Hi all,
Me being me, I came home from the latest exotic animal sale yesterday with a turkey. I have no idea what breed of turkey (it's brown with irridescent greenish feathers around the edges of the wings) or even what gender. Any thoughts as to how to tell if I have a boy turkey or a girl turkey on my hands?
I have about 25 laying hens and 5 Muscovy ducks in my henhouse, will the turkey be okay in with the other birds? Right now S/he is in a stall in my horse barn for quarentine, and seems pretty okay with that, even though alone. Do I need to find a mate for him/her of the opposite gender once I figure out what I have, or will Thomas or Thomasina be happy enough with the chickens and ducks?
Also this turkey is remarkably calm--is that normal? S/he was sold as a "Christmas Turkey" but has had a reprieve of being eaten, and is just going to be a pet--if she's a she, will she buddy up with another female, or do I definitely need to get a male? If he's a he, I am guessing that the only other option is to find him a girlfriend, right?
Is there any way to guess approximate age? I'm guessing that since the "Christmas Turkey" concept was brought up, that I have a bird around a year--S/he's big, I'm guessing around 18-20 pounds, so probably is mature, but I'm hoping wouldn't be too old, either. I'm guessing that most turkeys don't make it to be too old since they are pretty much created to be eaten, right?
I keep laying feed, scratch grains, BOSS, oyster shell, and grit out for my birds 24/7--I assume that's enough of a buffet for my turkey as well, or do I need something else?
Thanks for any turkey advice!
Therese
Me being me, I came home from the latest exotic animal sale yesterday with a turkey. I have no idea what breed of turkey (it's brown with irridescent greenish feathers around the edges of the wings) or even what gender. Any thoughts as to how to tell if I have a boy turkey or a girl turkey on my hands?
I have about 25 laying hens and 5 Muscovy ducks in my henhouse, will the turkey be okay in with the other birds? Right now S/he is in a stall in my horse barn for quarentine, and seems pretty okay with that, even though alone. Do I need to find a mate for him/her of the opposite gender once I figure out what I have, or will Thomas or Thomasina be happy enough with the chickens and ducks?
Also this turkey is remarkably calm--is that normal? S/he was sold as a "Christmas Turkey" but has had a reprieve of being eaten, and is just going to be a pet--if she's a she, will she buddy up with another female, or do I definitely need to get a male? If he's a he, I am guessing that the only other option is to find him a girlfriend, right?
Is there any way to guess approximate age? I'm guessing that since the "Christmas Turkey" concept was brought up, that I have a bird around a year--S/he's big, I'm guessing around 18-20 pounds, so probably is mature, but I'm hoping wouldn't be too old, either. I'm guessing that most turkeys don't make it to be too old since they are pretty much created to be eaten, right?
I keep laying feed, scratch grains, BOSS, oyster shell, and grit out for my birds 24/7--I assume that's enough of a buffet for my turkey as well, or do I need something else?
Thanks for any turkey advice!
Therese
