Turkey Talk for 2014

[Timba]

I'm not Timba, but it's Incubator Warehouse's own brand called IncuView.

Yeah it's about $175. Not a bad deal. I'm gonna stick with my home made bator and tweak it. It'll be my Frankenbator!!! Going to get the incukit from incubator warehouse and an egg turner from Hovabator.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
Yikes, three different roosters, three different breeds, all the same response. I'd be really gun shy too. I wonder why it happens to some people and not to others. There has to be some additional factor, present for some but not for others, that's not being taken into account that increases calcium absorption. Maybe different vitamin/mineral mixes in the layer formulas, or different supplements given, or some native plant that imitates vitamin D, or something. That's the only thing that makes sense. It doesn't seem to be breed related, or age related, or regional. But it does seem that some people have lots of issues and other people have no issues. Nothing really in between the two extremes. It just goes to show that successful management is a total package, not just a single issue that can be transplanted from one farm to another with universal success.

 

[chickadoodles]

Yikes, three different roosters, three different breeds, all the same response. I'd be really gun shy too. I wonder why it happens to some people and not to others. There has to be some additional factor, present for some but not for others, that's not being taken into account that increases calcium absorption. Maybe different vitamin/mineral mixes in the layer formulas, or different supplements given, or some native plant that imitates vitamin D, or something. That's the only thing that makes sense. It doesn't seem to be breed related, or age related, or regional. But it does seem that some people have lots of issues and other people have no issues. Nothing really in between the two extremes. It just goes to show that successful management is a total package, not just a single issue that can be transplanted from one farm to another with universal success.

I have been feeding the Dumor feed from TSC. I am looking for a more organic feed now and a separate feed for the turkey poults that will be here in March. I am not having much luck close to home.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Is this a feeder for the grain too?? If not, how far away is the grain portion of their feed??

I dump my oyster shell in the bowl with the feed & have seen the roos pick around it & scratch it out of their way to get to the grain mix underneath. My hens will do the same. I know I am adding enough calcium when there is nothing left in my bowls at the end of the day except a few pieces of calcium & some mash dust.

Roosters skip the calcium?? Cool! how much do you put out a day on ca and for how many eggs a week??

 

[SilkieSensation]

I have 17 hens & 4 turkey hens out there right now in the same pen. I divide feed between about 6 bowls to spread out competition. There are 3 roos & 2 toms in the same pen. I split about 2 cups of shell between the bowls each morning. The boys will scratch it aside & go for the good stuff. The hens that need it will grab it, the others scratch it aside & come back for it later if they want it. For the ducks, geese & polish, I just grab a little & sprinkle it over the feed. I've seen my drakes push it aside to get to the feed too. The birds know what they want from the bowls.
The chickens are giving 10-14 eggs per day right now from 20 hens/pullets total. The Anconas just started laying & I'm getting 2 eggs out of 5 girls most days. The calls, turkeys & goose aren't laying yet.

 

[chicken pickin]

Is this a feeder for the grain too?? If not, how far away is the grain portion of their feed??

No this feeder is just for oyster shell and grit(each one on a separate side). I have their feed in a separate feeder that is a few feet away.

 

[Arielle]

I have 17 hens & 4 turkey hens out there right now in the same pen. I divide feed between about 6 bowls to spread out competition. There are 3 roos & 2 toms in the same pen. I split about 2 cups of shell between the bowls each morning. The boys will scratch it aside & go for the good stuff. The hens that need it will grab it, the others scratch it aside & come back for it later if they want it. For the ducks, geese & polish, I just grab a little & sprinkle it over the feed. I've seen my drakes push it aside to get to the feed too. The birds know what they want from the bowls.
The chickens are giving 10-14 eggs per day right now from 20 hens/pullets total. The Anconas just started laying & I'm getting 2 eggs out of 5 girls most days. The calls, turkeys & goose aren't laying yet.

I can see why the commercial operations have gone to controled environments including housing, water and feed = more predictable outcome!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: SO they really can pick and choose what they want-- do you have less waste, or at least less scratching and flininging of oystershell and grit?

 

[chicken pickin]

SO they really can pick and choose what they want-- do you have less waste, or at least less scratching and flininging of oystershell and grit?

I haven't noticed any waste at all. The double sided dish is quite deep and I don't put much in the dish so there seems to be no scratching or flinging it out.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I can see why the commercial operations have gone to controled environments including housing, water and feed = more predictable outcome!

My girls are just coming off of strike. We moved twice in 5 weeks & have had a ton of nasty weather. I expect them to be laying 95-100% within a month as everyone hits breeding season.