starting turkeys

JLaw

Songster
10 Years
Mar 18, 2013
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Forestville NY
Ok we started chickens and turkeys this year. For turkeys we got bbb because someone was ordering them already so we had them add 2 more for us. My wife is wanting to keep raising turkeys so I get to do some leg work or try to at least. I have a problem of every time I go to google something about turkeys 8 times out of 10 I get cooking info so i'm making this thread which has probably been made a million times over but not seeing.

1. Is there a chart for turkeys like this http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html but instead of egg color tells skin color, size, average time to grow and how good it flys?

2. Do all heritage turkeys grow at the same rate or is there some that grow a little faster for a little less feed cost?

3. Does skin color really make much of a difference when processing the turkey?

4. Is there hybrid turkeys that grow faster but can still mate naturaly?

5. Is there a turkey you would recommend for a starting turkey?

This is a hobby/dinner thing so trying to keep it on the cheaper/easier side of things. I'm not wanting to buy turkeys every year i'd rather hatch my own flock. I saw one site where a farmer was listing differnces in some of his turkeys and rating the taste but lost the site and even that didn't answer most my questions.

Thanks for any info and advice.
josh
 
I'm new to the whole poultry raising myself. I bought 15 day old's from Stromberg's and I am starting to like them more than the chickens I have! They seem to be much more curious and friendly this early. If the bbb stands for broad-breasted bronze, then you will have a fast grower with a lot of breast meat and leg trouble if not too careful from what I read. They also usually can't breed naturally unless you put the tom on a diet (too big to mount). The larger hatcheries/third party suppliers, such as cackle, mcmurray, and strombergs, usually have a good description of the breeds. I'd also look at porterturkey.com. He gives good description on the genetics of turkeys and most, if not all, of the heritage breeds.
 
Yeah they are broad brested. Was what they ordered. But i want a bird i can breed like you said they get too big.
My wife loves them cause the seem calmer and more social with us. We never handled them and they come around is more than the chickens. Unless we have treats then the chickens are in our lap and turkeus running away they don't understand treats yet.

I'll have to check that site out thanks for the info.
Josh
 
I just read this on Porter's site. WOW! Has anyone ever experienced them coming up "a few short"? I want to order from them but I don't want any subs.

New Policy!!
We require you to give us a list of subs you will accept in case we come up a few short. These subs must be other than what you order. If you list no subs your order will be refused.
 
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I just read this on Porter's site. WOW! Has anyone ever experienced them coming up "a few short"? I want to order from them but I don't want any subs.

I haven't ordered but I think that right there is going to stop me from ordering when I do deside on a breed.
 
I just read this on Porter's site. WOW! Has anyone ever experienced them coming up "a few short"? I want to order from them but I don't want any subs.


 I haven't ordered but I think that right there is going to stop me from ordering when I do deside on a breed.


:thumbsup

See there, I thought it was just me being a meany but I am 100% with you on that. That may be a deal breaker. So what if I want 8 and they are 4 short? So, I have to get 4 of another breed? I don't like that. :mad: I have only raised BR for 10 years. I don't want any other breeds. :/
 
I just read this on Porter's site. WOW! Has anyone ever experienced them coming up "a few short"? I want to order from them but I don't want any subs.
Quote:
I have ordered from POrters and would definitely order again.

I listed a few breeds that they no longer had available , and got them as my subs. ANd when I wnated to breed the AUburns, I received several extras on those.

They really do try to meet your request. I am amazed that they can fill orders as well as they do. IT is very challenging when every one has ordered different birds, or one is particularly popular.

So if you are open to try something new, you might be surprsed and like the sub.
 
I'm certain that policy has been in effect for at least all of last hatching season.

I ordered the assorted, I was originally super thrilled about the mottleds, but the Auburn is my surprising favorite.

I'm finding my mixed batch of heritage breeds are growing at different rates. The Penciled Red Palms and Auburn are growing faster than the Mottled Chocolates. My "crossbreds" are all over the board in growth, some are big and others are tiny.

They ALL fly obnoxiously well at 9-weeks old.
 
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