Turkey Talk for 2014

[chicken pickin]

What incubator sound I look in to get ?

Im sure there are a lot of great incubators out there. But I personally like and use the Hova bator 1588 (2 actually) and they are very reliable and stress free. I don't have experience with other incubators(I did try a TSC little giant still air once but returned it after a few days of use because I had a hard time getting the temp accurate in it) Now I stick to the Hova bators.

 

[fallenangel79]

Im sure there are a lot of great incubators out there. But I personally like and use the Hova bator 1588 (2 actually) and they are very reliable and stress free. I don't have experience with other incubators(I did try a TSC little giant still air once but returned it after a few days of use because I had a hard time getting the temp accurate in it) Now I stick to the Hova bators.

how well do the gril turkey lay eggs?

 

[kuntrygirl]

What incubator sound I look in to get ?

Im sure there are a lot of great incubators out there. But I personally like and use the Hova bator 1588 (2 actually) and they are very reliable and stress free. I don't have experience with other incubators(I did try a TSC little giant still air once but returned it after a few days of use because I had a hard time getting the temp accurate in it) Now I stick to the Hova bators.

You are right. So many great ones. I have a Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco and I love it.
http://www.brinsea.com/products/octagon20eco.htm

This year was my 2nd year using an incubator but I have been having birds for many years but always used broodys to hatch all eggs. If I had to buy another one, it would be another Brinsea.

I would love to buy a cabinet but I can't afford it. $999.99
http://www.brinsea.com/products/oe380A.html

I will probably have to settle for this one. $389.99. They are on sale now.
http://www.brinsea.com/products/oct40Eco.html

 

[chicken pickin]

how well do the gril turkey lay eggs?

They lay fantasticly. They are seasonal layers meaning they lay eggs spring-fall. This year mine started end of March and laid an egg each almost every day until the begining of Nov. Now they take their winter rest and will start laying again in spring.

Are you getting turkeys for meat, eggs, as pets, breeding to sell poults, or all of the above?

 

[fallenangel79]

They lay fantasticly. They are seasonal layers meaning they lay eggs spring-fall. This year mine started end of March and laid an egg each almost every day until the begining of Nov. Now they take their winter rest and will start laying again in spring.

Are you getting turkeys for meat, eggs, as pets, breeding to sell poults, or all of the above?

all of the above lol thank you for your help

 

[racinchickins]

2013 was my first year raising turkeys. I really enjoyed them, and am looking forward to increasing my flock in 2014.

It's been a bit of a learning curve, and I've found out a few things.

1. Get birds earlier. I didn't get any poults until June. I just processed some, and the tom was 16lbs and the hens around 8. I want bigger birds for next year.
2. Turkeys are great birds. Much more personable and curious than my chickens.
3. It is fine to raise the young turkeys with chickens. I had no issues there at all. But once they get to be a bit bigger than the chickens, I had to separate them. They attacked several and almost killed one of my better laying hens. Not sure why they can live with a bird for months, then decide it is the enemy.
4. Free ranging turkeys fly. If you don't want them on your car, your barn, your roof, etc... don't let them out. Keep your garage doors shut, they have no issues with entering your garage and climbing all over your vehicles and other equipment, happily pooping everywhere they go. They will even fly into your dog run and chase the dogs
5. Catching a grown tom who doesn't want to be caught is MUCH harder than a chicken. Getting your hands on him is only the start of your problems, not the end of them as it is with a rooster. Those big wings hurt!

As far as how to apply the learning to 2014....

1. Just to throw this out. As soon as January hits, I am in the market for hatching eggs. Preference is White Holland or Beltsville/Midget White, but wouldn't overlook a deal on other varieties. Keep me in mind if you have any, and I'll be watching here for posts of people who have eggs for sale.
2. Turkeys are great...get more!
3. I've got my brooding/growing out strategy set, and my pens built. No more frantic building to separate birds that suddenly don't get along.
4. Pens are built. Just need to remember to shut the darn garage door when I decide to let the turkeys take a promenade around the property.
5. Planning ahead is everything. It is much easier to lift a bird off the roost at night than to chase it around a pen in the daytime!

 

[pawtraitart]

2013 was my first year raising turkeys. I really enjoyed them, and am looking forward to increasing my flock in 2014.

It's been a bit of a learning curve, and I've found out a few things.

1. Get birds earlier. I didn't get any poults until June. I just processed some, and the tom was 16lbs and the hens around 8. I want bigger birds for next year.
2. Turkeys are great birds. Much more personable and curious than my chickens.
3. It is fine to raise the young turkeys with chickens. I had no issues there at all. But once they get to be a bit bigger than the chickens, I had to separate them. They attacked several and almost killed one of my better laying hens. Not sure why they can live with a bird for months, then decide it is the enemy.
4. Free ranging turkeys fly. If you don't want them on your car, your barn, your roof, etc... don't let them out. Keep your garage doors shut, they have no issues with entering your garage and climbing all over your vehicles and other equipment, happily pooping everywhere they go. They will even fly into your dog run and chase the dogs
5. Catching a grown tom who doesn't want to be caught is MUCH harder than a chicken. Getting your hands on him is only the start of your problems, not the end of them as it is with a rooster. Those big wings hurt!

As far as how to apply the learning to 2014....

1. Just to throw this out. As soon as January hits, I am in the market for hatching eggs. Preference is White Holland or Beltsville/Midget White, but wouldn't overlook a deal on other varieties. Keep me in mind if you have any, and I'll be watching here for posts of people who have eggs for sale.
2. Turkeys are great...get more!
3. I've got my brooding/growing out strategy set, and my pens built. No more frantic building to separate birds that suddenly don't get along.
4. Pens are built. Just need to remember to shut the darn garage door when I decide to let the turkeys take a promenade around the property.
5. Planning ahead is everything. It is much easier to lift a bird off the roost at night than to chase it around a pen in the daytime!

I had to laugh at #4 regarding how turkeys fly and get onto things. Ohhh......they sure do!! A determined bird can still get up on things even with clipped wings. Turkey "jail" is the only answer in this case. I had problems with my youngsters getting on top of my husbands trucks and leaving their calling cards all over. He doesn't appreciate that. LOL They are just so curious and love to roost up high.

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

We are raising BR this is our first year, we just processed our first 2. We have not sold any yet but plan on it next year.

 

[uphilljill]

Especially those MWs!

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
Will sell the auburns because they are filled out a bit more -- though I won't have any 1 year olds for next year UNLESS I keep the one cross bred male I have left. THe rest of the young turkeys hatched this year are hens ( the boys already got canned.)