Surviving Minnesota!

[CindyinSD]

It's amazing how small of a pop door turkey hens can get through
Mine can get through a cattle panel hole

Holy Smokes! Full-grown ones?

 

[R2elk]

Holy Smokes! Full-grown ones?

Yes, I had hen turkeys going through an 8" tall by 8" wide opening. The hens loved it because they could hide their nests inside the fenced area and the toms couldn't get in there with the hens.

 

[CindyinSD]

I s'pose my chicken hens ought to be able to squeeze through 6x6... Subtract the feathers and there's not actually that much to them.

 

[R2elk]

I s'pose my chicken hens ought to be able to squeeze through 6x6... Subtract the feathers and there's not actually that much to them.

Don't be surprised if some of your turkey hens can also get through a 6"x6" opening. I am sure that at least one of my Sweetgrass hens can fit through a hole that size.

 

[CindyinSD]

Hmm... maybe I'll make it a tunnel. Maybe six inches long. Then if anyone unauthorized makes it through I can just evict the nimble little trespasser.

 

[CindyinSD]

BTW, no turkey eggs yet. My first batch are nearly a year old. I have a piece of siding leaned up against a wall in the coop. Do they want fancier quarters, maybe? Or maybe they're like me--just generally tired of winter. The geese are laying, though. Not fertile yet, but very good fried.

 

[R2elk]

BTW, no turkey eggs yet. My first batch are nearly a year old. I have a piece of siding leaned up against a wall in the coop. Do they want fancier quarters, maybe? Or maybe they're like me--just generally tired of winter. The geese are laying, though. Not fertile yet, but very good fried.

It helps to seed the desired nest spot with a fake egg or more.

I don't expect any eggs until mid March. I do not give supplemental light. I have not seen any of my hens squatting yet.

 

[CindyinSD]

It helps to seed the desired nest spot with a fake egg or more.

I don't expect any eggs until mid March. I do not give supplemental light. I have not seen any of my hens squatting yet.

Me either. I've seen others talking about their turkey eggs, so... but most of them, I think, are farther south.

When you process your extra toms, do you scald, or dry pluck? Do you fast them?

 

[R2elk]

Me either. I've seen others talking about their turkey eggs, so... but most of them, I think, are farther south.

When you process your extra toms, do you scald, or dry pluck? Do you fast them?

Ralphie has eggs as does aliciaplus3 and OneMountainAcres. All three of them use supplemental light.

I scald with 160°F water. When I was growing up, we would not feed on the day we were processing. I don't worry about it now. The sun started shining this afternoon and the wind wasn't blowing. I put water on to heat, went out and caught the Tri-Color Mottled Slate tom. I shot him, chopped off his head, scalded him, plucked him, removed his innards and he is now taking a bath in salt water.

The temperature only got up to 24°F but it was quite pleasant with the sun shining and no wind.

 

[CindyinSD]

It's supposed to get to the 40s tomorrow. If the wind behaves maybe I can do a couple-three...