Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[VictoriaTemple]

Does anyone have any interest in turkey poults? I have about 40 a week old or less lol

Interest, yes. Room for them, no. Just curious, what breed are they?

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Interest, yes. Room for them, no. Just curious, what breed are they?

With turkeys, there are only 2 "breeds", heritage and broad breasted. Mine are all heritage but assorted varieties. Most are penciled (probably penciled fall fire) but there's 1 or 2 rusty blacks in there and maybe a royal palm or two lol. I tried to give some to my broodies to get them out of the house but my turkey broodies ran in panic, the duck turned her bill up at them and the chicken growled and pecked at them

 

[dheltzel]

With turkeys, there are only 2 "breeds", heritage and broad breasted. Mine are all heritage but assorted varieties. Most are penciled (probably penciled fall fire) but there's 1 or 2 rusty blacks in there and maybe a royal palm or two lol. I tried to give some to my broodies to get them out of the house but my turkey broodies ran in panic, the duck turned her bill up at them and the chicken growled and pecked at them

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They look really nice. Wish I was closer. I bought 5 young ones that are either Sweetgrass or Fall Fire. Raising up 2 Royal Palms because they interbreed nicely with both those colors.

 

[dheltzel]

I loaded up 3 broodies a few days ago, all due to hatch tomorrow or Monday. 6 australian spotted duck eggs under a broody duck. 6 guinea eggs under a very large and very determined black Ameraucana. And 6 tiny blue bantam ameraucana eggs under 2 of their mothers that are co-broodies. Last year I did the bantam ameraucana broody thing and her 3 chicks did very well. That tiny little bantam hen, so sweet and friendly, became an absolute terror when guarding chicks. Pretty funny because she couldn't actually hurt me, but she sure wanted to.

 

[fisherlady]

You have to appreciate a good mama hen! And those little ones are not to be taken lightly, they are sometimes the fiercest!

 

[N Good]

How much do you want for the turkeys?

 

[fisherlady]

Speaking of turkeys... I have been stuck doing next to nothing since surgery but convinced DH that I would be OK running the side by side to pull the rough cut mower over at our Clarion barn property. We came up with a sling to keep my foot up, comfortable and well cushioned.

So on Friday early morning DH loaded up the Ranger, mower , me and the dogs and we made the trek over to the barn property. He ran an old Gravely walk behind brush mower in spots to tight to the barn for me to get with the towed deck mower and while walking area to scout for rocks he found a Turkey hen had chosen the barn paddock to make her nest. (Due to my injury we hadnt mowed it yet and grasses were 3 to 4 ft high) He saw 8 eggs when she spooked off of the nest but didnt get close because he didnt want to freak her out. We left a large patch around her for cover (probably 15x25 ft) and she came back pretty quick.
We continued cleaning up the 3-4 acres or so in the barn pasture and paddock area.
It felt good to finally be productive and see this behind the mower...

I had plenty of moral support since my 2 older dogs are teaching the new pup how to be a good farm dog, and Kendra took her lessons very seriously, learning to ride on the floor or seat of the side by side and how to cool off later in the little stream...

And we went back this morning to do more mowing and clean up and DH made first job to check the hen.. not only had she stayed on her nest she now had poults running around! He saw or heard three at least. So we again made sure to give her a wide berth, we can finish that section some other time. Unfortunately he didn't think to take his phone with him so no pictures, and we didnt want to risk disturbing her again later just for a picture.

 

[TillyPeeps]

I loaded up 3 broodies a few days ago, all due to hatch tomorrow or Monday. 6 australian spotted duck eggs under a broody duck. 6 guinea eggs under a very large and very determined black Ameraucana. And 6 tiny blue bantam ameraucana eggs under 2 of their mothers that are co-broodies. Last year I did the bantam ameraucana broody thing and her 3 chicks did very well. That tiny little bantam hen, so sweet and friendly, became an absolute terror when guarding chicks. Pretty funny because she couldn't actually hurt me, but she sure wanted to.

I'm still waiting for Sunny to go broody. she should be close, since she already laid about 20 eggs without a break. But my chicks are big now. I doubt she will take them. My little Ameraucana already wants to ride on my should, but she's too young to do so.

 

[TillyPeeps]

I think Dragon has water belly. She stopped laying for several weeks, but I thought she was having a minor molting. I guess she actually had internal laying. Several days ago, she lost interest in her favorite treats and moved slowly with legs seperated widely. Her belly feels squishy, and she has diarrhea or water discharge. I gave her some antibiotics for three days and she starts to eat a little. I really affaid to drain water from her belly. I just feel I could kill her by doing it wrong. I heard chickens wouldn't survive too long when they get water belly. Do I have to take her to a vet to put her done?

 

[fisherlady]

Unfortunately we have only had short term relief from draining water belly, although we didnt get antibiotics to treat it other than penicillin. A vet may have a better alternative if you have an avian vet in your area. If she has improved some with the antibiotics you gave her than it may be viable to drain her also. It can be scary but it is surprisingly easy and certainly worth a shot to give you time to decide your next course of action. It definitely makes them more comfortable.
The color of the fluid can give a clue to the cause also, infection (internal laying) produces cloudy to yellowish fluid. Ascites from liver failure/cancers is normally pretty clear.