Turkey Talk for 2014

[chickadoodles]

2 Turkeys and 7 chickens ... Opened up the last four eggs, 3 turkeys and 1 chicken.. all fully formed but never internally piped, heads in correct position on all membrane normal (not to much fluid nor to dry)

Disappointed and second guessing myself on what I may have done wrong, temps perfect, dry incubation and except for the one egg all air cells normal... The only thing I can think of is these turkey eggs were the first eight laid by these two (at the time) 9 month old hens, The hens are 10 months old now. but eggs seemed large enough, chicks not to big for shell...

Second set goes into lockdown on Tuesday morning

eight Turkey eggs and I believe 6 chicken eggs


Seems I had a way better hatch rate hand turning last year and keeping the eggs out of the turner

I was told to put my eggs in an egg carton for hatching instead of laying them on their side and I am getting better hatch rate. Ronnott1 told me that the chicks get turned around when you lay them on their side after being up it made sense to me. I boost my humidity the last three days to 65%.

 

[SilkieSensation]

 
Do you harvest them throughout the year as you need them?  I can't imagine starting BBB in February for Thanksgiving harvest.  

Unfortunately, I can only eat the white meat (love the dark, but it doesn't agree with me anymore.  Same with chicken.).  I raise turkeys for myself and my dogs.  Why buy turkey for the dogs when I can raise it myself?  So I can butcher anytime.  The main problem with getting them in February is, they hit 5 months in July.  July through September in Texas isn't the best time to butcher.

I'm much further north (Ohio) so we only get a few days a year over 100F usually. I grow my turkeys a bit slower to get them to cooler weather for butchering & allow leg bones time to keep up with weight gain.

 

[WalnutHill]

I have been buying my BBB poults at the beginning of July and they are as big as I could want them, with a nice fat layer, by Thanksgiving.

My very first BBB was gifted to me in April from a friend. He was 52 pounds live weight when harvested for Thanksgiving. He barely fit in the oven, didn't fit in the roaster, and hung over the broiler pan! But he was tasty and tender.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I have been buying my BBB poults at the beginning of July and they are as big as I could want them, with a nice fat layer, by Thanksgiving. My very first BBB was gifted to me in April from a friend. He was 52 pounds live weight when harvested for Thanksgiving. He barely fit in the oven, didn't fit in the roaster, and hung over the broiler pan! But he was tasty and tender.

I like to free range mine, so they grow a bit more slowly. They get more exercise when running with the chickens & the legs have more time to grow & strengthen before they get too heavy. Takes a little longer, but they are much healthier & more active with a much lower mortality rate.

 

[AmericanMom]

I was told to put my eggs in an egg carton for hatching instead of laying them on their side and I am getting better hatch rate. Ronnott1 told me that the chicks get turned around when you lay them on their side after being up it made sense to me. I boost my humidity the last three days to 65%.

You know, when I was heading into town I thought about that! I'll try it with the next round, I was able to boost the humidity, I just plugged in the room humidifier and that did the trick.. weird..

We did put one of the chicken chicks down, I didn't notice when it hatched but a few hours after I went in to check on it and its hatch mate and that was when I noticed, severely deformed beak and misshaped head, It looks like it was missing an eye too. I thought about taking pics but poor little thing, it just seemed cruel. Amazing that it hatched on its own

 

[AmericanMom]

hope your next round is better.
I've hatched 7 chickens and no turkeys yet. But do hav e 2 with external pip.

The eggs I watch to mske sure everything is perfect seem to have dismal hatch rates.

There was couple batches toward end of season just put in and didn't do anything to. Seemed to have better hatch percentage than the ones I stressed over.

Aint that the truth... I am glad for the two I got, one is like brooder leader, he is a bully lol

 

[chickadoodles]

WalnutHill that is a beautiful old stove and your turkey fills it up nicely.

Feedman and AmericanMom I hope you both have great hatches. AM I hope your next hatch does much better for you.

My DH made us a homemade hatcher today we have been getting the supplies together for a couple of weeks and went looking for the right coolers today and found one that will I hope work for two incubators.


It's a 64 qt. bator with a digital thermostat and 2 fans. Now I just need some baskets in it and get some eggs into it for lockdown Sunday. Wish me luck.

 

[AmericanMom]

WalnutHill that is a beautiful old stove and your turkey fills it up nicely.

Feedman and AmericanMom I hope you both have great hatches. AM I hope your next hatch does much better for you.

My DH made us a homemade hatcher today we have been getting the supplies together for a couple of weeks and went looking for the right coolers today and found one that will I hope work for two incubators.


It's a 64 qt. bator with a digital thermostat and 2 fans. Now I just need some baskets in it and get some eggs into it for lockdown Sunday. Wish me luck.

Holy hatching addiction batman!!!! What a person could do with one of those!! That's awesome

Estimates on how many it will hold?

 

[WalnutHill]

WalnutHill that is a beautiful old stove and your turkey fills it up nicely.

Feedman and AmericanMom I hope you both have great hatches. AM I hope your next hatch does much better for you.

My DH made us a homemade hatcher today we have been getting the supplies together for a couple of weeks and went looking for the right coolers today and found one that will I hope work for two incubators.


It's a 64 qt. bator with a digital thermostat and 2 fans. Now I just need some baskets in it and get some eggs into it for lockdown Sunday. Wish me luck.

That's a very nice hatcher. I have two of those STC-1000 type controllers, once calibrated they are really nice!

 

[feedman77]

Well so far 7 chicks. 3 narris hatched. 4th had external pipped. Will probably have to assist.

Not a great hatch but for eggs off ebay I am greatly suprised. Happy with 3 but will be happier if 4 th pulls thru.

Now if my girls will only start laying that would be icing on cake.