Happy Thanksgiving!

[drumstick diva]

I am getting so hungry, waiting for Thanksgiving

 

[Skipper7410]

How much does the Royal Palm hen and tom weigh after being cleaned?

I only have toms at the moment, and theyre young. The one we butchered a few weeks ago dressed out at like 12.something lbs and this one for thanksgiving dressed at 13.5. I have a bigger tom thats older but hes off limits lol (the wife has made him a house pet..no joke...)

 

[Ted_Harrell]

Wow, makes me want to get some Turkeys next spring. The ones they had a TSC earlier this year were in the bin with the buff orpingtons and they looked similar at that age, other than the size. The young poults were larger...

 

[FortCluck]

I haven't done them yet, but I plan on purchasing 3 in the next few months.

 

[FortCluck]

I'm getting broadbreasted because they usually dress out to 20 lbs or more. Be careful what you choose if you're looking for a certain weight.

 

[Skipper7410]

I'm getting broadbreasted because they usually dress out to 20 lbs or more. Be careful what you choose if you're looking for a certain weight.

Make sure to take that into account when you buy them. The broad breasted are generally butchered earlier (younger).

 

[FortCluck]

Make sure to take that into account when you buy them. The broad breasted are generally butchered earlier (younger).

That's why I want them. I don't need turkey hanging around forever.

 

[Eric Exley]

I raise turkeys, but i have never butchered any of them, or even eaten a turkey, I like them more as companion pets, they somehow make my farm feel like an actual farm

 

[BarredRockMom]

Wow, makes me want to get some Turkeys next spring. The ones they had a TSC earlier this year were in the bin with the buff orpingtons and they looked similar at that age, other than the size. The young poults were larger...

I fully admit that I am a baby...I'd get turkeys but it would end up that we started running an old age home for Chickens AND Turkeys!!! I can't kill the peeps that I know!

I AM all about tattling to my hunter husband when the wild ones are passing through the yard, tho! "Hurry, hurry!!!!"

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Happy Thanksgiving! I wish everyone a happy holiday.

I was wondering, who has raised and butchered their own turkeys? Does a home-raised turkey taste better than the turkeys raised commercially? What is the difference?

We raised broad breasted turkeys this year. They were 17 weeks old when butchered last Saturday. I weighed them almost every week. Their live weights were 20-24#. The carcass weights were 15#7oz, 16#8oz and 16#14oz. I wanted the birds to dress out between 15-20# and we hit that window perfectly.

When deciding when to get the birds we worked backwards. Figure out your processing date and the weight you want a finished bird at. Then make an educated guess on how long it'll take to grow them out. For us a bigger bird was less desirable. So we went with the youngest birds possible.

They do need to be managed carefully. Our bird could have been bigger. But they hit a plateau when moved from the chick/poult area to a larger 32'x48' grow out pen. I chose to watch and weigh them vs restricting down their area size. My neighbors got 2 poults from us at about 10 days old. Same shipment as ours. One of them was the largest poult we had. They free ranged them with their hens 100% of the time (after a few weeks inside). I believe they've been given layer food but can't confirm that. They're live weights were 12-14# at 17 weeks. The opted to keep them an extra few weeks and get them bigger. So management will definitely play a part in how fast they grow.

I would have loved to do a side by side with heritage varieties. I have some ordered through Porter's for 2020.

Here's some pics of our broad breasted bronze. Turned out perfect! I cook breast down which is why it's lighter looking. Taste wise there is a difference between it and store bought birds. The meat was tender and dense (not watery). It also had a stronger turkey flavor all throughout. So good!!!