Processing turkeys at 14 weeks?

[j.luetkemeyer]

You could always raise a heritage breed that does not get as big such as Bourban Red, Royal Palm, Black Spanish, etc. These breeds do not get as big and are better foragers.

 

[aclee]

Quote:
Start inviting the neighbors!

 

[vtfarma]

My 48 pounder was cooked for 4 people. We really like turkey. I froze it in slices for sandwiches and would pull out a package of the slices in the morning and put it in the sandwich and it would be thawed by lunch. I got to thinking that we didn't like turkey that much by the end but it is so moist that it was really easy to eat. We always cook a huge one. This year we had a midget one - it was 16 pounds and it was gone before we started. I was ready to cook a second one. Everyone was looking for more.

This is why we switched to heritage breeds. They are wonderful foragers as stated and smaller and tasty!

 

[CARS]

Quote:
By the last week of Oct.????????? 20 weeks tops June to end of Oct .................. any proof?????

It was butchered as we always do the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and I suppose I can dig around for the picture of it in my pan or get sworn statements from all the neighbors who came to look at the darned thing because none of us could believe they grew that big. I'll see what I can do for you.

Laurie

I didn't imply I was calling you a liar Laurie, it's just that when I have anything over 25 lbs it doesn't fit in my roaster. I absolutely can't in vision a 48 lb. turkey.
You would have to cook it for 17.6 hours. (22 minutes per pound) I am just shaking my head thinking about it

.

Why wouldn't you just split it in half? (other than it make stuffing the bird pretty hard to do

)

 

[MorningCrow]

How long does it take a turkey hen to start laying eggs and a tom to be able to do his job in the Hen house or should i say turkey house..I saw these cute turkey babies and yes had to bring them home now there getting pretty big but I have had them for 6 weeks and there only about 5 or 6 pounds Not sure yet if I even have a Tom. Or what kind they are ..solid white..I dont like the fact they want to follow me around it makes me feel guilty about thinking about dinner



I Love what I do! I live for what I do! and I am doing what I want to do ..can't get any richer than that

 

[vtfarma]

We had to buy a different roaster and then put "side boards" on it. I tucked heavy duty foil under it and brought it up and around the thing. The only part of the bird actually in the pan was the back - the legs were sticking out. I started it the night before and it was a long process but worth doing just the once. I was thinking of doing it in half but really we found a pan that arced out and well it was some presentation.

I wasn't upset anyway. Life's too short to get your panties in a bunch so to speak!
Laurie

 

[vtfarma]

Quote:

I Love what I do! I live for what I do! and I am doing what I want to do ..can't get any richer than that

Next spring they will be able to do their job Morning crow, so you have a set through the year.