Maine

[Widget]

The turkeys are not much different than chickens to raise. The biggest differences I've noticed are:

1. They are really, really, really dumb. They make my chickens look like MENSA birds.
2. They eat a lot.
3. They are a lot bigger. My roosts sag when their fat butts get on them.
4. They can fly a lot better than a chicken and are very disinclined to acquiesce to my request to go in the coop at night. (see also #1)
5. They are quite tasty but their legs have weird cartilage in it.
6. Occasionally they pick on my smaller chickens in the same coop. But generally everyone gets along pretty well.
7. See #1.

I have hatched them 2 years in a row for Cinco de Mayo and they were ready for Thanksgiving. My girl, who was smaller, dressed out at 9.6 lbs.
She was deeeeelicious.

#4 Really? You just had to do that to me. Now I want to watch Pirates of the Caribbean again.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Me too!! I don't know why that quote came over me, but it did.

 

[CoopChick719]

Oh man, Coopchick! Tomorrow's got to be better-hope you feel better, too.

Thanks dowgirl71 Feeling a little better today.

On a warm day like today, I'd have left those two windows open. Should you clean the coop? I know you're using the Deep litter method, but with the ammonia build up, and the worms, I personally would clean it out. Won't the chickens just get reinfested eating something in the litter that has a worm or egg on it?

I've been leaving one window open on nice days. I limed the snot out of the litter w/barn lime and mixed everything up so smells much better today.

Young birds are only supposed to do "mini" molts. However, my girls haven't read the manual. I've been beefing it up with BOSS including sprouts, occasional lentil, wheat and barley sprouts, some meat scraps (probably not enough of that). I don't want to put heat in their loft, but am considering it b/c of the molting. Planning to use a cinder block with a 40 - 60 watt bulb inside, covered over with a ceramic tile. I have a thermostat that will limit the heat to come on at what ever temp I set it at.

So sorry Coop chick. Some times it's just not worth getting out of bed!!

Thanks LG! My birds haven't read the manual either. My only molter was one of my older girls.

My shed is coming! My shed is coming! Woohoo!!!!

HOOORAAAYY!! How exciting!!

Sad news at the Sinipso farm today. I had to put down My 14 year old goat, Hanna.

I'm so sorry Widget.

I leave all my windows wide open unless
1) it's going to snow AND blow or
2) the wind chill is significantly below zero and it's really windy.

Then I keep the cracked. As soon as the blowing is over, I open the windows back up.

Thanks SCG. My only concern is my 2 Sizzles being warm enough.

 

[yankeehill]

The turkeys are not much different than chickens to raise. The biggest differences I've noticed are:

1. They are really, really, really dumb. They make my chickens look like MENSA birds.
2. They eat a lot.
3. They are a lot bigger. My roosts sag when their fat butts get on them.
4. They can fly a lot better than a chicken and are very disinclined to acquiesce to my request to go in the coop at night. (see also #1)
5. They are quite tasty but their legs have weird cartilage in it.
6. Occasionally they pick on my smaller chickens in the same coop. But generally everyone gets along pretty well.
7. See #1.

I have hatched them 2 years in a row for Cinco de Mayo and they were ready for Thanksgiving. My girl, who was smaller, dressed out at 9.6 lbs.
She was deeeeelicious.

Hee, hee, I had to google MENSA! NEVER heard of it before.

Thanks for all the Turkey info! We'll have to see if we really want to do this or not.

Now, another issue....All our birds roost together at night...4 geese, 5 ducks, 13 hens. Needless to say, the coop gets nasty, especially on days like this. Can I use those Equine Pellets in the coop? They'll basically absorb extra moisture, and turn to fluffy sawdust when they are wet...but could this harm any of the birds, if they decide to eat some? My whole reason for never using those in the coop has been concern that a hen might eat a few of them, and they'd swell up inside her. Is that a concern?

 

[Widget]

Hee, hee, I had to google MENSA!   NEVER heard of it before. 

Is now a good time to admit that I am a member of Mensa?

 

[yankeehill]

Way to go! I was never 'smart enough' or applied myself in schooling. I have a class next week on Chemo drugs, and I'm already worrying that I won't pass the class! I do perfectly well working, and practicing my field (Nursing), but you give me a drug test, or any type of test, and you'd think I was an idiot! Even in college, I could study harder than most, review it with classmates, and miss that same topic on a test. HATE THAT!

 

[dowgirl71]

Young birds are only supposed to do "mini" molts. However, my girls haven't read the manual. All of my EE have done mini-molts: mostly neck and beard, and dropped their tail feathers. However, My RIR has been going through a SEVERE molt. I feel so bad for her. Also, my BSL, who has a thick lustrous coat of feathers, has started to molt, and is loosing tail and body feathers. If she follows the same pattern as the RIR, she'll be in the worst of it just in time for the huge freeze. Interestingly enough, the RIR and BSL are girls that I hatched. Also, BSL is showing more neuro signs with the colder weather. and the RIR is now showing some of the same behaviors. I think it's nutrition related b/c they are not eating any where near as much feed as I expect them to. I've been beefing it up with BOSS including sprouts, occasional lentil, wheat and barley sprouts, some meat scraps (probably not enough of that). I don't want to put heat in their loft, but am considering it b/c of the molting. Planning to use a cinder block with a 40 - 60 watt bulb inside, covered over with a ceramic tile. I have a thermostat that will limit the heat to come on at what ever temp I set it at.

So sorry Coop chick. Some times it's just not worth getting out of bed!!

Are your EEs the ones who are just a couple weeks older than mine?

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Widget - I'm so sorry to hear about your goat.

CoopChick - I hope you are feeling better!

 

[CoopChick719]

Now, another issue....All our birds roost together at night...4 geese, 5 ducks, 13 hens. Needless to say, the coop gets nasty, especially on days like this. Can I use those Equine Pellets in the coop? They'll basically absorb extra moisture, and turn to fluffy sawdust when they are wet...but could this harm any of the birds, if they decide to eat some? My whole reason for never using those in the coop has been concern that a hen might eat a few of them, and they'd swell up inside her. Is that a concern?

yankeehill, my sister uses the equine pellets in her coop. She can go about 3 months between replacing them. She shovels the used bedding into her run which helps greatly when it's muddy. She has not had any issues with her girls eating them. However she does not feed pelletted feed either.

Is now a good time to admit that I am a member of Mensa?

Nice Widget!!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Thanks SCG. My only concern is my 2 Sizzles being warm enough.

Not quite the same but I had 2 showgirls last winter. They snuggled up with everyone else and were fine.

Way to go! I was never 'smart enough' or applied myself in schooling. I have a class next week on Chemo drugs, and I'm already worrying that I won't pass the class! I do perfectly well working, and practicing my field (Nursing), but you give me a drug test, or any type of test, and you'd think I was an idiot! Even in college, I could study harder than most, review it with classmates, and miss that same topic on a test. HATE THAT!

At least that's the kind of drug test that is okay to fail! You'll be fine. Make yourself flash cards and figure out a way to remember them.