Midget White

[FeatheredObsessions]

We are considering Midget Whites. We got eggs this year once but none developed. Just wondering is there fertility issues in the breed or just if the birds aren't doing their thing right.

We also wonder how many folks keep them? Are they very loud?

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I have two midget whites a pair They are about 8-9 weeks old? not noisy thus far. I love their little love calls ( chirps) to eachother..especially when they get out of eachothers sight! The one thing I dont like is how they beat down a few of my chickens! Put a true hurting on some-blinded one of my split lav silkies

. They all live together free range together and sleep together. what I can say id make sure you have a high roost for them-High! They are always on fences trees etc..But they always go into to barn to go to bed. Origianlly I got them because they were a smaller breed and I wanted to test the waters with turkeys for the first time. Im still debating wether or not to butcher them in the very late Fall or keep them for eggs next Spring and hatch out more for butchering. I have a family of 4 so I dont need 30lb turkeys. 15 lbs is big enough for us. I t would be nice to fill the freezer with 8-10 Turkeys for the Winter If they decide to beat down anymore of my expensive chickens...They will get a large pen all to themselves with a netting so they can't escape! I havent heard about fertility issues...I never asked though as it is my first turkey experience.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Midget Whites have the best taste of any of the varieties we raise and they lay the largest egg. I highly recommend them

Steve

 

[Lotsapaints]

I just have young ones they are not noisy and are very friendly the oldest are almost 12 weeks mine don't bother my chickens and none of the toms have had any fights they are going out into a large run and I will pen them separate by butchering ones and breeding ones. I'm hoping that mine start to lay this fall I know they need a little different feed than chickens and I hope I don't have any problems with fertility the top turkey in the pen is a Midget but I don't see any scuffles with the Burbons...I would think you need to make sure to feed them well but not get the breeders fat. The heritage site has a pdf booklet http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/turkeymanual/ALBCturkey-4.pdf that explains what they need and ask Steve_of_sandspoultry any questions he has more experience than most.

 

[ziggywiggy]

I keep one Tom and two hens and they provide me with an ample supply of meat and eggs. I hatched around 25 poults this year(actually I lost count after selling several) and that is way more than I need. I highly recommend them. They are good foragers, setters, moms, and seem to put on weight rather quickly. Everything I hatched in the spring, I can butcher by December.
They also have great personalities and don't seem to be as aggressive as some of the other turkey varieties. My Tom is about 4 years old and is just a big love ball who will eat out of my hand. He even helps a little bit with raising the poults.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I do hope I have the luck you have-yah 25 poults is way more than needed for me I was thinking 10

 

[ziggywiggy]

Quote:
I do hope I have the luck you have-yah 25 poults is way more than needed for me I was thinking 10

The problem is that it's hard to manage what you really need to hatch. I would be happy with ten but, if I let the hens set 10 eggs I may only get five. Then out of those five, I may loose a few. So I just let nature take it's course and hope for the best and I usually end up with more than I need. Luckily, I was able to sell a few this year. Also, one hen started setting again on six eggs when her poults were around 10 weeks. It was funny watching some of the poults trying to get under her while she was setting on eggs and being a perfect mom, she made room. I have a picture somewhere I'll download.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I do hope I have the luck you have-yah 25 poults is way more than needed for me I was thinking 10

The problem is that it's hard to manage what you really need to hatch. I would be happy with ten but, if I let the hens set 10 eggs I may only get five. Then out of those five, I may loose a few. So I just let nature take it's course and hope for the best and I usually end up with more than I need. Luckily, I was able to sell a few this year. Also, one hen started setting again on six eggs when her poults were around 10 weeks. It was funny watching some of the poults trying to get under her while she was setting on eggs and being a perfect mom, she made room. I have a picture somewhere I'll download.

 

[Lagerdogger]

I got one midget white by accident this year. It was supposed to be a Royal Palm but someone made a mistake. It is the least personable bird in my flock, and the only one that I can't even touch. It is a hen, and the other hens (RP, B Red, St Bronze) will all let me pick them up. The toms seem a little less interested in being held, but I can grab them if i offer them a handful of clover leaves. I cant get the white to even eat out of my hands. Glad to hear that others have friendlier versions.

 

[mamawolf544]

I have MW's and mine free range with everything else and I dont have a problem. They are not noisy at all. Timothy (DD named) will gobble if you gobble at him, very cute. I do feed them Turkey mash, they know where there bowl is. But they do sleep way up on the tallest structure they can find. And I haven't had any fertility problems with them.