Are Your Hens Setting On Eggs Yet? 2012 POULT FORECAST

[Olive Hill]

Silly, if you want birds for meat you might look a little further. Royal Palms are beautiful birds, but they're strictly ornamental. They're made out of turkey just like any other turkey, of course, but their carcasses leave much to be desired beyond just the difference between heritage and hybrids. They have Y-shaped breasts that are much more hollow than other heritage varieties. They're just not a good table bird, unfortunately. Of course if you don't mind the lack of meat on their bones you're good to go.

 

[pettec63]

Silly, if you want birds for meat you might look a little further. Royal Palms are beautiful birds, but they're strictly ornamental. They're made out of turkey just like any other turkey, of course, but their carcasses leave much to be desired beyond just the difference between heritage and hybrids. They have Y-shaped breasts that are much more hollow than other heritage varieties. They're just not a good table bird, unfortunately. Of course if you don't mind the lack of meat on their bones you're good to go.

I had read that they do a lot of artificial insemination in turkeys and of course that would explain why, darn, well I guess it may be "off with their heads" and back to the drawing board, I too would like to raise a Heritage breed. What are your thoughts about Sweet grass?

 

[Olive Hill]

I have no experience or personal knowledge of sweetgrass. If their origin is correct and the weights porters suggests for mature birds is right I wouldn't hesitate to give them a try though.

 

[pettec63]

I have no experience or personal knowledge of sweetgrass. If their origin is correct and the weights porters suggests for mature birds is right I wouldn't hesitate to give them a try though.

What type of turkeys do you raise?? have you had success with broody hens or have you done any incubation??

 

[Olive Hill]

Narragansetts. And yes to both. The hens are very happy to brood, but I steal eggs to keep them laying.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I had another poult to hatch on yesterday. I'm having staggered hatches. :/

 

[boykin2010]

I got my first egg from my royal palms today!

It is shaped kind of oddly. It is really long and pointy and doesnt really fit in the turner that well. Do yall think it will look more normally after the hen continues to lay for a while? This is the first egg she has ever laid.
Usually how old is the oldest a turkey egg can be before it is still viable? I like to put my chicken eggs in the incubator before they are 10 days old. I assume it is the same for turkeys?

 

[kuntrygirl]

3 more poults hatched within the last 24 hours.

 

[kuntrygirl]

The newbies are starting to pick at each other's wings. I have to put them in a larger brooder box TODAY !

 

[SillyChicken]

Olive, yeah, I knew the royals were on the smaller side, but a lot of my research showed that they were often considered the tastiest and I do appreciate their appearance so I'm happy with them. With just my husband and I, a royal will be fine table fare for us. Thanks for the information.