at what age do you choose keepers for breeding?

[WIchickens]

So this is our first go round with turkeys, and I currently have 5 royal palms that are about 4 weeks old. In my master plan, i'd like to keep a pair for breeding and butcher the rest. At what age do you choose who that pair is, and how do you feed them differently?

 

[WalnutHill]

I don't feed them differently if they are heritage.

For hens, I want to keep the most mature by 24 weeks. Full adult plumage, starting to broaden out, and chosen for size and conformation. Color is a factor if breeding to standards.

For toms, they don't hit their prime until a year or more. But toms contribute mainly color, so choose the one with good size and conformation, and select based on purity of pattern.

I always try to keep a trio at a minimum. 1:1 tom to hen is really hard on the hen. 6:1 to 10:1 is easier on the girls. And if a single hen dies, it's hard to find another good one in spring when you need it. Toms are easier to find when they go hormonal/stupid in spring, so watch temperaments.

Royal Palms are lovely, but don't yield much meat.

 

[retlaw]

Any time before the axe.

 

[WIchickens]

Thanks for your thoughts....

Good to know I can feed them the same! Makes life quite a bit easier. I didn't know about keeping more hens than toms, thank goodness you told me!! We will see how things go, and if I can have a tom that is nice and not mean. I have 4 small kiddos...so time for jerks on the farm .

I agree the palms are smaller. That's just kind of what I ended up with. I was supposed to get 5 blue slates as well, but the hatchery said they didn't hatch. What is your favorite breed to turkey to keep around for eggs?

 

[WalnutHill]

I've never bred turkeys just for eggs. I breed Narragansetts because I think they have excellent "personalities" and are beautiful. I am trying Midget Whites this year and I hear they are great layers as well as small table birds.

If you end up with a mean tom, eat him and get or raise another.