Midget White Turkey's from Eggs? Is this easy or hard?

[Wolfman]

Hi everyone, so I have had 4 chickens that I raised from little chicks for 3 years now. Two barrel Rocks and 2 Sex links. They do OK and are fairly decent egg layers. But I was thinking about raising some meat birds.

Looking around I found this on ebay. 6+ Midget White Turkey hatching eggs

I have not raised turkeys or eggs before and I was hopping to get some advice.

General Questions:
1) How hard is it to raise the eggs?
2) Once hatched how long to they are ready to butcher?
3) Do these lay eggs very well? (I was thinking of butchering them over a few years?)
4) How much room do they need?
5) Can they be kept with the chickens?
6) Are these kind of birds very noisy?

Any other advice or links to stuff I should read would be great. Raising the babies in the garage for a month or so is no problem, and I am sure I could work something up to hatch the eggs, heat and rotation right?

Thanks for any help or directions to more info.

Wolfman

 

[pawtraitart]

1 - I've found them to be relatively easy to hatch. Toms are very active with their hens so fertility is great.
2 - Butcher time depends on how big you want them. If I hatch in the early spring, I usually give them until late Fall. They mature a bit slow.
3 - MW are fantastic egg layers
4 - They don't need a lot of room, but appreciate roosts to fly up to and plenty of free range time. They are great foragers.
5 - Kept with chickens? It depends. If your area is prone to diseases that chickens carry and can give to your turkeys, bad idea. Also, during mating season the toms can get aggressive with chickens and even the hens will quarrel with chickens so best separate unless they are raised up together as hatch mates.
6 - Noisy? They can be. They have different calls they make and like to talk to eachother.

Sandspoultry has real midget whites and are nice to deal with. Be careful with some of the other ads out there, though. There are folks selling beltsville crosses as MW which they are not. Not the same bird.

The following is my current auction for real midget whites if you miss out on the sandspoultry auction.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/17078771336...LX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_500wt_1156

 

[Wolfman]

Thanks for all the Info Pawtraitart that helps out. I currently have 4 hens and a new yard for them that is 10 x 60, way more then they need so I was thinking about splitting it in two. Not sure though if I am going to get Turkeys or Broilers. I like Turkey and fall harvest would be great. The actual breed is not that important to me, I just don't want those big monsters! 10-12 lb range is great.

Do they need the same general set up as hens? Coop and all that, or just the roost? I guess if there is hens then they will need someplace to lay the eggs! Is their much difference in the eggs other then size?

Also, any recommendations on where to start reading in the Forms?

And your a lot closer then NC!, so maybe I'll bid on yours! Any idea how high they usually go? I know you probably don't want to reveal that, just wondering what all this is going to set me back! After all I am trying to do this to save a few bucks not have a lot of pets.

Thanks,

Wolfman

 

[pawtraitart]

What I have for mine is a fenced in pen with outside roosts that go up pretty high for the hens who like heights, some outside but covered roosts, and a small enclosed shelter with roosts that they can go into if they want to. I usually find them outside on their out in the open roosts unless the weather is bad. The younger birds sometimes go into the shelter at night and sleep in there, though. Keep them busy with an interesting environment and they will be more quiet and happier. For their nest boxes, I have a row of straw lined crates located under an overhang shelter. I like to keep an eye on who is on a nest so I can remove the eggs asap so this way I can just take a peek without going into their pen and disturbing them. I don't let them free range until most or all of the hens have laid their eggs for the day. I used to just let a group out in the morning, but then they started finding places other than their nest boxes to lay their eggs and we had to hunt for them. My husband didn't like finding nests around and in his old parts trucks. LOL

The eggs are bigger. The yolks are a bit denser. I like using turkey eggs for baking.

Prices for MW eggs varies. They can be pricier than other turkey breeds because it is harder to find real MW. So far this year, MW eggs are going for 25.00 to 50.00 for 6+. That seems to be about what it was last year. When there are a lot of auctions up at the same time you'll typically get your eggs on the lower end of the scale. It's early in the season so not everyone is ready to incubate so that helps, too. Once spring hits, there will be more interest and more 12+ offers.

 

[Wolfman]

Pawtraitart Thanks for the info, but after reading about some of the problems Turkey's can get from chickens, blackhead, worms and such, I decided to just stick with Chickens. Better safe then sorry, hopefully at least!

Good luck on the egg sales and if I ever move to a bigger place, hopefully I will be able to do chickens their.

Wolfman

 

[pawtraitart]

No problem! Enjoy your birds