Turkey Talk for 2014

[CherMoz]

Here are some of my bunch

Very pretty!

 

[chickadoodles]

Thank you. I love my turkey!

 

[gevshiba]

I sold 4 hens today. One was the young girl who just started squatting. Without a tom, some of the other hens were picking on her, so I kept the brats and sent her off to a new life.

Now for my opinion on dogs. I certainly don't intend to insult, offend or hurt feelings, but I'm pretty passionate about dogs. I have 5. I love my dogs. They are the reason I started raising turkeys. All of my dogs would kill livestock. I know that and it's my job to keep my stock safe from my dogs. Accidents happen. Unforeseen incidents happen. Dogs are predators and instinct and prey drive are hard wired into them. Without training, even a breed that has been selectively bred for livestock protection or herding can do more harm than good. I, personally, would never get rid of my dog for these reasons. My dogs, like my livestock, are my responsibility. I can't stop loving my dog because of my mistake. I know not everyone feels this way, but that's my .02 and your mileage may vary.

 

[chknoodles]

I sooo agree with you. I take responsibility for whatever mischief my dogs get into. Thankfully, they've had no issues with any of our birds...heck, even the dang squirrels come up to our dogs without fear. However, I have never had a dog turn on me and become aggressive. Luck or just because we treat then like kids..I don't know.

 

[gevshiba]

I sooo agree with you. I take responsibility for whatever mischief my dogs get into. Thankfully, they've had no issues with any of our birds...heck, even the dang squirrels come up to our dogs without fear. However, I have never had a dog turn on me and become aggressive. Luck or just because we treat then like kids..I don't know.

Well, I have a different opinion on human aggression. Unless the dog is being provoked or hurt, there isn't much tolerance for aggression. It's sad, but most of the time, aggression towards people, including fear aggression (not including provoked and protection of property) is a result of people. Either lack of training, neglect, ignorance or what have you. These things are why there are so many dogs in shelters. That and our throw away society.

But, lets get back to turkeys. I could have sold every one of my hens, if I had wanted to. Makes me think that if I can figure a way to over winter then hens economically, it might be worth it to sell them in the spring.

Edited to correct a typo.

 

[duluthralphie]

Well, I have a different opinion on human aggression. Unless the dog is being provoked or hurt, there isn't much tolerance for aggression. It's sad, but most of the time, aggression towards people, including fear aggression (not including provoked and protection of property) is a result of people. Either lack of training, neglect, ignorance or what have you. These things are why there are so many dogs in shelters. That and our throw away society.

But, lets get back to turkeys. I could have sold every one of my hens, if I had wanted to. Makes me think that if I can figure a way to over winter then hens economically, it might be worth it to sell them in the spring.

Edited to correct a typo.

Good idea, maybe I could sell one hen at 4 times the going rate and throw in my extra three Jakes... I Wish I was as hard hearted as I like to think I can be, I would just eat one or two.

 

[gevshiba]

Good idea, maybe I could sell one hen at 4 times the going rate and throw in my extra three Jakes... I Wish I was as hard hearted as I like to think I can be, I would just eat one or two.

You shouldn't think of eating your birds as being hard hearted. It's practical. It's what they are for. I enjoy my birds a lot. I love my birds. But I raise them to eat. I'd love to sell every extra one I have, but then I'm right back to buying grocery store meat and I'm not doing that. Killing anything is hard. I keep trying to find the fastest way to dispatch the birds because I can't think of them suffering. But I do butcher them. I never butchered anything before, although my dad hunted and we raised a couple cows when I was a kid. My aunt & uncle had a farm with chickens, pigs and cows. I guess I grew up knowing they were for food, but never gave it a lot of thought. I had an experienced friend butcher my first birds while I watched. Then I helped her with some of her chickens. Next time, I did my own birds by myself. I wouldn't ever criticize someone who absolutely couldn't butcher, but please don't call me hard hearted because I do. It's one of the hardest parts of keeping livestock.

 

[AmericanMom]

Both hens now laying, one every other day and they are neither laying on the same day so we get one egg a day!! Sacrificed the first egg to check fertility and had one off day before Hen #2 ( I call her Penny) started laying... Got 3 eggs saved and the new bator on order. Bought one from our local feed store, a Little Giant digital with fan... Decided to test it on chicken eggs and day five did a test candle.. realized the front row wasn't developing like they should so checked the temps... Crazy!! 103+ in the back, spot on 99.8 in the middle and 95 in the front.. Called the feed store, they agreed it was defective and I took it back, exchanged it for the same model, plugged it in and waited for temps to stabilize and this was even worse! 110 in the back, 99.6 in the middle and 93 in the front! Taking it back for a full refund tomorrow. Ordered my Hova bator online and the receipt says it should be here Friday.. Thursday will be day 7 on the oldest Turkey egg... I hope it isn't any later than Monday in getting here! Needless to say, yesterday was a very nerve wracking day!

 

[duluthralphie]

You shouldn't think of eating your birds as being hard hearted. It's practical. It's what they are for. I enjoy my birds a lot. I love my birds. But I raise them to eat. I'd love to sell every extra one I have, but then I'm right back to buying grocery store meat and I'm not doing that. Killing anything is hard. I keep trying to find the fastest way to dispatch the birds because I can't think of them suffering. But I do butcher them. I never butchered anything before, although my dad hunted and we raised a couple cows when I was a kid. My aunt & uncle had a farm with chickens, pigs and cows. I guess I grew up knowing they were for food, but never gave it a lot of thought. I had an experienced friend butcher my first birds while I watched. Then I helped her with some of her chickens. Next time, I did my own birds by myself. I wouldn't ever criticize someone who absolutely couldn't butcher, but please don't call me hard hearted because I do. It's one of the hardest parts of keeping livestock.

I would never call anyone hard hearted for butchering their own food. Mu wife and I do it all the time, What I meant by that was my turkeys have become such pets to me they have broken that barrier I have between pets and meat animals.

I grew up on this farm, I think processing your own food is the best way to live.


I am sorry I did not make myself clearer. I am really impressed with people that did not grow up on a farm and learn to process their own food. I know it is harder for them than those of us that grew up with it.

 

[dheltzel]

Our first Midget White babies: