Turkey Talk for 2014

[Reyvaughn]

It was a long day. We didn't get home and in bed until 2am and then left at 6:30am. The trip down was horrible thanks to bad drivers and worse roads. It took us 2 1/2hrs to get there since we went the more time consuming way. Of course, we had to make a couple stops (potty, food and Agway for treats), so the round trip took 6hrs. We got home, cleaned the turkey shed as well as we could (it wasn't bad, just some of the snow blowing in froze shavings and hay to the floor) and put the girls in. The tom was moved to another coop while cleaning. Imagine his surprise when he went 'home' to 3 new girlfriends! I know, I should have quarantined... I opted not to.

Our day wasn't done there. No kids this weekend, so we had to go do chores, run back to TSC for feed, waters, feeders (thank you so much for the mineral block holder idea... Whoever it was)! Supper, clean the wood stove, laundry, dishes...

It was a looooong but great day!

Here's the quad!
One girl came named - Snowflake. She has a white feather
on her head that looks like a snowflake fell on her head and stayed.


This one kept upsetting the tom by wanting my attention and not his.


He just kept trying harder....




He's so much darker than them....


The next 2 pics I just got done mauling the tom and loving him up.
He did not appreciate it at all.
When I went to get him, he calmed down some when I pet his
chest. He still isn't a people oriented bird, but he still has done
nothing to make me thing he'll be mean either.




This is the only head pic of the 10 I took that came out!

 

[chickadoodles]

Reyvaughn,
So sorry you had such a long day and a not so wonderful trip, but it looks like it was well worth the drive.
All your birds look so beautiful! Thanks for taking and sharing the pics with us!

I am sure he will love those beautiful ladies!

 

[Reyvaughn]

They were totally worth the trip! I told the guy when I got down there that. I also told him that the reason he got so many replies was the price. I told him up our way that usually people ask at least $50 per hen - some that want $50 their toms want $75 per hen. Yes, $25 each was a steal!

I wanted to ask... Do toms 'growl'? I can't tell if this tom was growling, has an issue I should be aware of or if it's because of the way I was carrying him. I think it was the way I was carrying him. It;s the only time I've ever heard him make that noise. Oh, and he's a heavy SOB. Dewey had to carry him. When I was carrying him, I was thinking about how big his breasts were and how yummy he looks when he puffs up. He better hope he doens't get mean. I will greatly enjoy the meal he'll make.

 

[JWEBB]

very pretty bunch!!

 

[Momhunter]

Does anyone keep turkeys and peafowl in the same pen?? We just finished our 40'x50' flight pen with a large loafing shed attached at one end. Large top flight flight net over it. Our plan was to split it in half, with wire and net, for peafowl and turkeys to each have a side. I only have 5 of each and the turkeys were raised with my peafowl last year, get along fine. My three new peahens don't know what to make of them since I put them together today, but no real fighting seen. Just one of the blue slate hens puffing up at my pied peahen. There are roost in the loafing shed along with hay for nesting. Will add a large roost between the poles that the net is held up by if not splitting it down the middle.
Will I have any issues during breeding season?? My royal palm hen is the only one laying so far. The peahens probably have at least another month or two before they start.

 

[Sydney Acres]

I just ran across this site for adopting turkeys: http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search...Bird&primary_breed=turkey&distance=&pet_name=
I put in my own zip code, but got turkeys across the U.S. Some of the birds are gorgeous. Obviously, these are not NPIP facilities, but possibly a good find for someone who is not concerned about that.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
The decision to vaccinate or not depends on your circumstances. It can be very important for some facilities, but can cause no end of problems when given at the wrong age, to the wrong species, or with the wrong management techniques. It is very important to get professional advice from someone who really knows how these vaccines should be used.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Hi! I'm new to this thread. My wife is currently incubating turkey and goose eggs. She also is getting a couple goslings soon. Will the poults be okay to share a pen with the goslings when they out grow the brooder or should I build two enclosures? I could put the poults in with our silkies till they can handle the geese but I'm not sure how the rooster would like that. And I know our barred rock too won't have them at all.

Just to be sure I understand, you're not thinking of brooding them together. You're asking about them sharing a pen after they're out of the brooder.

I think that depends on how crowded the pen will be. If there's plenty of room for the turkeys to stay dry and the goslings to get wet. then you might get away with it. That's not to say I think its a great idea, as they are very different species with different needs. Personally, I would build two enclosures, as long as that didn't make each pen too small.

 

[chickadoodles]

Just an update on my roosters crooked toes:
After being on the grower/finisher feed since late summer my Welsummer's and one other roosters toes have straightened back out. I sold the third rooster. I am now convinced it was something in the layer feed the crippled my roosters, it may not have been the calcium but it was definitely something in the feed! And all my hens are still laying perfectly fine.

 

[mrwoodboat]

I picked up my Gould's Tom last night and have been fascinated by his displays and drumming this morning!! What a beautiful bird....I have him with a Gould's hen and a mixed hen (Narragansett and Royal parents). I am wondering what his and the mix offspring will look like or if I should separate them..