Some turkey questions

[pringle]

Well the guy who owns the land my dad has a farm at got 3 turkeys from a woman who couldent have them anymore.One died so theres 2 left.They are extremly friendly and they love to be handfeed,ohh and there also 4 weeks old.They guy who owns the land gave em to my dad.Hes feeding them chicken crumbles right now but is gonna get turkey starter soon.Hes just wondering what kind they are.1 is a male and the other is female,they have white legs,arent that big maybe the size of a pretty young chicken have tannish brown feathers on there back with kinda white speckles there tails are white and there wing tips.Sorry but my camera broke so no pics.

 

[AtRendeAcres]

They need to be in a brooder till 6 to 8 weeks to build up their resistance for disease! If you post a picture we might be able to figure out kind!

 

[pringle]

I dunno they seem to be pretty feathered nicely.The lady pretty much kept em outside so there pretty strong against the cold.And besides they have a nice small doghouse stuffed full of straw.And I told you the camera is boken.

 

[ivan3]

Check this site to compare: http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Turkeys/BRKTurkey.html

Or, if you have a fast connection, check this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=212692&p=1

 

[MandyH]

Seeing that I have never owned any I can't say for sure if I'm right or not but could they be bourbon reds?? I only raise Blue Slates and Sweetgrass turkeys. It IS recommended that tey be in a wire bottom cage for 12-16 weeks before turning them out on the yard. Maybe SandSPoutlry will chime in soon. Steve or Sharon are the turkey gurus on here.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

They are bourbon Reds.
Also, the other post is correct, if you dont want the other 2 to die as well, they need to be in a brooder with heat, especially now with these cold nights, IF they are only 4 weeks old. A cold poult is a dead one, they cant tolerate it til they are way older, 4 months or better. Also, sexing at 4 weeks by eye, would be about impossible, usually you cant tell on burbons til they are 1/2 grown or better.
Best of luck with them
Aubrey

 

[pringle]

Hmmm I guess there older then.the only reason the other one died was becouse it got attacked and we tried to save it.I think I can really tell if ones a male,it spreads out its back tail featheres is bigger and has longer feathers.Thanks for all the info you guys gave me.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Sounds like it is older to me . A 4 week old would barely be feathered,actually most would still have a little fuzz on 'em somewhere and wouldnt be more than about 8 inches tall. If they are bigger, full feathered and all, you'll probely be fine then.
Aslo, just so you know, hens strutt tooo (fan the tail). However, if they hatched together, if one is a lot bigger, it probley is a man, but watch the snood on them, the males will start to get longer pretty quick, thats the quickest way to tell, also, legs will be built heavier, and when he gobbles, you'll know for sure then.
I've raised royal palms, for quite a long time now, and will think I have them figured out, then lo and behold, what I thought was surely a hen will gobble one day! LOL

See ya,
Aubrey

 

[chickenannie]

Also they need high protein feed (26%) so chicken feed won't have enough protein in it. After they are 2-3 months old, they don't need quite as much protein anymore.