First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[duluthralphie]

Was that you? Good going. She talked about it on another thread. Maraks disease? My senior moments are coming closer together.

Yep, that was me. Just call me Saint Ralphie.

And on the Turkey topic: Ralphie, you should start a turkey thread for us

I am so excited for spring to come! I am already talking about it and trying to convince my husband we should keep a turkey too, not just to eat at Thanksgiving.
You mentioned the turkeys live on top of the chicken run... do they not need a coop? We live on a fair amount of land, but I am a bit concerned our coop and run would be too small with a turkey added for times when they have to stay locked in.

IMHO I think we should just talk about the turkeys here with the CXs and other important BS we discuss, as long as Jessica allows it. I am on some turkey forums but they are not the same as the personalities on here.

Turkeys are confounding birds!

They refuse to go into a coop. I put them in a coop when I first got them, so they would learn where home is. The tom "JJ" would pace back and forth in front of the door all day long. He even wore all the feathers off his chest. My Uncle called him the ugliest turkey to ever live. Since I let them out to free range they have not went back in the coop much.

During a very heavy thunderstorm last summer they went inside for a few minutes. I think Ethel was out during the whole storm. I have placed feeders and waterers inside the coop to lure them in. A few go in but only for a few minutes and then they are right back out.

Yesterday was a very chilly 8 below, the turkeys all stayed outside. I have 2 sheds and an empty coop I keep the doors open for them to go into. They refuse. Today it is a balmy 19 degrees with a 40 mph wind. ( not a pleasant day at all) and they are sitting on the chicken run fence and the roof of the coop. I just feed lots of corn for the carbohydrates they can burn for warmth.

Beware of their bad habits. They love roosting on cars and trucks. My wife runs out and throws water on them to get them off. ( it is fun to watch her fume at them) However, she loves them almost as much as I do, she just refuses to admit it or show it. Do not repeat this but I have watched her hold and pet them. Yes, turkeys can be held and petted.

The young Toms are a pain in the aaaa aa aa Butt. They pick on other birds bump chest and try to be the tough guy of the yard. The two scheduled to be guest of honor at Thanksgiving and Christmas, coincidentally, are the worst offenders.

After having the turkeys I would not worry about not having coop space. I know some will be upset with this, but they refuse to live in the coops in the first place.

I am not sure if this is a breed trait or all turkeys are like this.

 

[mountain mom]

IMHO I think we should just talk about the turkeys here with the CXs and other important BS we discuss, as long as Jessica allows it. I am on some turkey forums but they are not the same as the personalities on here.

After having the turkeys I would not worry about not having coop space. I know some will be upset with this, but they refuse to live in the coops in the first place.

I am not sure if this is a breed trait or all turkeys are like this.

Hopefully Jessica won't kick us off for turkey talk

Oh, and I had to look up what "IMHO" stood for

I have to admit, internet slang and I are not very close friends. I have no idea what most of it means!

Good to know! There is some protection under our deck, that our chickens seek out from time to time, that they would probably use too if they refuse the coop.

Your wife sounds like my husband... he has begrudgingly come to love my chickens. I too have caught him holding and talking sweet to his favorite chicken (whom he "secretly" calls snuggler).
I will just have to hope the turkeys win him over so I can keep one.. or two... or...

 

[JessicaThistle]

I promise to not kick anyone off of here for turkey talk. I only kick people off when every post is so argumentative that I can't stand coming here each day. And even more so if I completely disagree and think your argument is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. That is one reason I haven't perused the rest of the site much lately. I get so tired of looking for my daily dose of chicken talk to have to see thread after thread of argument. Sheesh, I can turn on the news for that or read the comments on any article posted on the internet.

But I digress....carry on!

 

[mountain mom]

I promise to not kick anyone off of here for turkey talk. I only kick people off when every post is so argumentative that I can't stand coming here each day. And even more so if I completely disagree and think your argument is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. That is one reason I haven't perused the rest of the site much lately. I get so tired of looking for my daily dose of chicken talk to have to see thread after thread of argument. Sheesh, I can turn on the news for that or read the comments on any article posted on the internet.

But I digress....carry on!

Thanks Jessica! And I completely agree.

 

[duluthralphie]

Hopefully Jessica won't kick us off for turkey talk

Oh, and I had to look up what "IMHO" stood for

I have to admit, internet slang and I are not very close friends. I have no idea what most of it means!

Good to know! There is some protection under our deck, that our chickens seek out from time to time, that they would probably use too if they refuse the coop.

Your wife sounds like my husband... he has begrudgingly come to love my chickens. I too have caught him holding and talking sweet to his favorite chicken (whom he "secretly" calls snuggler).
I will just have to hope the turkeys win him over so I can keep one.. or two... or...

Thanks Jessica..

MountainMom, The turkeys should win him over, very few people can resist a friendly curious bird that runs to greet them. They are like big feathered lab puppies.

We have two homes on the farm here. This summer we put new cabinets in the one house. The cabinet installers arrived and the turkeys greeted them. Then when everyone went into the house to work, it was summer and the windows were open, JJ heard the people talking in the house and walked around it for over an hour trying to find a way inside to be with everyone. He finally decided to just roost on the deck and wait for the people to come out to him.



