Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[NewToFarming]

Yes to all of those! Personally, I had always considered turkeys ugly and did not anticipate how their personality would affect my opinion. When I approach their pen, they all come running. If they were roosting, they jump down and then come running to greet me. They make noises that really sound like they are glad to see me and hope I brought them something to eat. I've even seen them start a kind of dance when they see me from afar, sort of like what cranes do when nesting (I don't have cranes, just watch them on TV). They clearly want my attention. I've never observed any other poultry do that, at least not so flamboyantly. I consider turkeys sort of the "dogs" of the poultry world.

You really gotta try one or 2.

I agree! They are such a blast to have around, aren't they?

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I agree! They are such a blast to have around, aren't they?

enabler #2...

Yes to all of those! Personally, I had always considered turkeys ugly and did not anticipate how their personality would affect my opinion. When I approach their pen, they all come running. If they were roosting, they jump down and then come running to greet me. They make noises that really sound like they are glad to see me and hope I brought them something to eat. I've even seen them start a kind of dance when they see me from afar, sort of like what cranes do when nesting (I don't have cranes, just watch them on TV). They clearly want my attention. I've never observed any other poultry do that, at least not so flamboyantly. I consider turkeys sort of the "dogs" of the poultry world.

You really gotta try one or 2.

enabler #1...

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Congrats to your son Blarney! And to you on selling all the chicks! 

Hey Thank You! I'm super proud of him, he does all the selling at the shows, it's his favorite part! I never ran into Arielle

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Sooo.... Turkey question from a super newbie: if you're not going to eat your turkeys, are they pes? Lawn ornaments? Edible egg layers?


Pardon the ignorance!

Yes to all of those! Personally, I had always considered turkeys ugly and did not anticipate how their personality would affect my opinion. When I approach their pen, they all come running. If they were roosting, they jump down and then come running to greet me. They make noises that really sound like they are glad to see me and hope I brought them something to eat. I've even seen them start a kind of dance when they see me from afar, sort of like what cranes do when nesting (I don't have cranes, just watch them on TV). They clearly want my attention. I've never observed any other poultry do that, at least not so flamboyantly. I consider turkeys sort of the "dogs" of the poultry world.

You really gotta try one or 2.

Ok, NOW I'm intrigued! It's going to take some scheming on my part to talk DS into letting me keep one as a pet.....what to do, what to do...

 

[LisaYolkUm]

Lisa, you were asking about the leeks..and your hens eating them. Leeks are like onions..strong flavor that could alter the taste of the eggs they lay...maybe want to reconsider giving those to them...or if you want already flavored eggs...then by all means...people who also give flax seeds to their layers also report of a "taste" if given too many. They can eat them..in appropriate amounts if you don't want altered flavor.

LMP------

I will let you know about the kidney beans.............I imagine many beans would sprout.........but what the heck I am growing then this year......hopefully........I don't know how the plants will look etc........but will look into that as well.

I like to cook with them so I thought I would try it-------and its another protein source.

Re: Leeks----thanks for that info......I would not mind the flavor ......I LOVE LEEKS....especially in a potato leek soup.
Its also good to know in case I was worried about a different tasting egg........I could think about the leek or onion possibility.

 

[kalbach8]

Ok, NOW I'm intrigued! It's going to take some scheming on my part to talk DS into letting me keep one as a pet.....what to do, what to do...

My girls wanted to buy and hatch a couple turkey eggs that they found at a spring auction last year. We still have 3 (that's what hatched). My thinking was that it was fine, we could eat 1 for every holiday. LOL Almost a year later and they are still here. They are kept penned but get out frequently(there's a small area at the top of the run and they manage to squeeze out when they want. I walk out and they come running when loose and will follow me into the garage and around outside. They will walk with me right to the pen and I just open the door and in they go and then all turn around and look at me (saying what do we get now). When you go into feed them they will come right up between my legs from behind and lean against me while waiting for me to get done dumping food or water. Very much like having a barn cat. I'm thinking that they will never end up on our table. So, now I'm waiting for the eggs to start coming to sell for hatching eggs and I am also going to try and hatch a few to sell as well. They need to make up for their food intake somehow!

 

[SilkieSensation]

If you can help me find a RP tom, I'll try to get some Mottled Blacks hatched and you'll be first on the list!

I found a royal palm tom in Lancaster! They are going to keep him for me until I'm ready to put him with the "girls". I'm excited e

My momma always told me not to count my chicks before they are hatched, but if anyone is interested in either Royal Palm or Black Mottled poults, let me know. Neither of these are breeds known for large meaty birds, they are more ornamental.

