Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[SilkieSensation]

So I've been looking it up and I think I want to get heritage bourbon red turkeys. Does anyone here have them? I'm looking for hatching eggs or poults. Probably in January.

It's going to be hard to get turkey eggs that early in the year locally. Mine were on lights last winter and began laying the very end of Feb/beginning of March...which was very early with the weather. My first batch of babies hatched around the 2nd week of April but I didn't have 100% fertility until mid-May hatches...which were eggs from the first half of April. The girls laid sporadically until early October with great fertility until the very last egg once the first eggs were all fertile for each hen.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

There is a breeder near me. I think he is around Middletown.

Going to be tough getting local eggs in January or February. To my knowledge, they don't really start to lay until spring. Honestly, eggs hatched the beginning of May will be processing size for thanksgiving. They probably won't last until the next year. There is also someone between Lancaster and Philly that has them. I got some from them on eBay last year.

It's going to be hard to get turkey eggs that early in the year locally. Mine were on lights last winter and began laying the very end of Feb/beginning of March...which was very early with the weather. My first batch of babies hatched around the 2nd week of April but I didn't have 100% fertility until mid-May hatches...which were eggs from the first half of April. The girls laid sporadically until early October with great fertility until the very last egg once the first eggs were all fertile for each hen.

I was just guessing. I assumed they were just like chickens with their laying habits.

 

[stake]

So I've been looking it up and I think I want to get heritage bourbon red turkeys. Does anyone here have them? I'm looking for hatching eggs or poults. Probably in January.

Auro/ Anne:

Pickering Valley feed has had turkeys available every spring for the past few years (IDK on types).....

Just a curious question,,,,are turkeys more 'hawk aware' than chooks?

 

[SilkieSensation]

There is a breeder near me. I think he is around Middletown.

Going to be tough getting local eggs in January or February. To my knowledge, they don't really start to lay until spring. Honestly, eggs hatched the beginning of May will be processing size for thanksgiving. They probably won't last until the next year. There is also someone between Lancaster and Philly that has them. I got some from them on eBay last year.

It's going to be hard to get turkey eggs that early in the year locally. Mine were on lights last winter and began laying the very end of Feb/beginning of March...which was very early with the weather. My first batch of babies hatched around the 2nd week of April but I didn't have 100% fertility until mid-May hatches...which were eggs from the first half of April. The girls laid sporadically until early October with great fertility until the very last egg once the first eggs were all fertile for each hen.

I was just guessing. I assumed they were just like chickens with their laying habits.

Turkeys are seasonal layers. Mine actually laid for a very long time this year. Last year without lights they laid from May to early August.

So I've been looking it up and I think I want to get heritage bourbon red turkeys. Does anyone here have them? I'm looking for hatching eggs or poults. Probably in January.

Auro/ Anne:

Pickering Valley feed has had turkeys available every spring for the past few years (IDK on types).....

Just a curious question,,,,are turkeys more 'hawk aware' than chooks?

My turkeys are VERY hawk aware, but were all raised with chickens, so not sure if that makes a difference or not. My pen was very out in the open last summer & was uncovered. There was 1 tom & 6-7 mature roos (some went to freezer camp) and anytime a large bird of any kind flew over they would sound the alarm, herd the hens under cover & then stand guard (especially the tom) to make sure the sky was clear before letting the girls back out.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

since we're talking turkeys lol

 

[wingstone]

Help! Still searching for that job, how can you be over qualified... I have been told that I would hate the pay....
Really...... is lower pay not expected when downsizing to part time.... maybe I am over qualified if I can figure that out...

Sorry, had to vent... current job getting really bad, being forced today to both start early and stay late... a 14 hour day.

 

[hendricks115]

Auro/ Anne:

Pickering Valley feed has had turkeys available every spring for the past few years (IDK on types).....

Just a curious question,,,,are turkeys more 'hawk aware' than chooks?

They are more hawk aware. We have a huge hawk around our property and our tom makes this bizarre noise when it starts flying overhead and everyone (turkeys, chickens and ducks) heads back to the coop. Seem to always have an eye turned up to the sky.


Our original 2 girls (Silverbell & Misty) started laying in March and continued into August. We stopped setting eggs after July 1st. I think all but 4 eggs hatched. During the end of October and most of November we started getting a turkey egg about twice a week (unfertilized). We don't know if it was one of our original girls or one that hatched during spring.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Help! Still searching for that job, how can you be over qualified... I have been told that I would hate the pay....
Really...... is lower pay not expected when downsizing to part time.... maybe I am over qualified if I can figure that out...

Sorry, had to vent... current job getting really bad, being forced today to both start early and stay late... a 14 hour day.

so sorry things are rough I know how you're feeling with the long hours. Hubby is doing 16 hour days all week right now. Good luck finding something.

 

[stake]

GM all:

Lost one of my big girls to a hawk this morning...a buff Orp and one of my original six....about two hours later I had another hawk try to fly under a bush where the chooks hide...I chased it off....it was a smaller type, not the usual red tails.....it was pretty persistent about sticking around til I got the sling shot out.....also noticed (I think) that a group of three vultures was following the hawk...what a PIA......

Wing, I think you need to learn the one fingered salute...my two cents....

 

[OneMountainAcres]

GM all:

Lost one of my big girls to a hawk this morning...a buff Orp and one of my original six....about two hours later I had another hawk try to fly under a bush where the chooks hide...I chased it off....it was a smaller type, not the usual red tails.....it was pretty persistent about sticking around til I got the sling shot out.....also noticed (I think) that a group of three vultures was following the hawk...what a PIA......

Wing, I think you need to learn the one fingered salute...my two cents....

so sorry for your loss I've been reluctant to let mine out over the past few days because of everyone's hawk stories. I feel bad for them keeping them in but I worry about them too much. I hope those hawks go away!