Meat turkeys

[texaschickmama]

So, if I read this right, Bronze would be a good meat bird for the holiday. How long does it take for them to mature? I want to grow my own Thanksgiving Dinner this year.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I started mine in spring (March) and could have processed them in August as a nice sized dressed bird, say 20 lbs. They're almost like cornishX, the longer you wait the bigger they get.

 

[nadams4]

How much exercise should they get??

I dont want the meat to be tough!

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Once mine got heavy enough, they quit doing much other than walk around, terrorize chickens and eat.

They couldn't fly to save their lives. They preferred to lay on the ground to sleep at night rather than roost. They're pretty active as poults (what kids aren't?), but once they start reaching a heavier weight they slow down a lot.

When I let them free range, they were always underfoot and following me everywhere! They're so curious you almost have to protect them from themselves.

 

[MissPrissy]

I got bourbon red poults hatched the end of May - first of June. I had nice sized turkeys for Thanksgiving. We processed the Monday before and let them rest in the refrigerator until Thursday when we cooked them - 1 roasted and 1 deep fried. They were delicious!

 

[lynxpilot]

We did broad breasted bronze this past year. I think I bought around April and butchered just before Thanksgiving. They were moderate size but the breast was very large.

I had ordered the minimum of 15 from McMurray and after brooding kept them in the same area as the chickens. We didn't lose any in brooding but lost 8 to leg problems or disease. I had read about blackhead disease if they are raised with chickens and I can only surmise that it was in fact the problem with ours along with leg ligament problems. I've also read about many people who do keep them with chickens and have no problem at all.

There's probably some good expertise and experience on this site, and I'd recommend finding out everything you can about their nutrition and disease prevention. I'm sure I screwed up royally in both areas and was rather embarrassed after that first batch. I haven't found many books or articles either and won't do another batch until I do and I'm ready for them. 50% mortality is unacceptable and every one was my own fault.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Lynx I suspect it was your feed. They really need to be on game bird ration not chicken feed. Having access to chicken feed they will take it, and it's not enough for them. I did get away with giving my layers the game bird ration one year, but that expensive way of doing business if you have lots of chickens.

As for blackhead worm your chickens in the winter when the laying is down anyway, Safeguard is a good one to get rid of the worm that brings blackhead to your turkeys. If you let your turkeys free range they still might get it as earth worms can be a carrier of the same worm.

As for them getting tough Nadams4 the whites will not, they just can't be bothered doing much. The BBB will so they need to be penned, and good luck, wing clipping is a big deal, they could fly over my barn no problem!

 

[mswiggi]

I raise turkeys for Thanksgiving. I did bbb, bbw, and heritage. A 6 month old heritage may only be 12lbs, whereas a 6 month old bbb/w may dress out at 40lbs! I did a batch of bronze and whites in late march and had to butcher the toms early (sept/oct) as they were already over 40lbs live weight. The rest of my birds dressed out mid 20 to high 20's.
I also get birds july and August for smaller T-day birds.

All of my turkeys free range, they are started on turkey starter, you need high protein (28%), when they go on pasture (8 wks) they are on a 19% broiler ration. Bugs, and what ever they can get supply the extra protein. In my opinion the BB were very active right up until the end

 

[lynxpilot]

April,

Thanks for the reply. I'll do exactly as you mentioned next time.

Dave