QUICK! How to I pick the best turkeys to keep?

[chickensducks&agoose]

I went in on an order with 2 other people, and I've got to hand over 5 of my 10 turkeys... I just got them, and am not sure quite what to look for in a turkey. Do I want the ones that are aggressive? Sleepy? Hungry? Pooping? Eating poop? Biting their own toes? Sitting on others? Being sat upon? I want good, big healthy turkeys, preferably male i suppose, since I'm going to eat them. yummy! HELP!

Also, some have bright yellow bands over their noses, and some have bigger bumps there than others.. gender indicators?

 

[turkey guru]

bands should be for no picking, I only know of one hatchery that sexes poults , and its in oregon!! tom!!

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

Thanks Tom! For replying, but the bands are not plastic.. they're turkey... some of the bourbon reds have plain faces, and some have bright yellow fuzz right over their nose horn... I wondered if that indicated gender or anything... what are your thoughts on the rest? Do I want the sleepy ones? The ones that eat poo?

 

[turkey guru]

stick finger in water then food, hold out, first in to peck at it , first pick, and so on! does it work who knows buts its fun!!! as soon as you pick you throw them on there back and growl whos your daddy! that will get things straight from the beganing! cause everyone needs to know who the daddy is right??? tom!!!!!

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

uh... i don't think I want to be the daddy... but apparently there is no way of picking out the healthiest, or males.. so I might do the first peck = first pick... thanks.

 

[chickenannie]

I'm not an expert, but I think at that young age it's really hard to tell what you have. If they were older, I'd say pick them for color, size and standard characteristics, as well as males/females.

But you can't always tell those things when they're so young. I would just pick the "healthiest" looking and acting ones. The ones who are eating and drinking. Maybe the biggest/most aggressive, since that's how nature picks the survivors.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll like them whichever ones you pick.

 

[turkey guru]

get a little tiny scale, make those poults stand in straight line, one at a time step up on the scale- 2 grams, next, have a ruler standing on end so when they pass by to step on the scale you can get there height, compile your data, pick the biggest bird easy!! tom!! good luck!!