Tribute to @memphis and her Lapper turkeys

[R2elk]

Feb. 6, 2016 @memphis wrote

Daisy....in all her messy molting glory.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-century-of-turkey-talk-2000-2100.966414/post-16506598

 

[R2elk]

Feb. 7, 2016 @memphis wrote

When will she teach them to eat & drink? I still think it's cool how she accepted them. What a good girl. Is she separated from Adam & the rest of the turkeys? All this is new to me.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-century-of-turkey-talk-2000-2100.966414/post-16508522

 

[R2elk]

Feb. 7, 2016 @memphis wrote

That dark patch between Daisy's shoulders is new feathers coming in. Quite a bit darker than her existing color. Is that typical? Do slates darken with each molt?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-century-of-turkey-talk-2000-2100.966414/post-16508549

 

[R2elk]

Feb. 7, 2016 @memphis wrote

Guess Pebbles will teach us both about turkey mom behavior! I'm still impressed with the fact that she accepted them so quickly. Especially since she was only broody for 10 minutes. Is she still laying eggs? Hope they stay warm.

How many do you have in the brooder now? Sounds like your selling as many as you can hatch. Wonderful! What are people buying them for.....food, eggs, pets? Raising your own heritage turkey to eat is becoming a huge trend. Only problem is half of these folks fall in love with them & they become pets!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-century-of-turkey-talk-2000-2100.966414/post-16508566

 

[R2elk]

Feb. 7, 2016 @memphis wrote

Maybe thats why Ethel quacks at you all the time. She wants to be a lapper. Both my hens love sitting in my lap getting petted. You can feel their whole body relax. Next thing you know they are sound asleep. They both hop up on the arm of my chair & step into my lap. If I don't pet Daisy right away she tugs on my cloths. Funny birds!

I'm thinking if your hens are squatting, they are getting close to laying. Better find the some boyfriends!

Ralph, both those Tom's are beautiful. I'm posting this pic again of Daisy's new feathers on her back. They are a lot darker than her current feathers. My question was if the blue just fades in the sun, or do they get darker each year. My Speckled Sussex feathers change each year. Are turkeys like that too??

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-century-of-turkey-talk-2000-2100.966414/post-16510135

 

[R2elk]

Feb. 7, 2016 @memphis wrote

Congrats on her accepting them.

Last year a storm blew my pens down right after several hens had hatched. Turkeys were scattered and I lost some hens to predators. Any ways there were some broody hens and 3 of them decided to take in a stray poult.

I posted a pic last year of all 3 of them huddled around the poult and his head sticking out.

Most of the time they will accept poults easily.

Glad she did.

Feedman, interesting story. Seems that turkey hens may be more maternal than I thought.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-century-of-turkey-talk-2000-2100.966414/post-16510568

 

[R2elk]

Feb. 7, 2016 @memphis wrote

I figured the black spots would change. Was just surprised to see how much darker her new feathers are.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-century-of-turkey-talk-2000-2100.966414/post-16510846

 

[R2elk]

Feb. 7, 2016 @memphis wrote

Aww! Look at Pebbles watching it. Is it eating? Looked like it was stuffing it's face!
She's being a good moma. So cool....

Ralph, Daisy's new feathers appear to be quite a bit darker. I'm thinking sun fading. Annie's new feathers are STILL coming in. Geez these girls are taking their time.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-century-of-turkey-talk-2000-2100.966414/post-16511160

 

[R2elk]

Feb. 7, 2016 @memphis wrote

R2elk - Feedman.....you guys have lots of experience with blues. Do their feathers fade a bunch? Do they get darker with age? Daisy is going to have a whole new look with these darker feathers!
Once they both are done molting...which maybe mid summer with the rate they are going...I'm going to set them up a grooming table & take some glamour shots!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-century-of-turkey-talk-2000-2100.966414/post-16511202

 

[R2elk]

Feb. 7, 2016 @memphis wrote

I must say, I'm so impressed with all of our hens. Pebbles, Big Bird, Ethel, Annie, Daisy, Mars. All of these girls came from such varied backgrounds, yet they've all turned into such sweeties! It's so interesting to me how they want to bond with humans. The more I learn about turkeys the more impressed I am.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-century-of-turkey-talk-2000-2100.966414/post-16511767