Life span of Bronze turkeys?

[thetajmahalcoop]

well we had sent two to get butchered the week of thanksgiving (the largest and smallest of the four we had at the time) and after butchering one came back at 18 lbs, the other was 25. so two months later we still had two (they were supposedly all the same age) , we butchered one sat eve (didnt weigh after sorry) and we still have one left to hang out with our Bourbon Red Tom until we find him a mate. Yes I am still eating turkey ..... I cooked the 25 lb one up sat morning from the freezer. So I can only imagine what the one weighed sat. eve and what the one weighs we still have out back.........

 

[Frosty]

For me, the killing is the hard part. I can do it, but prefer not to. We have a tradition here... every year, I raise turkeys. A bunch of folks want fresh turkey for Thanksgiving, so the Saturday before they all meet up at my place. We work together getting the job done, they give me money and take their turkeys. Last year it took us 4 hours with 4 1/2 people to do 11 turkeys and 2 chickens. (The 1/2 person was someones DH who didn't want to be there). I am sure lots of folks do them faster, but we enjoy the visiting, too. It actually went a bit quicker than normal because we had temps in the low 40's instead of what we have most of the time which is usually somewhere around 8F (makes it a pain to get the water up to temp, but the chill tank stays plenty cold!) Unfortunately, the guy that normally does the killing for us is probably moving out of state within the next few months so unless I get a replacement for him I may have to do the deed myself.

 

[thetajmahalcoop]

yeah not my idea of fun, I think I'd rather send it off for the price we pay. Thank Goodness Dear Uncle came to our rescue though!

 

[Frosty]

The first one is the hardest... gonna miss the guy that does it for us! Last year we were short a few people, so I was helping with the catching/killing (I am normally helping with the plucking/gutting). Did find that they turkeys don't get as upset when I catch them. Probably because they are used to me and associate me with food. We held two BB turkeys last year, my plan was to cross them with White Hollands this year. But a few weeks ago while taking care of the turkeys, I was talking to them in a high pitched voice (that gets the toms to gobble), and one BB gobbled at me - they were both supposed to be hens! Can't believe he fooled both of us!

 

[thetajmahalcoop]

LOL! The same thing happened with our Bourbon Red Tom ! He was about 6 months old when we got him in Sept and we thought he was a Hen, my Aunt has a Tom and two hens, we were hoping to borrow her Tom for a weekend this spring.....until the Tom Gobbled at us! Now we are having a hard time finding Bourbon Red Hens in our area....I'll keep searching though!