North Carolina

[ramirezframing]

My first turkey was a bb bronze. He was nice and clam, just didn't like to be petted on. I got an rp hen for him and I was able to get poults from them. I limited his feed and he grew just fine, but he did get big. He was close to a year old when he snapped his upper leg bone. Dressed and skinned, he weighed 29lbs if I remember right and about 40 lbs alive. The rp hen was very nice and would let the kids pet on her, even pick her up. Turkeys are friendly from what I have seen, the toms just don't like to be messed with too much. They can be talkative but nothing worse then my chickens.

Hope this helps you out some. There is a section on BYC for turkeys under the "other backyard poultry" section of the main forum.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

I have Calico Sweet Grass turkeys and mixed breed turkeys. Both
breeds are not mean or aggressive but toms will talk....lots. I love the
sound of their drumming. Some folks mistake that drum as aggression
but it isn't......just a noise they make.

 

[RuanMac]

interesting

 

[jtbass2756]

Need to vent:

There is nothing like struggling to take care of you chickens and being pretty much dependent on others for the big things (which I despise) and coming home to take care of your ladies/chicks and facing the results of this weather. No all the animal are good...I just get down every once in a while. Someone said they had all the wood I would need and they would build me a big coop (although I said I just want a small one)...so I told him I would go ahead and order the chicks since it would be a while before they would be ready for a coop! That was about 3 1/2 months ago. ...Not even a run. I have had to move the EE out in the small portable dog pen which puts 6 of them in a crowded....NOW....wet area! I feel like such a terrible mother! When I was younger, I would have been out there with saws/hammers...doing what was necessary! I have already drawn up so many designs of how to make it accessible and keep it small....!!!! Now at 65, I'm very limited physically. (frustrated athlete). Can't afford just to have someone do it because NOW....I'm on fixed income. Was a teacher as long as I could do it.. Please forgive me,,,,just needed to have a short pity party with myself...now, I'll get on with figuring out what to do about it all. Just makes me want to cuss....

 

[dutchbunny83]

My first turkey was a bb bronze. He was nice and clam, just didn't like to be petted on. I got an rp hen for him and I was able to get poults from them. I limited his feed and he grew just fine, but he did get big. He was close to a year old when he snapped his upper leg bone. Dressed and skinned, he weighed 29lbs if I remember right and about 40 lbs alive. The rp hen was very nice and would let the kids pet on her, even pick her up. Turkeys are friendly from what I have seen, the toms just don't like to be messed with too much. They can be talkative but nothing worse then my chickens.

Hope this helps you out some. There is a section on BYC for turkeys under the "other backyard poultry" section of the main forum.

I wonder if the darker colors are better than the whites as far as personality and growth rate?
I don't know how that would be related, but I've had colored broilers & freedom rangers and they were nothing like the Cornish cross. They grew fast, but not like the others, they could still move around and not attack me for food.
Our tom was a bb bronze cross with a royal palm I believe. And he was great, nothing like the white BB turkeys we had.

 

[dutchbunny83]

CSB-- Sounds pretty! I'll have to look them up, not familiar.

jtbass-- I'm sorry you're having such a rough time. I'm sure you're doing the best for your girls that you can right now

 

[ramirezframing]

Quote: I didn't have the same problems you did with your cornish rock crosses. I even had one hen make it to 3 yrs old, and got some babies off of her.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

 
My first turkey was a bb bronze. He was nice and clam, just didn't like to be petted on. I got an rp hen for him and I was able to get poults from them. I limited his feed and he grew just fine, but he did get big. He was close to a year old when he snapped his upper leg bone. Dressed and skinned, he weighed 29lbs if I remember right and about 40 lbs alive. The rp hen was very nice and would let the kids pet on her, even pick her up. Turkeys are friendly from what I have seen, the toms just don't like to be messed with too much. They can be talkative but nothing worse then my chickens.

Hope this helps you out some. There is a section on BYC for turkeys under the "other backyard poultry" section of the main forum.

I wonder if the darker colors are better than the whites as far as personality and growth rate?
I don't know how that would be related, but I've had colored broilers & freedom rangers and they were nothing like the Cornish cross.  They grew fast, but not like the others, they could still move around and not attack me for food.
Our tom was a bb bronze cross with a royal palm I believe.  And he was great, nothing like the white BB turkeys we had.

If that was the tom you got from me, he was a Royal Palm/Bourbon Red cross.

 

[dutchbunny83]

If that was the tom you got from me, he was a Royal Palm/Bourbon Red cross.

It was.
He was a great turkey.
Originally planned him for Christmas dinner, but DH couldn't get rid of him.
He really needed some more hens in the Spring though, he got too aggressive.

The Royal Palm hen is doing great! Finally stopped being broody & getting eggs from her again. She's really friendly. She's figured out how to open the screen door slider (if the glass one is open), and just walks in my house up the steps all the time to say hello, we have to chase her out haha!

I didn't have the same problems you did with your cornish rock crosses. I even had one hen make it to 3 yrs old, and got some babies off of her.

Oh wow!

 

[farmraised86]

I just finish another wire sculpture its called a key tree (for hanging keys) I've been selling these and other junk and wire sculptures for years now this one will be at the broadway auction friday night

it looks better in person lol