I love to study genetics and I find it fascinating that these 2 breeds are literally only a "half gene" apart, but look like photo negatives of each other (one white with black markings, the other black with white markings). The black mottleds have a single black gene, which they pass on to only half their progeny. The ones that get it look mostly black, the others are royal palms (which breed true).

I would love mottleds to go with my palms & slates. Wonder if crossing them with the slates will give me blue & lavender mottled like it gives me blue & lavender palms?

talkative bunch today....

silkie I will contact Arielle, you wouldn't happen to know her prices would you ??

never got around to cooking that chicken today, but I do have a pot of beef bones that have been cooking all day....they will continue to cook for awhile yet....smells good though.

really nice turkey pics, seems like we are all on the lookout for next year's turkeys.....


LMP... if you get late in the season and can not find BB... root's always has some at the livestock auction.....

just to add, got my first egg today from one of the white bresse

Not sure she has her prices set for this year yet.

Sooo.... Turkey question from a super newbie: if you're not going to eat your turkeys, are they pes? Lawn ornaments? Edible egg layers?

Pardon the ignorance!

I hatch out poults & sell them or sell the eggs. We rarely get to eat the turkey eggs unless we get a cracked one because I sell & hatch so many of them. We've only eaten broad breasted so far but may try a heritage this year just for comparison.

Sooo.... Turkey question from a super newbie: if you're not going to eat your turkeys, are they pes? Lawn ornaments? Edible egg layers?


Pardon the ignorance!

Yes to all of those! Personally, I had always considered turkeys ugly and did not anticipate how their personality would affect my opinion. When I approach their pen, they all come running. If they were roosting, they jump down and then come running to greet me. They make noises that really sound like they are glad to see me and hope I brought them something to eat. I've even seen them start a kind of dance when they see me from afar, sort of like what cranes do when nesting (I don't have cranes, just watch them on TV). They clearly want my attention. I've never observed any other poultry do that, at least not so flamboyantly. I consider turkeys sort of the "dogs" of the poultry world.

You really gotta try one or 2.

Ok, NOW I'm intrigued! It's going to take some scheming on my part to talk DS into letting me keep one as a pet.....what to do, what to do...

Just get him a batch of eggs & tell him you want to keep a pair from what hatches so you can hatch your own next year.

 

[dheltzel]

I would love mottleds to go with my palms & slates. Wonder if crossing them with the slates will give me blue & lavender mottled like it gives me blue & lavender palms?

It's always a bit complicated with genetics. The Black Mottleds and RP's I think of as "sister varieties", since they only differ by one gene. That gene is partially dominant, meaning they look different depending on how many copies of the gene they have (like the black/blue/splash gene). So, they look like this:
0 copies of the 'black" gene - Royal Palm
1 copy - Black Mottled
2 copies - Black Marbled - I think these look so much like the regular blacks that no one sells them as a separate breed, but if crossed to a RP, you get 100% Black Mottleds

Crossing 2 Black Mottleds should give you about 25% RP, 50% Black Mottleds, and 25% Black Marbled -- the same distribution you'd get crossing 2 blues (but not self-blues, AKA Lavenders, those are recessive and breed true).

IDK what you will get if crossed to slates, probably close to what you'd get from RP x Slate, but some predominantly black. I think black is dominant in turkeys, so it might completely hide the slate in the F1's.

 

[SilkieSensation]

It's always a bit complicated with genetics. The Black Mottleds and RP's I think of as "sister varieties", since they only differ by one gene. That gene is partially dominant, meaning they look different depending on how many copies of the gene they have (like the black/blue/splash gene). So, they look like this:
0 copies of the 'black" gene - Royal Palm
1 copy - Black Mottled
2 copies - Black Marbled - I think these look so much like the regular blacks that no one sells them as a separate breed, but if crossed to a RP, you get 100% Black Mottleds

Crossing 2 Black Mottleds should give you about 25% RP, 50% Black Mottleds, and 25% Black Marbled -- the same distribution you'd get crossing 2 blues (but not self-blues, AKA Lavenders, those are recessive and breed true).

IDK what you will get if crossed to slates, probably close to what you'd get from RP x Slate, but some predominantly black. I think black is dominant in turkeys, so it might completely hide the slate in the F1's.

I like to experiment so may have to get some eggs or poults from you & try it.

 

[sgtmom52]

Not chicken related, but I have 3 tickets to give away to the Pennsylvania Auto Show at the Farm Show in Harrisburg this weekend. I got them for donating blood and we won't be using them ~ I hate to see them go to waste. They are FREE to anyone who might want them. You will still have to pay for parking. I will mail them out if anyone wants them.