BREEDING NARRAGANSETTS

[TOP KNOT]

I BOUGHT 5 NARRAGANSETT CHICKS TO EAT. THEY ARE SO FRIENDLY NOW AT 4 WEEKS I THOUGHT I MAY KEEP A TOM AND 2 OR 3 HENS. WHAT KIND OF NESTING DO TURKEYS PREFER. HOW DO YOU ''TRAIN'' THEM TO USE THAT NEST. I PLAN TO FREE RANGE THEM WHEN THEY GET LARGE ENOUGH. AS OF NOW THEY ARE IN A 9X10 SHED WITH ONE WIRE FENCE WALL.(THE FENCE WALL IS TARPED NOW, KINDA COLD OUT) I WILL ADD A PEN WHEN THE WEATHER IMPROVES AND THEY GET SOME SIZE. THEN LET OUT TO PASTURE.

 

[ivan3]

Please be so kind as to turn of ALL CAPS as it makes it somewhat difficult to read posts so formatted, thanx!

Give this info a gander: http://www.albc-usa.org/EducationalResources/turkeys.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/92240/give-me-the-dirt-on-turkeys

 

[frank53061]

Sounds like a good set up.
I have inside roost as well as out side I find that a 4 ft height works the best as they get heaver this allows them to still reach them.
As far as a nest boxes if you want to Incubate or at least find the eggs Its better to not allow the Hens after mating not to free range while they are laying eggs or you will be having a Easter egg hunt everyday.
Unless your are very Lucky and you get one or two good broody Hens your first year and still the nest will have to be protected or you may loose your Hen as well as the eggs.

My experience with the Red Bourbons the first year layers they are hit and miss on laying eggs and location as well.
I hear that older Hens are more consistent in there laying and grouping there eggs I guess I will see for my self next year being there second year to lay.



Good luck its still a learning experience for me each day.

 

[TOP KNOT]

Sounds like a good set up.
I have inside roost as well as out side I find that a 4 ft height works the best as they get heaver this allows them to still reach them.
As far as a nest boxes if you want to Incubate or at least find the eggs Its better to not allow the Hens after mating not to free range while they are laying eggs or you will be having a Easter egg hunt everyday.
Unless your are very Lucky and you get one or two good broody Hens your first year and still the nest will have to be protected or you may loose your Hen as well as the eggs.

My experience with the Red Bourbons the first year layers they are hit and miss on laying eggs and location as well.
I hear that older Hens are more consistent in there laying and grouping there eggs I guess I will see for my self next year being there second year to lay.



Good luck its still a learning experience for me each day.

THANKS!!

 

[Glenmar]

This is my first full year with my Narragansetts. I have a trio. My one hen is broody now and sitting on 15 eggs. The trio that I have were hatched last March, so this is their first year. I am not free ranging them. They are in a coop with an old truck tire for a nest box.
We'll see how it goes. They should hatch in about 2 weeks.

 

[Arielle]

This is my first full year with my Narragansetts. I have a trio. My one hen is broody now and sitting on 15 eggs. The trio that I have were hatched last March, so this is their first year. I am not free ranging them. They are in a coop with an old truck tire for a nest box.
We'll see how it goes. They should hatch in about 2 weeks.

Oh I like hte truck tire idea, mine just use a corner of their coop.

I keep all breeding stock penned.

 

[TOP KNOT]

This is my first full year with my Narragansetts. I have a trio. My one hen is broody now and sitting on 15 eggs. The trio that I have were hatched last March, so this is their first year. I am not free ranging them. They are in a coop with an old truck tire for a nest box.
We'll see how it goes. They should hatch in about 2 weeks.

A truck tire for a nest box...great idea! Good luck with your hatch!!

 

[Glenmar]

THANKS

 

[TOP KNOT]

Oh I like hte truck tire idea, mine just use a corner of their coop.

I keep all breeding stock penned.

That a good idea as they would probably nest anywhere. Does this breed fly over fences? One of my 4 week old chicks ( while I was sitting in the grass) jumped onto my head with ease!!

My husband laughed!

 

[Arielle]

When they get full sized they are pretty heavy and mine go just 4 feet up to roost for the night. THese are the toms. Some of the hens from my other breeds are much lighter and are hard to keep penned-- fortunately all the other toms are penned !! Generally they like to walk everywhere. As youngsters they lived up in the trees and DH had to get them out every night, such a PITA, now they are penned for the breeding season. My dicks fly more than my turkeys.

The wild turkeys are GREAT fliers-- I have a number of them that visit.