Turkey Talk for 2014

[chicken pickin]

Length of time will vary with your location. The further north you are the shorter the season will be. Further south gets a really long season. Here in Ohio we average the 2 extremes. Mine laid from March to September last year.

Yes you are correct it does vary with location but typically it is Spring-Fall starting sooner and ending later in some warmer climates. Last year here in NH my turkeys laid from March-Nov.

 

[DraigAthar]

Here's a picture of my midget white's very first egg, next to a chicken egg for size. Her eggs have not gotten a whole lot bigger than this, but of course she's a midget, heh. I love the speckled eggs.

 

[chicken pickin]

Here's a picture of my midget white's very first egg, next to a chicken egg for size. Her eggs have not gotten a whole lot bigger than this, but of course she's a midget, heh. I love the speckled eggs.

When did you turkey start laying?

They should get a little bigger over the next few months. I do love the speckles Turkey eggs are my FAV!

 

[DraigAthar]

When did you turkey start laying?

They should get a little bigger over the next few months. I do love the speckles Turkey eggs are my FAV!

Oddly, she laid this egg on January 12th. I was stumped at first, I thought she was way too young (she was 29 weeks at the time). I didn't expect her to start laying until March at the earliest. But she's laid nearly an egg a day since then. It's just that none of them are fertile yet, heh. Maybe she's just eager.

 

[K Epp]

I'm in North Georgia so I guess it is time for her to start. My eggs are not that spotted though.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Amount of speckles will vary even for the same bird. The speckles are thicker spots of colored calcium.

 

[RockerHen]

I agree he does look very meaty. I would also like to know how old they were.

They were just at 9 months old, as they were hatched in May. Headless, footless, and plucked, but still with guts, the biggest read 29 lbs on the scale. The scale died soon afterwards (it was a battery powered one) so I don't know how accurate that was. I couldn't lift him alone live, so I don't think it was too terribly far off. I would say that, gutless, he still weighed about 20 or a bit less.
In other, living turkey news, I found a nest of 6 eggs yesterday! I do want replacement poults, as it is quite quiet here with only two toms and three hens lol. I'll just have to wait, as my incubator is already being put to use incubating a batch of chicken eggs.

 

[Penny Hen]

They were just at 9 months old, as they were hatched in May. Headless, footless, and plucked, but still with guts, the biggest read 29 lbs on the scale. The scale died soon afterwards (it was a battery powered one) so I don't know how accurate that was. I couldn't lift him alone live, so I don't think it was too terribly far off. I would say that, gutless, he still weighed about 20 or a bit less.
In other, living turkey news, I found a nest of 6 eggs yesterday! I do want replacement poults, as it is quite quiet here with only two toms and three hens lol. I'll just have to wait, as my incubator is already being put to use incubating a batch of chicken eggs.

Well if you decide you are going to sell some of those eggs I would be interested for the Cinco de Mayo Turkey Hatch. That is a perfect sized turkey in my opinion. I rarely buy one bigger (only if I am expecting a huge number of guests) and I think your birds have more breast to them by ratio comparison than half the turkeys I have ever bought in grocery stores.

 

[TeaChick]

So apparently what I thought was a bronze mix tom is actually a naraggansett (sp) hen. Oops.
I forgot my husband and his dad used to raise turkeys. I had sent him some pics and he called me to tell me that I need to get my glasses checked b/c that was a girl.

I get the same thing, and I don't wear glasses (much).

 

[chicken pickin]

Well if you decide you are going to sell some of those eggs I would be interested for the Cinco de Mayo Turkey Hatch. That is a perfect sized turkey in my opinion. I rarely buy one bigger (only if I am expecting a huge number of guests) and I think your birds have more breast to them by ratio comparison than half the turkeys I have ever bought in grocery stores.

EEEEE I cant wait for the Cinco de Mayo Turkey hatchathon. I joined last year and it was fun.

Is anyone else going to be joining this hatch? I will be filling my bator with many Bourbon Red eggs as well as chicken eggs most likely Cream Legbars.