Kaye's free range turkey thread

[MontainBourbons]

Your photos isn't showing up, probably a good thing. I often wonder what is wrong with people, that is sad.

It is amazing how much your turkeys lay. Where did you get them?

From Cackle Hatchery. Sadly I just checked they are out already for this year.

 

[BantamTurkey]

@mountainbourbons people are crazy. I would not send him anymore eggs. I am sorry you had that happen.

 

[MontainBourbons]

@mountainbourbons people are crazy. I would not send him anymore eggs. I am sorry you had that happen.

It sucked and he is trying to get his money back. Through eBay he most likely will and I'll lose money from shipping.

 

[BantamTurkey]

Laid or hatching? I have zero eggs either way. Mine don't usually start laying until about April.

I did watch a young blue hen attempting to mate a butternut squash like she was a male. I didn't ask any questions.

Laid. But they have been laying for a while, they were getting eaten by something while free range nesting. All three of the hens are laying. All in one nest :/ and now I have a total of 15.

I never question my turkeys' crazy antics. I would have been laughing my butt off at her!!

The weather here has been all over the place. So I am sure it is the weather that has my poor turks confused. They've been mating since about December!!

 

[Kamoko]

Might be a weird question to ask here, but next year I am interested in starting out SMALL on the chickenless (is that strange) poultry raising front, and also wish to free-range.

I initially only want a handful of Ancona ducks (1 male and maybe 6 or so females) AND also would like to add a few "guard hen" turkeys of the Narragansett because its a forested area with creepy crawlies and I hear turkeys are much more aggressive at keeping out intruders and pests as well as early warning against raptor birds.

Basically my question is, should I get my ducks and turkey poults all at once and let them grow up together so that they are social with each other and is it OK to only get a few female turkey hens? The ducks will be for breeding, meat, and eggs but the turkeys would be more to round out the defensive/pest control/ornament so I have no interest in a tom if I can avoid it at the moment. Both ducks and turkeys are native and well suited to the area, and should thrive with plenty of forage and fresh water available.

What about the pen setup? Will they try and roost with the ducks or will they appreciate a larger pen of their own?
Blackhead shouldn't be a problem in my area and since I will not be raising chickens the chance of my ducks getting it slim to none.
Also open to any other advice on other non-chicken livestock you think would compliment the idea.

 

[generaldsherman]

Might be a weird question to ask here, but next year I am interested in starting out SMALL on the chickenless (is that strange) poultry raising front, and also wish to free-range.

I initially only want a handful of Ancona ducks (1 male and maybe 6 or so females) AND also would like to add a few "guard hen" turkeys of the Narragansett because its a forested area with creepy crawlies and I hear turkeys are much more aggressive at keeping out intruders and pests as well as early warning against raptor birds.

Basically my question is, should I get my ducks and turkey poults all at once and let them grow up together so that they are social with each other and is it OK to only get a few female turkey hens? The ducks will be for breeding, meat, and eggs but the turkeys would be more to round out the defensive/pest control/ornament so I have no interest in a tom if I can avoid it at the moment. Both ducks and turkeys are native and well suited to the area, and should thrive with plenty of forage and fresh water available.

What about the pen setup? Will they try and roost with the ducks or will they appreciate a larger pen of their own?
Blackhead shouldn't be a problem in my area and since I will not be raising chickens the chance of my ducks getting it slim to none.
Also open to any other advice on other non-chicken livestock you think would compliment the idea.

I've been told not to brood ducks with turkeys. Could go the guinea fowl route, though. They're tough as beans.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Earlier in the thread I said that I sold hatching eggs on eBay to pay for the feed and expenses. It works well but this time I come across a monster. He incubated them for 2 weeks saw that only 2 were developing and threw them all in a garbage bag, a complete waste of eggs. Look at the picture that they sent me. The others probably were scrambled during shipping. Why did he do this though???. (He only bought 4 eggs but I sent 6)
WARNING CRACKED DEVELOPED EGGS.

thats horrible, and if your listing says that there is no guarantee to hatching rate because of PO handing you should be in the clear

and he asked for 4, 2 were developing thats NOT bad for shipped eggs, thats still 50%, i hate dumb people

sorry you have to deal with that

 

[MontainBourbons]

thats horrible, and if your listing says that there is no guarantee to hatching rate because of PO handing you should be in the clear

and he asked for 4, 2 were developing thats NOT bad for shipped eggs, thats still 50%, i hate dumb people

sorry you have to deal with that

Had to give him half back leading to practically breaking even.

 

[BantamTurkey]

Might be a weird question to ask here, but next year I am interested in starting out SMALL on the chickenless (is that strange) poultry raising front, and also wish to free-range.

I initially only want a handful of Ancona ducks (1 male and maybe 6 or so females) AND also would like to add a few "guard hen" turkeys of the Narragansett because its a forested area with creepy crawlies and I hear turkeys are much more aggressive at keeping out intruders and pests as well as early warning against raptor birds.

Basically my question is, should I get my ducks and turkey poults all at once and let them grow up together so that they are social with each other and is it OK to only get a few female turkey hens? The ducks will be for breeding, meat, and eggs but the turkeys would be more to round out the defensive/pest control/ornament so I have no interest in a tom if I can avoid it at the moment. Both ducks and turkeys are native and well suited to the area, and should thrive with plenty of forage and fresh water available.

What about the pen setup? Will they try and roost with the ducks or will they appreciate a larger pen of their own?
Blackhead shouldn't be a problem in my area and since I will not be raising chickens the chance of my ducks getting it slim to none.
Also open to any other advice on other non-chicken livestock you think would compliment the idea.

Guinea fowl would be the way to go as far as protection. I have to admit, I have one hen that is down to fight, but for the most part, IME they're just not that aggressive, I have had guineas and they were worse than the hounds about animals that weren't supposed to be there. They also chased cars... only the ones with shiny wheels. We never had bugs in our garden and they never touched the actual produce of the garden. I didn't have them anymore, but my neighbor does. The only thing I didn't like was that they were noisy. I think that is the only reason I don't have any now

 

[Kamoko]

Thanks for the advice! I will have to consider getting some guineas, but I might gets a few turkeys too just because of how much I like the idea raising a few.

Yeah given the major size difference and how wet ducks like to be, separate pens makes sense even if they hang out together outside.