On another note I have to send one or two turkeys to camp on Sunday, just 4 days away. I sure hope I have the nerve, guts, fortitude and will power to do the deed. I feel like I have to kill a family member. It is even worse than with the CX's. This could be a whole case of vodka weekend.....sigh..

 

[Double Kindness]

I procrastinated again. But tonight I have a few friends coming over to help me get everyone processed. But I'm procrastinating saying goodbye. I'm crying and baking sourdough bread.

Please give me the emotional courage to go gather up my babies to herd them in to withdraw from food and water. Again. Processing starts at 6pm tonight. Sniffle.

 

[CoHomestead]

Betsy - They look great!!

DoubleK - I am a horrible procrastinator, and first time chicken Mom, and I managed so I know you can do it! I just bagged, weighed and put mine in the freezer.

Ralph - I'm going to need you to deliver to Colorado just before Christmas when the next group is scheduled to head freezer camp lol.

Yesterday went well overall. I'd guess it took about 3 hours. Hubby didn't want to get backed up so we took it slow. Everyone was healthy apart from one that looked to have a fatty liver.

The soapy water tote was a great idea and the scalding water didn't stink or have to be changed. I can see the allure of a plucker, but 10 went well by hand.

I had all females and the two smallest finished at 4.6 lbs and the largest at 5.7 lbs dressed. That's not counting necks, gizzards, etc. I ended up with 51.7 lbs from 10 birds, which I'm very happy with Second batch is female as well, and the April batch will be straight run. I'm curious to see if the males put on more weight in the same time frame.

 

[duluthralphie]

CoHomestead the males are quite a bit faster growing than the females. I have had two batches of straight runs. I think I will get all roosters next time. Unless my frogs hatch this spring and look, act and grow like CXs, in which case I will not buy any birds.

Good luck DK. I know all about procrastinating. Some say I am a pro at it.


Here are a few pictures I took a few minutes ago. Just for those of you that never see snow....

Above are some of the turkey gang. he closest one is JJ. The one ahead of it is going to be the guest a week from tomorrow for dinner.



This is one of my 4 remaining CX's. She had just gotten a drink of water and was headed back into her "igloo".



This is the same CX entering the igloo, you can see how far she has to duck to get inside. Sorry about the junk, but I am a pack rat as was my Dad and Grandpa, so some of this is not just junk, it is old junk!



Here are all four frog parents with a turkey and 2 guinea fowl eating their corn. I make them come outside to eat. I will not allow them to act like CX's and sit by a dish and eat. If you notice the body size of the rooster, it appears to be bigger than the hen turkey!








Just a few pictures around here of the snow, it is a very dark day, almost looks like we could get more snow. I find it peaceful to look out on the snow even if it is not all that inviting. The last picture shows the guineas sitting on the gate and a few turkeys on the fence.





Turkeys and guinea fowl sitting on the fence. Dog eating poopsicles,,,da%^ dog!




And finally todays' bounty. 7 is better than none!

 

[mountain mom]

Ralphie- I love all of your pictures! And quite the egg bounty (we only had 3 today... which is up from a couple of 1 egg days). But then again, we only have 7 layers all together.
We started out with 6 (that was the number I lured my husband in with), ended up with 8, and had one silkie die a couple of months ago. We will soon have 8 again as Pearl is going to join the ranks of the big gals as long as they accept her

And as far as chicken math goes, I plan to have 3 turkeys and a few more babies for laying in the spring... and of course some CX!

DK- I know you can do it!

CoHomestead- You guys rocked the processing time! Nice work!

 

[LindaB220]

CoHomestead the males are quite a bit faster growing than the females. I have had two batches of straight runs. I think I will get all roosters next time. Unless my frogs hatch this spring and look, act and grow like CXs, in which case I will not buy any birds.

Good luck DK. I know all about procrastinating. Some say I am a pro at it.


Here are a few pictures I took a few minutes ago. Just for those of you that never see snow....

Above are some of the turkey gang. he closest one is JJ. The one ahead of it is going to be the guest a week from tomorrow for dinner.



This is one of my 4 remaining CX's. She had just gotten a drink of water and was headed back into her "igloo".



This is the same CX entering the igloo, you can see how far she has to duck to get inside. Sorry about the junk, but I am a pack rat as was my Dad and Grandpa, so some of this is not just junk, it is old junk!



Here are all four frog parents with a turkey and 2 guinea fowl eating their corn. I make them come outside to eat. I will not allow them to act like CX's and sit by a dish and eat. If you notice the body size of the rooster, it appears to be bigger than the hen turkey!








Just a few pictures around here of the snow, it is a very dark day, almost looks like we could get more snow. I find it peaceful to look out on the snow even if it is not all that inviting. The last picture shows the guineas sitting on the gate and a few turkeys on the fence.





Turkeys and guinea fowl sitting on the fence. Dog eating poopsicles,,,da%^ dog!




And finally todays' bounty. 7 is better than none!

Wonderful pics, Saint Ralphie, none better. I remember seeing snow a time or two. I was taking a nap the 15 min it snowed last year so I missed it. True story.

I got 4 eggs from my Cobbs today. Big rascals too.