has anyone ever ordered turkeys from cackle hatchery?

[zatsdeb]

I ordered turkeys from cackle hatchery the other day and just wondered if anyone has ordered turkeys? I ordered royal palm.

 

[ivan3]

These guys are from Cackle. They'll be three years old in June. Be aware, Royals like to fly during their first year (liked to look down at us from the roof/chimney). Cackle is a quality outfit.

 

[zatsdeb]

thanks for the info! Should I clip their wings? I sure wouldn't want them flying on the roof!
your turkeys are very pretty!!

 

[ivan3]

No, we've never clipped their wings. Depending on your location (proximity of neighbors/predator load) the flying might be tolerable. If they've imprinted on you thoroughly as poults, they'll usually `drop' from whatever tree/roof they're up in/on when they see you and come gliding in for a landing right next to you (it doesn't hurt if they see you've got bag in your hand they associate with treats - we used grapes). If you are consistent about getting them into the run/coop at sundown they'll learn to go back in on their own. When we free range them with the chooks, they'll line up single file, about fifteen minutes before the chooks call it quits, and saunter/galumph off to their pen and retire to their shed when it gets dark. All we have to do is close the door.

Once they get bigger/older the toms rarely fly and the hens look for an excuse. The Royals weigh less than most other breeds (our hen never topped nine pounds and the big guy in the pic above is a mere sixteen pounds), are very agile, and do fly more.

This is the Royal hen last spring surveying the morning from atop the chicken coop:

But this is where she'd always roost:

If you decide to clip, just use the search function, or start a thread specific to clipping (a technique I've never performed/tested utility of so I'm useless on the flightless).

One other thing I'd mention is that turkeys don't need a mere `dustbathing' area, they'll want a scrape. The hens are particularly vigorous in their ablutions, creatively tilling flower beds/gardens with their wings (and never let them get upwind of you when they run over happily whooting and ready to share the `aerosol'...).

Toms are more sedate:

Have fun!

 

[zatsdeb]

we clip our guineas wings, usually just when they are young. My dad has a blue and gold macaw and I learned to clip wings with him.

My dad says sam is his big chicken.

 

[Moonwalker]

I got 3 turkeys in an assorted lot from Cackle (one was an extra) one of them died after about 3 days, but it had been constantly peeping from the time I got it, so I am sure there was something wrong with it. But the other two were perfectly fine and healthy for almost 2 months (before the dog killed them)
I have gotten several batches of chicks from Cackle and some ducks and they all arrived 2 dasy after they were shipped and except for the one turkey, all arrived happy and healthy.