Turkey Talk for 2014

[farm n louisana]

That's y I asked thanks I won't pay that much I bought some for 10 a piece the other day just thought mabie different breeds go for different prices I'm not sure wat breed a bought but here a pic

 

[TurkenItUp209]

How much would u pay for a baby turkey that 5 days old there white n black not sure there name but here a pic of the parents

Those are Narragansett Turkeys. I have a breeding trio. I think that is about $5 too much for them, but that is my opinion and things may be more expensive out here.

 

[farm n louisana]

Thing aren't expensive everything about the same prices I notices it just those people r asking a lot for there stuff they sell like Peking ducks days old there asking 10 for a male is 20 n a female is 30 breeding pair is 50 I found some body that's sell Peking ducks days old for 5 n male for 10 n female for 15 breeding pair is 25

 

[desertmarcy]

Thanks

I was wondering how many on here raise poultry for a hobby vs how many it has become their business?? I started it just as a hobby, this year I'm being contacted by people wanting me to ship chicks and poults, one person yesterday wanted me to ship Peachicks. I'm wondering if I really want to get into shipping. I would much rather they be several days old, doing well and picked up here.

I guess I am in between. Hobby gone amuck

I'm what the IRS would call a "Hobby Farm". I don't make any money, so can't call it a business for sure. All of my sales money go back into feed, housing expenses, etc. But I did start shipping chicks and poults this year. It is fun, but I am always on pins and needles until the buyer tells me they got there fine. Maybe shipping will start to feel routine, but right now I worry a lot. I do prefer shipping chicks and poults over hatching eggs. The eggs take too much time to pack correctly and are such a gamble. So many people want hatching eggs, I guess because they don't have to buy so many at a time or they are cheaper? I think in the long run, poults are cheaper since so many of the eggs can be infertile, don't hatch, or have problems on hatch. A reputable seller will not send chicks or poults that look weak, have splayed legs, bent toes, or other obvious defects. I know I won't.

I shipped out my first poults recently, to 4 different people. All went smoothly except a shipment to Colorado. Apparently they had a very cold wind storm. I think the poults got chilled because half didn't make it the first 24 hours--sad for me and for the buyer. I refunded the money for the lost poults.

 

[TurkenItUp209]

I have a broody hen sitting on 27-28 eggs. She has only moved once in two days to eat and get some water and then proceed to poop IN the water trough, I don't get it. The other hen has been pacing and calling because half of the eggs are hers. Shes even dug out a shallow depression in the cold dirt....should I go build her a nesting box today? Will she want to lay and brood a clutch also?

Thanks for any input!

Turk

 

[Sydney Acres]

I have a broody hen sitting on 27-28 eggs. She has only moved once in two days to eat and get some water and then proceed to poop IN the water trough, I don't get it. The other hen has been pacing and calling because half of the eggs are hers. Shes even dug out a shallow depression in the cold dirt....should I go build her a nesting box today? Will she want to lay and brood a clutch also?

Thanks for any input!

Turk

If there's enough room in the current nesting box, most turkeys will brood together. It's not necessarily desirable, as communal nests are more likely to have broken eggs and other issues, but it does work for some. If your second hen is calling out and pacing when there's room in the broody box, she's probably not broody. She's likely calling out for another reason, perhaps even to the broody hen to get off the nest and keep her company if she's now alone (are there other turkey hens available for her to socialize with?).

If the second hen were broody you could build her a second box, which she may or may not use. But separate broody boxes, if the hens will use them, have the potential to give better hatch rates.

That is a huge number of eggs for one hen to brood, especially if she is a first time broody. The problem with too many eggs is that the ones on the outside perimeter tend to get too cold, and the embryo dies. Then as the hen turns and moves the eggs around, more and more eggs take their turns on the outside, and more embryos die. Hatch rates are much higher if an experienced hen is only setting on as many eggs as she can comfortably and thoroughly cover, and a first time broody should only have about half that number, until she develops her broody skills properly.

 

[TurkenItUp209]

If there's enough room in the current nesting box, most turkeys will brood together. It's not necessarily desirable, as communal nests are more likely to have broken eggs and other issues, but it does work for some. If your second hen is calling out and pacing when there's room in the broody box, she's probably not broody. She's likely calling out for another reason, perhaps even to the broody hen to get off the nest and keep her company if she's now alone (are there other turkey hens available for her to socialize with?).

If the second hen were broody you could build her a second box, which she may or may not use. But separate broody boxes, if the hens will use them, have the potential to give better hatch rates.

That is a huge number of eggs for one hen to brood, especially if she is a first time broody. The problem with too many eggs is that the ones on the outside perimeter tend to get too cold, and the embryo dies. Then as the hen turns and moves the eggs around, more and more eggs take their turns on the outside, and more embryos die. Hatch rates are much higher if an experienced hen is only setting on as many eggs as she can comfortably and thoroughly cover, and a first time broody should only have about half that number, until she develops her broody skills properly.

Thanks, No hens but the tom is in with them also, they have lots of room. She's almost three, and she is a big hen, and covers them all. I was worried the smaller hen would of gone broody first, so that worked out. They hatched a clutch last year but the lady I got (basicly rescued for a fee) did not do much to ensure the poults survival and their dogs killed them all. Today I noticed she dug a nest in the cold dirt, so I figure I'm off to build another box.

 

[Kelsykin]

The 7 that have hatched so far

 

[SilkieSensation]

Great pic! Might be too late for the contest, but not too late to vote!

Thanks I was wondering how many on here raise poultry for a hobby vs how many it has become their business?? I started it just as a hobby, this year I'm being contacted by people wanting me to ship chicks and poults, one person yesterday wanted me to ship Peachicks. I'm wondering if I really want to get into shipping. I would much rather they be several days old, doing well and picked up here.

I hatch to get my birds to help pay the feed bill. Turkeys are the biggest profit, then guineas, ducks, chicks, quail. I prefer to ship eggs for the chicks, quail & ducks but make more hatching the poults myself. Around here, since heritage are hard to get & I'm NPIP, I can get $15 each from poults at hatch. Most are sold before they are 48 hrs old, but I always make sure they are on their feet & eating/drinking before they go out my door. I ship eggs & birds both. I'm careful about the weather for both.

How much would u pay for a baby turkey that 5 days old there white n black not sure there name but here a pic of the parents

Varies State to State but $10-12 for a day old heritage poult is a reasonable price. Some people charge $8, but I think $10-12 is a good price range. Are these your turkeys and your selling the poults, or are you looking to buy poults and these are the parent stock?

I sell heritage for $15 each at hatch regardless of color...but heritage are hard to get here & I'm NPIP. I have seen non NPIP poults go for $5-10 in my area but those are usually people who have no clue what they have & no clue how to take care of them so they aren't very healthy.

Thing aren't expensive everything about the same prices I notices it just those people r asking a lot for there stuff they sell like Peking ducks days old there asking 10 for a male is 20 n a female is 30 breeding pair is 50 I found some body that's sell Peking ducks days old for 5 n male for 10 n female for 15 breeding pair is 25

Pekins are extremely common here. I sell from home for $6 each up to 2 weeks old but have to drop prices if I take them to a swap where people have a ton of them & are practically giving away 3 week olds for $3 each.

 

[sonderah]

I'm looking to buy but there asking 20 a piece for a chick I though that was a bit high

Yeah that's crazy. Those r called Royal Palms. I sell my pouts for $10 each