Turkey poults are amazing

[kinnip]

My Turkeyman is the prettiest member of the household. All younglings go through an awkward stage. I hope you aren't calling them ugly to their face, you'll give them a complex.

I really love my turkeys, especially Turkeyman. He's very tame. He even lets me hug him and kiss his wrinkly forehead.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

oh i think they probably have a complex but not because i'm saying 'for heavens sakes would you LOOK at the ugly turkey!"

i think they have a complex b/c they live on the funny farm.... not a day goes by without some kind of ridiculous adventure....

our mean tom, TurkZilla, would shiv me in my sleep if he could figure a way to get inside... we sleep with one eye open
;-)

 

[chickensioux]

I love my 2 3wk. old blue slate poults. They are extremely rotten. Love to be held. I wouldn't say they are ugly but are magnificantly beautiful. I named them Skye and Sapphire. I love them dearly.

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

Quote:
Glad to hear your poults are doing good now. 2 Days before Easter I helped a buddy process a few slates he got from Gene and two of the toms dressed out a 25lbs and 27lbs and they were only 10 months old, so with any luck you'll have some big girls for your Victor.

 

[dixiedoodle09]

Our bronze turkey poults are so much more people oriented than our chickens. I think they are so neat. They are about 12 weeks now, and follow us around everywhere we go.

 

[longranger]

Got my 6 poults a couple of days ago and they are pretty shy. They are 3 weeks old and probably have not been handled much. Hopefully they will warm up a bit over time. Regardless I suspect the first few days of imprinting are critical if you want them to be pets. That would definitely make it more difficult to put them on the table. This is my first time raising turkeys. Very different than chickens and much more interesting. If all goes as planed I will get at least one Tom and One or two hens that I want to keep. The others better learn to suck up really good but even that will not save them from the holidays. Hope I can decide in the next month so I can start selectively giving more attention to the potential keepers. Sorry for the partial threadjack.

 

[walkswithdog]

I don't have a problem with going from named and affection to dinner. I figure humans ought to have it so good. Love affection, endless food, freedom and a quick, humane end.

That said OMG I love my six week old poults, they're a hoot. I've got a couple doing the big boy strut and I practically fall over laughing it looks so silly.

I'm busy trying to build pens and coops between storms for everything I hatched and am hatching, this spring.

I need a giant turkey cathedral like Ninjapoodles, but that takes Laura's help and she's been away on business or it's been pouring rain for five weeks straight.

One thing at a time. This week the new Delaware coop and pen...

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

They are something else. We were sitting out back last watching the White Hollands, they live with a flock of Cuckoo Marans and when the Cuckoo roo's scratch up something and start clucking the turkey hens come running with the chicken hens to see what it is. We have one Holland hen that has been sitting on a clutch of eggs for awhile now (I didn't mark the date down so I don't know how long) but she must be getting close as another hen has joined her on the nest. There is about 20 eggs under them - And they are very very protective of those eggs - I give them a daily check and as a result I have small bruises all over my hands and lower arms from them pecking. lol

"Everybody loves a turkey"

Steve in NC

 

[patandchickens]

The thing that impresses me is that they seem *interested* in the world around them. Whereas chickens, and chicks, seem to largely categorize the world into three things - "food", "danger", and "not relevant to me".

I like how the turkeys come over and take a good look at me, and wander around the pen inspecting things, and study the (larger) red broiler chicks in the next pen, and they were the first ones out the door when I let 'em all (chicks and turkeys) out into the run for the first time the other day.

They may not be supergeniuses, but, hey, they're poultry, I'm not looking for them to beat me at chess

Like walkswithdog, I've named them (Larry, Moe and Curly) but they will end up in the freezer by the end of the summer. (They're BBBs, what else can you really do with them anyhow?) However really I have just GOT to get some 'keeper' turkeys next year.

Pat

 

[MandyH]

Of everything we have here I LOVE my turkeys and sheep the most. The turkeys are SOOOO funny. The toms gobble EVERYTIME I talk to them, or sing, or a car horn honks, or a dog barks, or the screen door slams, or, well you get the picture. They are really laid back and don't get in too big of a rush unless you aproach the pasture holding bread bags. I've had slates for several years and that's the only turkeys I have personally owned, but have calico eggs coming next week. I just hope they are as personable as my slates.