If I were to get BBW soon, how big should they be by Thanksgiving?

[spring peeper]

I had a lot of predator problems and lost a lot of my heritage turkeys this summer. I now have a secure run built. An acquaintance has some BBWs on order from Meyer and I'm considering buying some of his lot. They are "Nicholas strain" birds. The would arrive the last week of August. Does anyone have experience with these turkeys in particular? Or other BBWs... they would be just 3 months old at Thanksgiving, and 4 months at Christmas. Any guesses as to what weights they should be at 3 and 4 months, assuming they are eating high-protein (26-28%) food the whole time? I hear people say that these turkeys get to be 40 or 50 pounds, and I don't need them that big! 25 pounds is about the largest I can deal with in the freezer. How long is it likely to take them to get in that range? Thanks!

 

[uhuh555]

Weight chart for Toms (BB)

age in wks Live Weight
10 14
16 29
20 39
22 43


They should be about 27 pounds live weight, keep them on 24% protien (or higher) and add 5% calf manna the whole time for a bigger birds giving plenty of vitaimins/minerals in their water at all times.

 

[Poupoulles]

That is handy- I am doing BBW for the first time (they are 5 weeks) after a complete circus with heritage breeds last year, and didnt know about the calf manna- could you say how much you give and if it needs to be introduced slowly?

 

[uhuh555]

5% calf-manna would be 1 pound for each 19 pounds of feed ( total 20 pounds mixed). Be sure to mix well as they will pick it out first.

 

[terri9630]

Quote:
Where did you find that? Does it list weights for the hens?

 

[spring peeper]

Thanks for the information. I'm not sure where you got 27 pounds as an estimate, though; the chart says 29 pounds at 16 weeks. With my heritage turkeys, the toms and hens were about the same size up until around 3 months, when the toms started to outgrow the hens. Is there a bigger size difference with BBW?

Anybody out there had Nicholas strain turkeys in the past?

 

[10ducks]

Quote:
Calf-Manna is soy-based, 25% protein with vitamins and mineral supplements, so if you are already feeding a high-protein ration and giving vitamins and mineral supplements in the water, I don't think that adding it is going to make much difference. Not that it'll hurt.

 

[uhuh555]

spring peeper
The time from start to processing for Thanksgiving is 14 weeks that is 2 weeks shy of 16 weeks.

10ducks
Calf-manna is the most familiar calf supplement brand. The nutrient content consists of many trace and micro nutrients to include amino acids from multiple protein sources. It also contains brewers dried yeast which aids the digestive process. It has linseed meal which adds to the different types of amino and fatty acids. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.

Here is a link to the manufacturer’s web page for Calf-Manna nutrient content;

http://www.mannapro.com/calf-mannaTD.htm