Happy Thanksgiving!

[Bullitt]

Thank you for the great information.

That cooked turkey looks very good.

 

[Jealous Gypsy]

I raised 4 of my own. I dont mind butchering my chickens, but my hubby & I just couldn't process the turkeys. They have too much personality. They were pardoned this year. Next year the babies are free game though. I know, go head and laugh. I just love my turkeys

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

I raised 4 of my own. I dont mind butchering my chickens, but my hubby & I just couldn't process the turkeys. They have too much personality. They were pardoned this year. Next year the babies are free game though. I know, go head and laugh. I just love my turkeys

I totally understand that. We got Broad Breasted ones so we wouldn't be tempted.

 

[Eric Exley]

even the broad breasted ones will tempt people to keep them, I stopped buying broad breasted varieties a few years ago, i like the heritage ones better since they are able to roost, makes it easier on me since i don't have to place so much on the ground for the BB turkeys that roost only on the ground (or at the very least about 12 inches off the ground)

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Our broad breasted (3 bronze, 1 white) used roosts that were about 3'-4.5' off the ground. They've been using those since about 7 weeks old. They probably could have handled a foot or so higher but that's just how high I randomly place them. Our BB birds were grown at a normal rate and had access to a large 36x48' run area. Not pushed for max growth. Maybe that made the difference in their spryness?

 

[Eric Exley]

thats a possibility, my BB turkeys were free range, the times i bought them i would buy a trio (mostly in hopes of raising up a hen for my heritage Tom that i had), they lived in a 11'x20' coop that my father built, but currently i now have more pens that i have built, and have a flock of 13 poults of various colors, and 2 yearling Narragansett hens (this spring the Narragansett hens will be 2 years old), and my flock does get free range time, as long as i'm at home they are allowed out to free range (i'm the only one that keeps the predators away from my flock when they are out)