Turkey Talk for 2014

[desertmarcy]

Wow! That would be alot of pens If you where going to keep them all seperate! I wish I could have about 7 pens. My husband would never go for that! He is going to build me a pheasant pen.I cant wait to start.

Yes, it is a lot of pens. I currently have 9 turkey pens. I'm hoping to build another whole set of pens on the other side of the yard, next to my covered garden. The land there is too sloped though, so I need to level it out but access is kind of iffy. I have a neighbor with a backhoe who promised to come by Monday after work to look at the situation. Since I already have piles of dirt that came out of big backhoe-dug holes plus more piles from construction a few years ago, there is plenty of fill to level this space if there is room for him to get his equipment back there.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: Good luck I'm sure ya'll can figure something out.

 

[feedman77]

Yes, it is a lot of pens. I currently have 9 turkey pens. I'm hoping to build another whole set of pens on the other side of the yard, next to my covered garden. The land there is too sloped though, so I need to level it out but access is kind of iffy. I have a neighbor with a backhoe who promised to come by Monday after work to look at the situation. Since I already have piles of dirt that came out of big backhoe-dug holes plus more piles from construction a few years ago, there is plenty of fill to level this space if there is room for him to get his equipment back there.

how big are your pens for your turkeys.

I used 10x10 dog kennels for a tom and 2 hens. I just attached some more so I can let each pen out into a 20 x 40 run.

 

[desertmarcy]

how big are your pens for your turkeys.

I used 10x10 dog kennels for a tom and 2 hens. I just attached some more so I can let each pen out into a 20 x 40 run.

We have our own problems housing birds here in the desert. The birds need more space than that to be able to get out of the hot sun. The sun angles in at different times of the year. Most of my pens are 10' wide by 25' long, with the back 10' having a solid metal roof for shade and rain protection. Then I have to line the chain link with smaller mesh wire to keep out the thieving wild birds, that eat my expensive organic feed and could bring in disease. And then there are the bobcats that are never ending here! It is a real challenge to keep poultry here. Thankfully, I have never lost a turkey to the heat, but have lost chickens. Some of them just can't take the heat here.

 

[chickadoodles]

I've been in Arizona to visit my brother I have to admit I don't know how people live there and get used to that heat. I'm from Calif. and I used to go camping in the desert but Arizona is a world of it's own!

 

[desertmarcy]

I've been in Arizona to visit my brother I have to admit I don't know how people live there and get used to that heat. I'm from Calif. and I used to go camping in the desert but Arizona is a world of it's own!

I would say the same thing about the humidity where you are! I used to love the heat when I was younger. Now it is a struggle. If I didn't love keeping the birds so much, I'd leave for the summer. Or at least part of it. But too many birds and plants to take care of, I've tied myself down. We cannot find someone reliable and trustworthy to take care of the place.

 

[marchick]

I don't want to interupt the chat but I have to tell you a funny story. This morning I put some wheat out on a board as a treat for the chickens and turkeys.Well the chicken grabbed the turkeys snood.She started pulling on it like pulling a worm out of the ground or tug of war .She did that 3 times and I pushed her away.Then she tried again.The turkey had enough of that and went after her.No one was hurt but I wish I had that on camera!

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: To bad you can't pack the birds up and take them with you for the summer. lol

I have a hard time in the heat and humidity since I have gotten older here myself. My husband keeps saying we need to move to Alaska.... He's crazy with our arthritis we would be in worse shape than we are here. lol

 

[chickadoodles]

I don't want to interupt the chat but I have to tell you a funny story. This morning I put some wheat out on a board as a treat for the chickens and turkeys.Well the chicken grabbed the turkeys snood.She started pulling on it like pulling a worm out of the ground or tug of war .She did that 3 times and I pushed her away.Then she tried again.The turkey had enough of that and went after her.No one was hurt but I wish I had that on camera!

That is funny! Hopefully the chicken will learn before the turkey gets to big.

 

[desertmarcy]

To bad you can't pack the birds up and take them with you for the summer. lol

I have a hard time in the heat and humidity since I have gotten older here myself. My husband keeps saying we need to move to Alaska.... He's crazy with our arthritis we would be in worse shape than we are here. lol

Don't think I haven't considered that! It would be really expensive. I'd have to have a second home/farm in a cool place, like CO, that was set up with enough pens like I have here, then I'd have to hire a huge truck like transport all those commercial turkeys to move them up then back again in the fall! It would obviously be a nightmare and way beyond my means. I know there are people who go up to the mountains in the summer and have a coop and bring their birds, but we are talking about a small group of layers, not dozen of big turkeys! Not to mention all my chickens. I keep wondering if this hobby is worth what I have to give up (travel, comfort). I don't want to give them up entirely, because of my reasons for getting birds in the first place (having our own eggs/meat and knowing what we feed them and how they are cared for) but I'd have to cut WAY back in order for this to be doable for a housesitter. Only an obsessed person can take care of all I have and I'm thinking about hiring an exorcist

I also think every place has it's problems. Move, and just trade one set for another. Here, we have heat and drought, but we are not contending with hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods (unless you are foolish enough to buy a place in a flood plain since we do have flash floods here). The "perfect" places are too expensive because everyone wants to be there, or are too crowded.