**~~>>Second Annual Cinco de Mayo Turkey Hatchathon<<~~**all poultry welcome!

[debs_flock]

We were butchering the Giant Whites or other of the many names they call them. Now we have switched to Heritage breeds so we can incubate our own and eliminate the cost of the initial purchase. We started with The Rhode Island Reds and they are nothing but soup chickens, now this year we are trying Buff Orpingtons, and White Rocks. We will be butchering in four months rather than 52 days. Hopefully, everyone in the family will be happy with the change. If the BO and WR don't work out, I want to try the Turkens. Stay tuned.

So far the best flavored & meaty bird I've processed has been a 3 mos old marans.

I have a marans x destined for the freezer as soon as I have time. It was an OE, but is a cockerel............not a huge use for him other than dinner!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Deb-- out of curiosity what was this boy eating??? My best flavored turkey was a freeranging tom-- he could pick what feeder he wanted and eat plenty of grass, bugs, etc, too. Really curious about your boy.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I highly recommend turkens but only because they don't have the "hair" - just feathers (and they're an awesome bird). All my boys take about 5-6 months to grow large enough to warrant being processed. Heck, I'll even process a banty cross if it's 6-8 months old and filled out. They're a good "two person" whole chicken.

I did just hatch out some cornish and I have a jersey giant which is the most gigantic chicken I've seen - he rivals the show quality cochins, orphingtons etc for size - and I plan to use him over a cornish girl and hatch some larger meaty birds. This project probably won't get off the ground until next spring. I'm excited about trying that. From what I've read I don't think the cross will produce the Frankenchickens of CornishX fame (decidedly not my goal) - I want to end up with a bird that grows slowly (but BIG) and is able to walk, run, mate, etc and not be anything other than healthy.

Anyone up in the cold nether regions of the world have cornish? I've read that their feathers are funky and don't keep them really warm. They're also naked on their breast. Now I do love a good "naked" chicken (see also: turkens, above) but that's kinda odd to me. I have to say my turkens are surprisingly well adapted to the cold as is my showgirl (with the weird silkie feathering) so I'm thinking the "warning" about the cornish not doing well in the cold is a lie. Can anyone confirm or deny that?

 

[debs_flock]

Quote: Deb-- out of curiosity what was this boy eating??? My best flavored turkey was a freeranging tom-- he could pick what feeder he wanted and eat plenty of grass, bugs, etc, too. Really curious about your boy.
He was just still eating chick starter, I don't think he had been moved over to the all flock yet. He was living in an outdoors pen, so had some access to weeds/bugs, but the competition for those morsels is pretty strong. I would have grown him out another month or two, but he had the misfortune of sticking his head through the pen wires and was "dispatched" by the ever helpful dogs. They knew that's the part I have trouble with, so I ended up processing one morning before breakfast.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Deb-- out of curiosity what was this boy eating??? My best flavored turkey was a freeranging tom-- he could pick what feeder he wanted and eat plenty of grass, bugs, etc, too. Really curious about your boy.
He was just still eating chick starter, I don't think he had been moved over to the all flock yet. He was living in an outdoors pen, so had some access to weeds/bugs, but the competition for those morsels is pretty strong. I would have grown him out another month or two, but he had the misfortune of sticking his head through the pen wires and was "dispatched" by the ever helpful dogs. They knew that's the part I have trouble with, so I ended up processing one morning before breakfast.
Nothing like starting the day off with a roar!!

 

[Arielle]

I highly recommend turkens but only because they don't have the "hair" - just feathers (and they're an awesome bird). All my boys take about 5-6 months to grow large enough to warrant being processed. Heck, I'll even process a banty cross if it's 6-8 months old and filled out. They're a good "two person" whole chicken.

I did just hatch out some cornish and I have a jersey giant which is the most gigantic chicken I've seen - he rivals the show quality cochins, orphingtons etc for size - and I plan to use him over a cornish girl and hatch some larger meaty birds. This project probably won't get off the ground until next spring. I'm excited about trying that. From what I've read I don't think the cross will produce the Frankenchickens of CornishX fame (decidedly not my goal) - I want to end up with a bird that grows slowly (but BIG) and is able to walk, run, mate, etc and not be anything other than healthy.

Anyone up in the cold nether regions of the world have cornish? I've read that their feathers are funky and don't keep them really warm. They're also naked on their breast. Now I do love a good "naked" chicken (see also: turkens, above) but that's kinda odd to me. I have to say my turkens are surprisingly well adapted to the cold as is my showgirl (with the weird silkie feathering) so I'm thinking the "warning" about the cornish not doing well in the cold is a lie. Can anyone confirm or deny that?

My cornish x look like they are growing so fast the feathers don't cover the body very well. Like the muscling and body capacity has out grown the feathering ability if that makes any sense. THe feathers are there, just lots of space between them.

 

[Arielle]

THe next storm is rolling in. A copy of last night. rain thunder and lightning is sure to follow-- and there it is.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I highly recommend turkens but only because they don't have the "hair" - just feathers (and they're an awesome bird). All my boys take about 5-6 months to grow large enough to warrant being processed. Heck, I'll even process a banty cross if it's 6-8 months old and filled out. They're a good "two person" whole chicken.

I did just hatch out some cornish and I have a jersey giant which is the most gigantic chicken I've seen - he rivals the show quality cochins, orphingtons etc for size - and I plan to use him over a cornish girl and hatch some larger meaty birds. This project probably won't get off the ground until next spring. I'm excited about trying that. From what I've read I don't think the cross will produce the Frankenchickens of CornishX fame (decidedly not my goal) - I want to end up with a bird that grows slowly (but BIG) and is able to walk, run, mate, etc and not be anything other than healthy.

Anyone up in the cold nether regions of the world have cornish? I've read that their feathers are funky and don't keep them really warm. They're also naked on their breast. Now I do love a good "naked" chicken (see also: turkens, above) but that's kinda odd to me. I have to say my turkens are surprisingly well adapted to the cold as is my showgirl (with the weird silkie feathering) so I'm thinking the "warning" about the cornish not doing well in the cold is a lie. Can anyone confirm or deny that?

Speaking of turkens, I'm ready for my eggies whenever you get around to them. I have a bator emptying now so should be ready for a Sat or Mon shipment.

Jill, I had 8/14 of your little keets hatch & they are currently running around the brooder with about that many from batch 2 that decided to start hatching early with yours.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Speaking of turkens, I'm ready for my eggies whenever you get around to them. I have a bator emptying now so should be ready for a Sat or Mon shipment.

Jill, I had 8/14 of your little keets hatch & they are currently running around the brooder with about that many from batch 2 that decided to start hatching early with yours.

OK. I was lazy last night and left eggs in the basket in the cold basement. I'll collect today, too, pick the nicest and get them wrapped, then.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Quote:

You still have time. My eggs are running a few days behind & I'm buried in duckie eggs if you need any!!! If no one wants them I will have to go buy yet another bator to stuff them into.

You know I can't let good eggs go to waste!!!