Turkey Talk for 2014

[marchick]

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

He is narragansett and he is a full grown tom turkey!!! That Is why it is so funny! I am sure that hen thought that was one big fat worm and she was going to eat it!

 

[marchick]

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.

You need to post pictures of your pens so we can drool!

 

[desertmarcy]

@marchick those tom snoods just must be too irresistible. One year, I had a tom that got traumatized by his son, who beat him up. I rehomed the son because I liked dad better. But he was never the same (psychologically) after that incident and would not breed his hens. I watched while one hen kept plunking down in front of him. He would ignore her and move away. So she'd get up and plunk down by him again. This went on for 4 or 5 times. Finally, you could just see the frustration in her eyes, she grabbed his snood and started dragging him all over the pen! She would not let go and he had no choice but to be dragged around. It was quite hilarious. A hen scorned.

 

[marchick]

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.

It doesn't have to be that expensive.You could move just like the clampetts!!! I could see that rocking chair, a dog on top, 40 chickens and a few turkeys! I would like to move to florida.I told my husband, We could sell everything we have and put all my chickens, turkeys, dogs and cats in a u-haul and move to florida! He thought I was nuts! All my family is there!

 

[marchick]

@marchick those tom snoods just must be too irresistible. One year, I had a tom that got traumatized by his son, who beat him up. I rehomed the son because I liked dad better. But he was never the same (psychologically) after that incident and would not breed his hens. I watched while one hen kept plunking down in front of him. He would ignore her and move away. So she'd get up and plunk down by him again. This went on for 4 or 5 times. Finally, you could just see the frustration in her eyes, she grabbed his snood and started dragging him all over the pen! She would not let go and he had no choice but to be dragged around. It was quite hilarious. A hen scorned.

Hey big boy! "That is quite the snood you have!" Come with me! "Yes honey!"

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: I agree totally. My husband and I want to do some traveling when he retires in a few years and we are caught between a rock and a hard spot also. So we have decided to add extra feeders and auto water's so we can go away for several days at a time. Our DIL is a Vet Tech and we are hoping she will check on ours if we need her to. You might look at Vet offices to see if they have any experienced people to help you out if you need it once in a while.
You are so right about every place having it's own problems. The hurricanes and tornado's here are so bad at times! I would not even know how to deal with all that for our birds.

The prices have steady been going up here for several years. Luckily our place is paid for but I feel for all the young people out there starting out working hard struggling.

 

[SilkieSensation]

 


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.

It doesn't have to be that expensive.You could move just like the clampetts!!! I could see that rocking chair, a dog on top, 40 chickens and a few turkeys! I would like to move to florida.I told my husband, We could sell everything we have and put all my chickens, turkeys, dogs and cats in a u-haul and move to florida! He thought I was nuts! All my family is there!

I've moved my birds in the back of a U-Haul several times. Just hose it out & mop the floor when done.

 

[TattooedMama]

What did you order from him? My Black turkey eggs from Porter did not fare as well as the Bronze. Out of 10 eggs, only 3 hatched. I really only wanted a tom to put over my Lavender hens next year but if I get hens, I can put them with my Lavender tom.

Ahhh sorry, I could have sworn I replied to this. We are expecting Silver Auburn, Pencilled Blue Palm, and Penciled Chocolate Palm. Also 2 blacks, just because my honey wanted an all black turkey

Original estimated ship date was mid-June but now we could be looking at any time the second half of June. We are super excited. I have my turkey fix now for a bit since we just picked up some broad breasted roughly 2 weeks ago.

 

[Wasson6Pack]

Ahhh sorry, I could have sworn I replied to this. We are expecting Silver Auburn, Pencilled Blue Palm, and Penciled Chocolate Palm. Also 2 blacks, just because my honey wanted an all black turkey   

Original estimated ship date was mid-June but now we could be looking at any time the second half of June. We are super excited. I have my turkey fix now for a bit since we just picked up some broad breasted roughly 2 weeks ago.

You said the ship date from Porters may have moved, how did you find out? In supposed to be last June, early July, but I wasn't sure if I would only get an update when they shipped or if one came a bit earlier.

 

[TattooedMama]

You said the ship date from Porters may have moved, how did you find out? In supposed to be last June, early July, but I wasn't sure if I would only get an update when they shipped or if one came a bit earlier.

When I ordered the website stated mid-June but I never got anything in an email with an estimated ship date. I have a friend who got some birds on my order who is going on vacation so I sent an email asking if there was an estimated date. Kevin replied that the best he could do for a date was mid to late June. I am grateful for the few extra weeks which gives me more time to build grow out pens and kick the chickens out of the brooder!!