A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Bantambird]

My blue slate hen brought home a clutch of gray poults and black poults (as expected), but also a bronze poult. I have been experimenting with Porters turkey calculator to figure out who the father could be, but there is no color combo that could make bronze. Is wild-type a random mutation that can show up sometimes?

Wild type is the base under most colors, slate are black base, black is dominant so she must have one black one bronze gene covered by the black. Black birds can carry bronze

 

[SarahGfa]

Wild type is the base under most colors, slate are black base, black is dominant so she must have one black one bronze gene covered by the black. Black birds can carry bronze

interesting. I had not thought of that. According to the color calculator, one black one bronze (Bb) would make Barred Slate. I couldn't find any pictures of Barred slate. Does that look just like regular blue slate? My hen does not have barred feathers.

 

[Bantambird]

interesting. I had not thought of that. According to the color calculator, one black one bronze (Bb) would make Barred Slate. I couldn't find any pictures of Barred slate. Does that look just like regular blue slate? My hen does not have barred feathers.

Could also be blackwinged bronze

 

[R2elk]

My blue slate hen brought home a clutch of gray poults and black poults (as expected), but also a bronze poult. I have been experimenting with Porters turkey calculator to figure out who the father could be, but there is no color combo that could make bronze. Is wild-type a random mutation that can show up sometimes?

The most likely case is that a wild hen laid an egg in her nest. I have had it happen too often.

 

[R2elk]

Wild type is the base under most colors, slate are black base, black is dominant so she must have one black one bronze gene covered by the black. Black birds can carry bronze

A Slate with Bb = a Barred Slate. It would show if she was carrying a bronze color gene.

The most plausible scenario is that it was not her egg or the 2nd most plausible is that she picked up a lost wild poult on the way home.

 

[R2elk]

Could also be blackwinged bronze

That isn't how turkey color genetics works. A Black (B) turkey carrying a Bronze (b) color gene or a Black Winged Bronze (b1) will be Barred. They are incomplete recessive genes which can affect the color even when heterozygous.

 

[R2elk]

interesting. I had not thought of that. According to the color calculator, one black one bronze (Bb) would make Barred Slate. I couldn't find any pictures of Barred slate. Does that look just like regular blue slate? My hen does not have barred feathers.

They look like regular Slates with barred flight feathers. If I were you I would be checking my state laws regarding the possession of a wild turkey.

 

[KF0002]

This mink was trying to pull a fresh kill 8 wk pullet through the fence. He was about 15ft from the corner. At the corner was some wing feathers. The wings were just bones, some of the breast was missing. Thighs ripped open some missing off one.
I heard the birds saying they didn't like something, but not like I would think... they make more noise over a deer at the fence.
I seen the fence wiggling and some weeds on the outside. I crept up not sure if a bird was stuck or trying to get back in. I seen the demon pulling and pulling about then it seen me and took off.

That's terrible! I hate losing birds to varmints. I know losing some here and there is inevitable but we try to nip it in the bud the best we can. You have a lot of varmints where you are. I thought we had a lot, but you are covered up with them.

 

[KF0002]

I eat Legbars and Legbar crosses regularly. They most certainly are worth processing.

I guess I just like the meatier broilers. We do butcher other birds like the Olive Egger roosters and extra Marans, but Legbars aren't my preference for meat birds. I can usually sell the extra roosters easier and it saves me the hassle of butchering them.

 

[KF0002]

Raccoons are capable of killing adult turkeys. They are more likely to go for hens on hidden nests.

Both are more likely to take eggs from nests. I have had skunks stick their heads under turkey hens to get their eggs.

My plan is that I won't have any hens that free range outside of the perimeter of where my dog stays, so hopefully that helps if one stashes a nest away and goes broody. I'm going to try my best to keep their wings clipped and keep them in the goat lot where they will be safe.