Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Jim121898]

I've been breeding turkeys for 8 years and there is a small market for heritage turkeys and a bigger one for meat turkeys. But unless you free range, it's hard to recover the cost of raising the birds via eggs or poults. Another market for the eggs is pysanky artists. They like them as the shells are very strong. The eggs also make excellent pasta.

Thank you for the input. I'm not looking to make a living off the eggs/poults but rather make good use of them. I've just started this adventure with the RPs strictly because I like the coloration of the birds. I basically want to make sure that if there is a market for them than I'd be happy to continue the production.

 

[Jim121898]

I would say... yes, probably.
If you do facebook, I've seen them on some of the plethora of Michigan poultry groups,
that might be a place to sell.
Hatch some out, you can always eat them if they don't sell as youngsters.

Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!

Thanks aart! I'm not on Facebook but my wife does Facebook so perhaps we'll give a look. I'm not sure I could get the wife and kids to go for the eating part, but have heard they are tasty.

 

[WalnutHill]

Thanks aart! I'm not on Facebook but my wife does Facebook so perhaps we'll give a look. I'm not sure I could get the wife and kids to go for the eating part, but have heard they are tasty.

Heritage turkeys are delicious. Depending on the lines of your Royal Palm they may or may not be ideally suited for table birds, but no matter the size they taste great. I've been selecting for larger Narragansett and Oregon Gray and now have hens nearing 20 lb live mature and 30 lb Oregon Gray toms. I am adding Pencilled Palm to my flock this year.

 

[1muttsfan]

Those Royal Palms are beautiful, the Penciled even more so. Just no room or time for Turkeys right now, but wish I could.

Have you heard of Chickenstock? Might be a good place to sell some

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/michigan-chickenstock-event-page

 

[Jim121898]

Those Royal Palms are beautiful, the Penciled even more so.  Just no room or time for Turkeys right now, but wish I could. 

Have you heard of Chickenstock?  Might be a good place to sell some

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/michigan-chickenstock-event-page

Thanks for the lead on chickenstock site. I haven't had the chance to see Penciled Palms. I will check those out to see how they look. Thanks

 

[snowflake]

Hi Snowflake. I'll bring you some "critters" anytime to re-energize you! A house bunny? Might be fun, should have some at Chickenstock.

thanks, but no thanks, already have a 100lb dog and 3 cats in the house, as well as 5 adults, I'll just have to enjoy reading about and seeing other's




I have had chickens for about 10 yrs. now you would think I would have caught on to the signs. I keep my food and water outside of the coop, seemed like I had been going through more food then normal and my waterers were very dirty.,,,, yes, night time visitors went out to close up one night and I was a little later then normal, and guess what I found a family of possum, think they were the reason for missing eggs and chicks this summer, and one this winter,... so far we have managed to cull 3 at least 2 got away. have the trap set but no luck since the last 2 were taken care of. now I put the food in trash cans every night, which means getting out to put them back out for the chickens around 5, 5:30,........so, if your waterers are getting dirtier then normal you may have night time company,.......

 

[bigmrg74]

Got a dinosaur egg today. Had a bunch of large bumps all over it.




At least my girls are being productive lately, 6 eggs yesterday, and I've got about 2 dozen in the fridge.

 

[zndzant]

Cool egg!

This is my monster egg for the day.

I also am a little bit worried about my roo. Besides the frostbite his comb got during the last cold snap, he somehow has gotten his back toe on one foot injured/frostbitten. And there is not a thing I can do to help him. I can't get my hands on him at all. He's standing with that foot held up most of the time. Because he is so wary of human touch,he will either get better or he will die. But it still upsets me.

Here he is. Such a pretty boy too. For a hatchery bird.

 

[aart]

I also am a little bit worried about my roo. Besides the frostbite his comb got during the last cold snap, he somehow has gotten his back toe on one foot injured/frostbitten. And there is not a thing I can do to help him. I can't get my hands on him at all. He's standing with that foot held up most of the time. Because he is so wary of human touch,he will either get better or he will die. But it still upsets me.

Not sure it's a do or die thing......but get him off the roost at night and take a look.
Might be good to pop him in a wire crate to let it rest and keep him off the snow.

 

[bigmrg74]

Not sure it's a do or die thing......but get him off the roost at night and take a look.
Might be good to pop him in a wire crate to let it rest and keep him off the snow.

Yeah, the easiest way to grab an injured chicken is to do so while its on the roost.