Turkey Talk for 2014

[WalnutHill]

I doubt you will see "hybrid vigor" by crossing two colors. There is very little genetic variation between named varieties of turkeys, unlike chickens and ducks. But they sure do come up with some intriguing colors!

 

[gevshiba]

I'd wager that your birds probably have more "funk" than the wild ones

Nothing personal, I think in the confined spaces that domestic turkeys just have more "baggage" than the wild ones.

If I had my way (and I hope to in the future) my birds wouldn't be penned. But that's the circumstances
at this time.

 

[JJSS89]

Oh I understand, I was just trying to put your mind at ease about the wild turkey.

 

[feedman77]

Just put 10 narri eggs on lockdown. When I did a quick candle looked like one was trying to pip internal.

Hopefully will have some chicks soon.

 

[AmericanMom]

2/6 pips from the Turkey eggs!!!

Day 27 for the Turkeys, day 20 for the companion chickens but no pips there yet... Its gonna be a long day and I can already feel my back hurting from bending over the incubator with a flashlight lol.. Getting the brooder ready this evening, Decided this year to start the babies on a game bird feeder instead of the all purpose, a bit higher protein (27 v 20%) Learned a lot last year and hope hope hope I don't suffer the same losses.

 

[chickadoodles]

Good luck Feedman and AmericanMom

! I hope you both have great hatches!
AmericanMom I think you will like the results better from feeding the game bird starter and I have the same problem back pain from bending over with the flashlight. lol

 

[AmericanMom]

Good luck Feedman and AmericanMom

! I hope you both have great hatches!
AmericanMom I think you will like the results better from feeding the game bird starter and I have the same problem back pain from bending over with the flashlight. lol

There cheeping!! One has worked its pip hole a bit more, noticed the pips at 10 pm last night... Must ignore them and work on something....anything...

I am a bit more aware of how fragile these little ones are and will be more watchful over temperatures and feeding. I am hoping the ratio of Turkey poults to Chicky chicks will help a bit more.
There is one egg I don't think will make it, its air cell was very large and although I could see movement when I candled day before yesterday and I have watched it wiggle here and there I know from experience with chicken eggs there isn't a lot of room in there for it. I hope I get surprised and all 6 from this first batch makes it.. I practice dry incubation and saw the larger than normal air cell by day 18 or so but felt there wasn't anything I could do as the other eggs looked so good. I didn't want to do anything to harm the others.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote:
How exciting! Don't forget to post pics plz.

I also use the dry incubation method but even at that you need between 25-30% humidity so that hopefully it will help the air cells during incubation. Here in AL. we have plenty of humidity and that usually helps. But I have had to add a damp cloth to the bator to help out a bit.

Your not always going to have a 100% hatch rate not to many do, but 99% is great hatch rate. As you put the poults in the brooder just make sure to dip them in the food and water. Even with chicks I still make sure I see them all drinking and eating. I usually have one or two stragglers that I have to keep showing the food and water. You will do great!

 

[AmericanMom]

How exciting! Don't forget to post pics plz.

I also use the dry incubation method but even at that you need between 25-30% humidity so that hopefully it will help the air cells during incubation. Here in AL. we have plenty of humidity and that usually helps. But I have had to add a damp cloth to the bator to help out a bit.

Your not always going to have a 100% hatch rate not to many do, but 99% is great hatch rate. As you put the poults in the brooder just make sure to dip them in the food and water. Even with chicks I still make sure I see them all drinking and eating. I usually have one or two stragglers that I have to keep showing the food and water. You will do great!

Turkey #1 is out...

I had to add humidity to the room, even with two water jars and several sponges, humidity hovering around 40% inside the bator, this little one had a hard time and it was partially stuck.. I got the room humidity up to 60 and its 59 in the bator as we speak, the second egg that piped last night has started being more vocal and working the hole a bit... will have to watch it to make sure it can zip... Ughhh last year when I hatched I added no water, just a few sponges. Those little buggers piped and zipped so fast.. Goes to show and a great learning tool for others, what worked last time may not work next time. Always be ready to adjust !!!

 

[chickadoodles]

Congrats AmericanMom! How eggciting for you and such a cute baby!!!