Minnesota!

[Timbertoes]

All four Icelandics have hatched-1 yellow one and 3 chipmunk's. Only 1 of the wheaten Am's hatched, I will give them a couple more days-just in case.
Thanks for all of your advice when my power went out!

 

[goose4]

This is the day the birds have been waiting for since October

Sorry about the pic It looks okay on my pc.

 

[Minniechickmama]

This is the day the birds have been waiting for since October

Sorry about the pic It looks okay on my pc.

WOW! You have ANTI-GRAVITY BIRDS! That is SO cool!
LOL!!!!

 

[Minniechickmama]

It's a great day to be a chicken in Minnesota!!!

I can't resist pics of Timber

You mean mine weren't the only ones trying to all dust bathe in the same spot and looked like a pile of dead chickens from a distance? Ha ha ha

 

[cochins1088]

I got myself a young white broad breasted turkey last night. She's from a commerical farm so she's been de-beaked and her toe nails have been removed. It's a long story, but this farmer had 1000s of them and he said I could have one if I wanted. So even though I knew nothing about turkeys, I jumped at the oppurtunity to save one of them from those aweful conditions. I couldn't hardly breathe in there and that was with a mask.

Her name is Lucy and she will live out whatever life she has left in a good home.

Here she is after a VERY long bath.




and here she is this morning.





I plan on introducing her to the chickens and ducks later this week. If anyone knows anything about turkeys, I'd love to get some advice.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Bless you Cochins for saving that white turkey. She looks so sweet. I know nothing other than they can have quite nice personalities if hand raised. I hope she's that for you....

 

[Minniechickmama]

Here is my experience, and not to sound negative because I do like turkeys....
They can and will catch just about anything that blows by as far as illness is concerned. They are more susceptible to many diseases than your other poultry. I would keep a bottle of Tylan 50 injectable on hand and use it orally if you see her sinuses starting to swell.
Being that she came from a commercial farm and had lived long enough in those conditions, she is likely well medicated already.

It is nice that you want to give her a better life. I too disagree with the way our commercial poultry are raised. We should all learn more about growing and raising our own food. The country would probably be healthier as a whole if we did.

Good luck. It looks like she is happy in her new digs.

 

[cochins1088]

Bless you Cochins for saving that white turkey. She looks so sweet. I know nothing other than they can have quite nice personalities if hand raised. I hope she's that for you....

Yes. She really surprised me. I figured after being treated so horribly all her life, that she'd be antisocial and mean, but no.

She loved being blow dried after her bath. I sat down and talked to her for quite a while and she seemed to enjoy it. She'll sit down and let me pet her, but you can tell she's still a bit nervous. It's only been 1 day so I'm sure she'll warm up to me eventually.

The part that makes me sad is her breed. I did some research and they are similar to cornish cross chickens. They will grow and grow until their bodies can't take it any more. They can't even breed naturally. I did read that you can limit food and encourage foraging to help keep their weight down though.

 

[cochins1088]

Here is my experience, and not to sound negative because I do like turkeys....
They can and will catch just about anything that blows by as far as illness is concerned. They are more susceptible to many diseases than your other poultry. I would keep a bottle of Tylan 50 injectable on hand and use it orally if you see her sinuses starting to swell.
Being that she came from a commercial farm and had lived long enough in those conditions, she is likely well medicated already.

It is nice that you want to give her a better life. I too disagree with the way our commercial poultry are raised. We should all learn more about growing and raising our own food. The country would probably be healthier as a whole if we did.

Good luck. It looks like she is happy in her new digs.

Really? If she does get sick, is she likely to pass it on to my chickens?

 

[Minniechickmama]

Really? If she does get sick, is she likely to pass it on to my chickens?

Only if you leave it untreated. I have had sinus crud that just the turkeys got and i separated them. but if your birds are in high stress conditions like extreme heat (July here in MN) or rapidly changing weather (like lately and last fall), then all yor birds would more likely be effected.The biggest concern to watch for that can realy take out the flock is blackhead. I suggest you do some research just so you are really aware of what you are taking on with having turkeys.