]

There are a couple vitamins I would have thought should be there...but protein wise looks ok.

 

[R2elk]

@R2elk my genetics guru.

If i got blue slates... i remember you sayin they don’t breed true... or at least i think i remember you sayin that. So what would they be with breeding bs tom to bs hens then? What would i need put together to get bs from one of the parents being ns... if that is possible? Or is it always breed x and x to get one year of bs poults?

And iirc you also said that sweetgrass wont breed true as well. What do i need to make sg? Amd after we got poults that grew up to keep.... how do we keep the sg true?

I love our mutts but have been seriously thinkin on these two breeds for next year since we do not see them round these parts much. They may sell well for us. It is just a thought right now obviously. we have only seen bs at a flock swap and i was just lucky to come by my sg hen when we went to pick up that nasty rp tom last year.

Blue Slate with Blue Slate = 50% Blue Slate, 25% Self Blue (aka Lavender) and 25% Black. Blue Slate with Self Blue = 50% Blue Slate and 50% Self Blue. Black with Self Blue = 100% Blue Slate.

I guess I don't know what you mean by ns?

Sweetgrass breed true as long as they are not carrying a hidden recessive gene.

 

[R2elk]

I did NOT know that. Good to know. Guess we'll just watch and wait.

This is what they look like now (approximately 2 weeks old). And what they're eating. The ingredient list is cringe worthy. Third ingredient is pork? l'll have to source a higher quality food for long term. Luckily I have an idea where I can get some.

View attachment 1735543 View attachment 1735544 View attachment 1735545

They look like Bourbon Red poults to me and they are a heritage variety.

It is an okay feed but the methionine level is a little on the low side. You really should not be feeding that high of protein to the ducks.