egg turkeys

[Arielle]

I am in southern New England--my 3 BR started laying early April at 9 months old.

 

[jfishfam]

So, it is October. Our new bourbon red just laid her first egg since we got her (she was laying before we bought her). We don't know how often she will lay but (and we have a Tom) what are the chances that her eggs are fertile? And can I incubate them this time of the year?

 

[iron chicken]

I can only answer one of those questions, and that is yes you can incubat them now but make sure you have them in a warm area for the cold months.

 

[Arielle]

@jfish-- You are headed into winter and I bet you get a whopper of a long cold winter. These birds, like all birds, are usually hatched in the late spring and summer for successful results in the wild. Perhaps you have a dry warm barn that you can hang a heat lamp all winter and that addresses housing. THe other consideration is can you collect and hatch enough eggs so you have 3-4 poults hatch? If not, May I suggest what a master breeder suggested to me? Wait until spring. It isn't really that far away; it just feels like it is right now.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

@jfish-- You are headed into winter and I bet you get a whopper of a long cold winter. These birds, like all birds, are usually hatched in the late spring and summer for successful results in the wild. Perhaps you have a dry warm barn that you can hang a heat lamp all winter and that addresses housing. THe other consideration is can you collect and hatch enough eggs so you have 3-4 poults hatch? If not, May I suggest what a master breeder suggested to me? Wait until spring. It isn't really that far away; it just feels like it is right now.

Location and resources make all the difference. I will be AI'ing my BBB hen in the next weeks before i slaughter the tom, but i have a closed in heated barn, heat in my coop and my brooders are in my house. But you are right, if you're not prepared just wait till spring.

 

[BarneyChick97]

We've had Bronze Turkeys for 2 years. Last years birds gave us no eggs. They were strange ladies. Two different groups of birds (actually white turkeys also), so the dominant ones would compete and be aggressive. (we bought 2 sets of 2 turkeys--I don't recommend that) I don't know if that affected the egg laying or not? Anyways, our birds this year were all bronzes. They started laying eggs in late spring/early summer. They were pretty consistent too. Occasionally they would go a few days without an egg, but really....they were probably more regular than the chickens.

They stopped laying right after Thanksgiving. We are in the PNW, so it's now just starting to get really cold here. My husband didn't want to use them for thanksgiving because of the whole "egg factor". Unless you plan on selling them, or don't have a lot of "other" birds. (we have 3 duck hens, and 6 chickens, along with the 2 turkeys) I've been over run with eggs!!! I can't bake enough, or eat enough (they are all VERY good though, even alone!!) to keep them off the counter.

We tried to make them a "nest" to lay in, but they always found something else. They are sneaky little buggers too. I found it to be kind of exciting, like an Easter egg hunt! One time, I watched one of the ladies go nuts near this pile of trimmed tree limbs. She looked like she was stuck, so I yanked her out by the tail feathers. To my discovery, she had a pile of 6 eggs and was working on #7!!! So, the limbs left that part of the yard! She was forced to find a different "open" area!!

 

[frank53061]

IRON CHICKEN

I live near Rogers and I have Bourbon Reds if your Interested in Birds Poults or Eggs this is my first year and hope to have eggs and Poults in the spring.
I also have 9 month old Toms and Hens for sale I need to reduce my flock down to 4 Hens and 2 Toms for breeding.
So far I have been selling them to people to eat for Thanks Giving and Christmas meals processing them for the buyers.
If you are Interested I hope to sell some eggs and Poults in the Spring.
CELIE I have not forgot about you

 

[WVchick71]

Is there any breed that is better for meat?

 

[BarneyChick97]

white turkeys----they are meat turkeys. we had both bronze and whites at the same time. the white turkeys were the heaviest.

 

[flatheadd503]

ny hen started laying about 2 days before christmas and every other day she lays an egg not bad so far 2 chicks out the incubator thats neat..