I let turkeys rest at least 3 days, up to 10, usually ends up as a week for me. Traditionally the weekend before thanksgiving is when to process them.
They are the same as a chicken as far as butchering.. except for size and the boys have the beard spot on the breast that may have to be cut off. I put electrical tape around their ankles and gently hold their feet with my foot, to keep them in one spot. I say a prayer and thank them as I use a long handle game shear to lop off their head as they are looking around wondering what is going on. Some people cut a hole in the corner off a feed bag, stick the head through to contain them and may hoist them up to slit the arteries. Sone just hoist them up by the legs, but look out for the wings flapping. Those wings can give you a bloody nose or poke out an eye in death throes. I have taped the wings down, but it seems like it stress them, so I just step back after I lop off the head. They do flop all over the yard if not contained or hanging. So I make sure they have room.
I use a turkey fryer pot to scaled them in. I never could get the burner to stay on to keep the water at 145f to 165f, It either was too hot or the unit shut off. Need to have a person to keep it at the right temp. So I turn the house water heater all the way up and it gets to 165f. I have a yardbird plucker and it is a little small for a turkey. If I take the neck and feet off it does a decent job.
I had turkeys raised in 3 different coops this year. The last 2 years I had them in 2 coops and the ones in the 8x8 coop moved over with the ones in the 8x24 coop. This year one girl stayed in an 8x8 coop and her sister move in the big coop, as did the 4 in the other 8x8. Not sure what is going on with her, but when she does go over to the big coop, she get chased around and cries to go back to the other poultry yard. So she has chosen to live with chickens.
They say hens dress out around 6-8 lbs, I haven't processed any heritage hens yet. First year I had too many hens.
Yesterday 8 turkeys were ganging up on roos and really went after poor "Dinner" They didn't get a chance to hurt him since I heard the ruckus and went to see. So this morning I harvested 2 jakes just a few days shy of 6 months. I had planned on Harvesting at 6 months or when they started causing troubles.
they were about 12 lbs dressed. I was going to do a 2 wk younger 3rd jake but it started raining half way through the 2nd. Last year I waited until around Easter and the Jake was around 17lbs.
Most of my family is out of state. I am giving one to my cousin who doesn't do Holidays, ... Jehovah witness thing... but has the family gatherings whenever fixings are on sale. So she doesn't care if it's early. I part them out for myself so I don't care either.
They are the same as a chicken as far as butchering.. except for size and the boys have the beard spot on the breast that may have to be cut off. I put electrical tape around their ankles and gently hold their feet with my foot, to keep them in one spot. I say a prayer and thank them as I use a long handle game shear to lop off their head as they are looking around wondering what is going on. Some people cut a hole in the corner off a feed bag, stick the head through to contain them and may hoist them up to slit the arteries. Sone just hoist them up by the legs, but look out for the wings flapping. Those wings can give you a bloody nose or poke out an eye in death throes. I have taped the wings down, but it seems like it stress them, so I just step back after I lop off the head. They do flop all over the yard if not contained or hanging. So I make sure they have room.
I use a turkey fryer pot to scaled them in. I never could get the burner to stay on to keep the water at 145f to 165f, It either was too hot or the unit shut off. Need to have a person to keep it at the right temp. So I turn the house water heater all the way up and it gets to 165f. I have a yardbird plucker and it is a little small for a turkey. If I take the neck and feet off it does a decent job.
I had turkeys raised in 3 different coops this year. The last 2 years I had them in 2 coops and the ones in the 8x8 coop moved over with the ones in the 8x24 coop. This year one girl stayed in an 8x8 coop and her sister move in the big coop, as did the 4 in the other 8x8. Not sure what is going on with her, but when she does go over to the big coop, she get chased around and cries to go back to the other poultry yard. So she has chosen to live with chickens.
They say hens dress out around 6-8 lbs, I haven't processed any heritage hens yet. First year I had too many hens.
Yesterday 8 turkeys were ganging up on roos and really went after poor "Dinner" They didn't get a chance to hurt him since I heard the ruckus and went to see. So this morning I harvested 2 jakes just a few days shy of 6 months. I had planned on Harvesting at 6 months or when they started causing troubles.
they were about 12 lbs dressed. I was going to do a 2 wk younger 3rd jake but it started raining half way through the 2nd. Last year I waited until around Easter and the Jake was around 17lbs.
Most of my family is out of state. I am giving one to my cousin who doesn't do Holidays, ... Jehovah witness thing... but has the family gatherings whenever fixings are on sale. So she doesn't care if it's early. I part them out for myself so I don't care either.
him. 
