Planning for next Thanksgiving - When should I get poults?

[Engteacher]

If I want to grow my own Thanksgiving feast, when should I get my poults? I'm interested in Midget Whites and Bourbon Reds.

 

[chicken stalker]

I was just going to post the same question. Great minds think a llike

 

[herfrds]

April is a good month or even May. I get Standard Bronze turkeys.
I only butcher a couple of days before Thanksgiving.

 

[bargain]

You might also want to consider buying eggs....That will give you a heads up on hatching....Our flocks as well as other turkey breeders will probabl start laying in February.....We actually hatched poults in May and they were very large by thanksgiving and Christmas....I guess it would dpend on whether you were feeding or free ranging as well.

But it's definitely time to be shopping!

 

[the simple life]

Bargain were these heritage breeds that grew out well by November? About what size would they be by then if you started them in May?

 

[wbrangan]

I received my midget white poults from the hatchery April 21st. I processed nine of them in mid December. The seven hens weighed between 8 and 9 pounds. The two toms weighed 13 and 14 pounds. Of course, if processed for Thanksgiving, they would have weighed a few pounds less. You need to order them as soon as possible. I ordered mine in early February last year and the arrival date was pushed back a few weeks from my requested date due to the amount of orders for the midget whites.

 

[sandspoultry]

We like our Thanksgiving turkey in the 9 to 10 month old range they are more filled out and have much much more flavor than a younger bird

Sharon

 

[hobbyfarmrookie]

Last year I had bourbon reds/bronze cross, I got them at Easter and killed them on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. They were a little small only dressed out about 11 pounds but they free ranged all the time. I think the timing depends on how you plan to feed them. Free range are great but if they were pinned up and fed a high protein feef they should grow a little faster.