Any turkey tips

[Chick_in_Indiana]

They are royal palms and RP mix. I got 6 from Carole AM. The eggs are in a turner. How can I lay them on their side? The bator is full, I think I have 3 spots open for guinea eggs

 

[Frosty]

I either give them a seperate incubator (and hand turn) or get my bigger incubator going (GQF Sportsman, it has 3 racks). If you don't have that luxury (and yes, it is a luxury), just realize that there is a chance that they will have the curled toes or leg problems.

I asked what kind because if they were eggs from a broad breasted type, they could be infertile unless they were AI. But being heritage types, that won't be a problem. Turkey poults are actually smarter than folks think.

Just try not to spread the hatch out too much, you'll need to take the turner out a day or so before hatch. Hope you enjoy it!

Edited because I can't spell!

 

[SueNH]

Good luck eating the extras at 4 months. They won't be the size of standard chicken yet. Palms are small and single breasted. Heritage breeds grow a lot more slowly than the meat mutants.

Royal Palms are the one breed that was created for show rather than meat. I have a mature tom, 4 or 5 years old here and I doubt he weighs 20 lbs. Noticeably smaller than the other heritage toms. I have 4 of last summers hens and they weigh about 10 lbs each.

Also real turkeys don't start putting any real body fat on until around 6 months. It will make for a very dry eating bird unless you pay attention and age and then baste the daylights out of the carcass. You often hear people complain about spending lots of money on a heritage bird for thanksgiving only to have it scrawny and dry.

 

[Carole AM]

Krista! I hope they are all growing for you! I gave some eggs to the neighbor to put under her broody turkey hen, and I'm shipping some out this week. My gals strut too, but they only did it for while this spring. And I showed you the one with the beard, didn't I?

Vincent will be a proud daddy!

 

[Chick_in_Indiana]

Quote:
I did see the one w/ the beard. I am going to try to candle them today since it has been a week now. I'll let you know what I come up w/. The lady across the road said she would take any extras if they ALL decide to hatch

I cant do the whole butchering thing, my husband could but he'd be fixing a turkey dinner for 1 that night.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

My son swears he heard one of our (approx. 6 week old) turkey poults gobble. Is that for real at that age?? Ours are struuten too. It is nice to know that hens will do it too. Just makes it more difficult sexing them.

 

[AkTomboy]

Just found this thread whoo hoo go me

I have a hen with a double beard right now and 4 new lil ones. Our big hen is super friendly as we handle all off ours often when little she will even come and sit in your lap if you ask her and fall asleep soon after. I also keep all of mine with my chickens and have my whole life I just make sure they have a bigger roost and box.

P.S. thanks for the tip on laying the eggs on the side we are going to hatch out our own turkeys next spring

 

[Picco]

I keep my turkeys with the chickens. No problems but mine all do roam free during the day. Makes a difference in squabbles.

Turkeys do want more perch room at night and will boot the chickens off to get the room they want.

Both males and females strut when very young. It starts to fall off as the females get older. I have one hen that will still strut from time to time and she's 2 years old. A few others will puff up and give a quick strut if the boys are getting too annoying.

You really can't tell them apart until secondary sex characteristics like caruncles start forming. By 3 months I have suspicions about what sex is who. By 4 months I'm getting pretty sure. By 6 months I've got it figured. Harder to tell than chickens by far.

Yahoo groups Rare Heritage Turkey is the best info I've found so far.

Excellent advice!​

 

[ivan3]

Chick_IN_Indiana wrote: Also does anyone have a turkey 101 site. I need to know if they will go in at night w/ my chickens, guineas, and ducks or if they need a coop of their own. And other useful info. Thanks, Krista

Try this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=92240​

 

[Picco]

Turkeys return to the same roost every night just like chickens so once they establish a place as there own they will come back to it. I had a little trouble with mine roosting in the trees around the coop, but they finally got it and stayed in the coop after having to carry them in every night for a week or two.