Turkey Talk for 2014

[OffGridMAMA]

Wanted to share my updated pics

The Turkeys

Hatched in September from eggs from my moms turkeys, breed unknown. Any guesses? All look like hens to me... none display.All have Mohawk.Your thoughts please

 

[Ardizzone7]

Wanted to share my updated pics

The Turkeys

Hatched in September from eggs from my moms turkeys, breed unknown. Any guesses? All look like hens to me... none display.All have Mohawk.Your thoughts please

Yes they are both female. The lighter colored one looks like a sweetgrass maybe. Not sure on the others.

 

[OffGridMAMA]

Thanks for your input I'm brand new to turkeys but learning tons from this thread! I'm currently looking for a tom to accompany these gals. I want to HATCH ....yup kinda getting ahead of myself!

 

[SilkieSensation]

The darker ones look like probably some variety of bronze.

 

[Ardizzone7]

Thanks for your input I'm brand new to turkeys but learning tons from this thread! I'm currently looking for a tom to accompany these gals. I want to HATCH ....yup kinda getting ahead of myself!

I have some self blue hatching eggs if you would like to add them to your flock. They are ready to ship. PM me if you are interested .

 

[Chad Cool]

Good morning to all, I have a few questions. I have some Boubon Red and Narragansett Turkey eggs on the way to the house as i type this message. Im used to hatching Marans eggs. So can someone please give me a run down on hatching these? Also, the process after hatch. I would also like to know if I can free range these birds with my chickens when they get up in age?

 

[Arielle]

Chad--

Porter Turkeys.com has a geat write up on hatching poults. Look at the list of turky varieties-- at the bottom of the list.

I find them easier than marans eggs. Remember that ventilation and oxygen flow is very important, especially the last week of incubation , and certainly at hatch-- I think this gets over looked. Otherwise the process is the same as chicken eggs.

How do you manage shipped eggs? Do you plan to rest the eggs before setting?

Mixing turkeys with chickens or ducks has a few challenges. Mostly depending on how much they interact-- do they have space to steer clear of each other.

My Muscovy drake hounds the tome and pulls out the tail feathers. The hen that grew up with the poults as a turkey tudor is not tolerated by her friends now that everyone grew up. TUrkeys often chase the roosters. What a merri-go- round!!

 

[chicken pickin]

Good morning to all, I have a few questions. I have some Boubon Red and Narragansett Turkey eggs on the way to the house as i type this message. Im used to hatching Marans eggs. So can someone please give me a run down on hatching these? Also, the process after hatch. I would also like to know if I can free range these birds with my chickens when they get up in age?

I find that hatching turkey eggs is no different than hatching chicken eggs. The only difference is they take 28 days instead of 21days. I run the same temp and the same humidity for both.

After hatch they do fine with chicks in the brooder if you are hatching chicks with them. The chicks are called tutors they help the poults learn to eat and drink faster. If you don't have tutor chicks keep a close eye on the poults and make sure you actually see each of them eating and drinking dont just assume because one is they all are. Some poults are slower to learn the eating and drinking process and need encouragement. Though I personally haven't found that to be an issue with my poults. I like to add the flat shiny marbles(fish tank marbles) to the water and feed dishes to encourage them to peck.

As for free ranging with chickens that is fine. My turkeys LOVE my chickens and tend to like to hang out in the chicken yard. The one main issue that could occur if you have it in your area is blackhead being transmitted from chickens to turkeys. Chickens can carry it with no effect while turkeys that get it can become very ill or die. Also Turkeys can and will wander further than the chickens, mainly the hens, they like to explore. Also they will fly onto and roost on everything, your deck, tops of cars, roof of your house etc.

They also do not typically put themselves back to bed in their coop at night. If you don't herd then back before dark they will sleep where ever they please. Mine choose the railing on my front deck.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Good morning to all, I have a few questions. I have some Boubon Red and Narragansett Turkey eggs on the way to the house as i type this message. Im used to hatching Marans eggs. So can someone please give me a run down on hatching these? Also, the process after hatch. I would also like to know if I can free range these birds with my chickens when they get up in age?

My turkeys, chickens, ducks & geese are all penned together. The ducks tend to stay to themselves as do the geese but the chickens & turkeys are pretty peaceful toward each other. This group of chickens was raised with poults. There has almost always been at least 1 turkey penned with them. I use chicks as tutors to teach my turkey poults to eat & drink as babies. Turkeys are a bit slower to pick up on these things & the chicks teach them. You will see the poults copy the chicks. As for integrating adults who have not alreafy been together, my biggest problems have been the turkey hens. They insist on being at the top of the pecking order even above the roos & toms. After a week or so of squabbles the hens finally established themselves & I now rarely see more than an occasional plucked feather or quick peck & a bird quickly getting out of the turkey hens' way. I try not to intervene unless blood is drawn or someone is being kept from the food & water. I just make sure I have 2-3 feed & water stations available so everyone has a chance to eat with friends.

 

[Chad Cool]

Chad--

Porter Turkeys.com has a geat write up on hatching poults. Look at the list of turky varieties-- at the bottom of the list.

I find them easier than marans eggs.  Remember that ventilation and oxygen flow is very important, especially  the last week of incubation , and certainly at hatch-- I think this gets over looked. Otherwise the process is the same as chicken eggs. 

How do you manage shipped eggs?  Do you plan to rest the eggs before setting?

Mixing turkeys with chickens or ducks has a few challenges. Mostly depending on how much they interact-- do they have space to steer clear of each other. 

My Muscovy drake hounds the tome and pulls out the tail feathers. The hen that grew up with the poults as a turkey tudor is not tolerated by her friends now that everyone grew up. TUrkeys often chase the roosters. What a merri-go- round!!

Thank you for your reply, I normally rest my chicken eggs for 24 hours before incubating. Should I do the same with Turkey eggs as well? I'm kind stumded on the ventilation and oxygen flow thing. Can you explain this a little more. Thank you so much.