- Jul 10, 2013
- 15
- 1
- 21
As a newb turkey farmer I still have so much learning to do. We just started out turkey adventure late spring/early summer 2013 when a friend of mine gave me a pair of turkeys as a house warming gift. Within 3 months I had expanded that number to 17! We've scaled back a bit so we can really focus on the goal.
We've decided to keep our farm focused on rare/endangered heritage breeds. We have Narragansett turkeys, Silver Fox rabbits and will be expanding into Chanticleer chickens as well as American Guinea Hogs this year. All that being said, here's what I know....
1. Are you prepared for Turkey season for 2014?
Not as prepared as we'd like to be. Hoping we still have some time.
2. When do your hens start laying eggs?
I've all ready gotten a few random eggs here and there, but nothing consistently as yet. Soon?
3. What breeds do you plan on raising for 2014?
Regarding turkeys specifically? Narragansetts
4. What is your current Tom/Hen Ratio?
1 tom to 3 hens currently, but hoping to expand. Ideally I'd love to grow into 1 tom to 6 hens and have two breeding pens each set up with that ratio.
5. How many poults do you plan on hatching?
Roughly 50, half from my own eggs, half from out sourced eggs.
6. Did you order any poults from other hatcheries? If so, what hatchery, what breed and how many are you expecting?
I've ordered 12 poults from Red Bird Ranch (https://www.facebook.com/redbird.ranch?fref=ts&__rev=1024226) just for starters. We'll see where we go from there.
7. Are you ordering turkey eggs from someone? If so, how many?
I hope to, I plan to, but as of right now I haven't found a reliable source.
8. Will you be using an incubator to hatch your turkey eggs?
Yes
9. Do you want your hens to go broody so that they can hatch eggs?
Do I 'want' them to? I didn't know I got a choice?!?! LOL!
10. Will you be selling eggs and/or poults?
Absolutely plan on selling poults. Selling eggs will depend on how many eggs I have available.
11. What are your feed plans for 2014? Anyone trying fermented feed for their flock?
In the past I have fed breeding/laying turkeys a mix of turkey starter (22% protein) and all purpose (16%). The birds I intend to grow for meat start on the turkey starter and then get transitioned to game bird (27%) protein. This year I hope to incorporate a fodder system to provide my birds with high quality, fresh, real food as well as cutting my feed costs.
12. Do you have your housing ready for your poults and turkeys?
I have a nice brooder system that has pr oven to be a blessing! And one laying pen. We will be adding a 'growing pen only' this year.
13. How many turkeys will you be processing for your freezer for 2014?
For my personal freezer - roughly 10 (a few whole, a few parted out and several ground). We also intend to grow out and harvest several (20 or less) for friends and family.
14. What did you do this year that you want to do different next year (2014)?
SO MANY THINGS! Last year was barely a chance to even get to know turkeys. This year is when we'll get serious. Now ask me next year what I'll do different. By then I'll have a list, a big one...
We've decided to keep our farm focused on rare/endangered heritage breeds. We have Narragansett turkeys, Silver Fox rabbits and will be expanding into Chanticleer chickens as well as American Guinea Hogs this year. All that being said, here's what I know....
1. Are you prepared for Turkey season for 2014?
Not as prepared as we'd like to be. Hoping we still have some time.
2. When do your hens start laying eggs?
I've all ready gotten a few random eggs here and there, but nothing consistently as yet. Soon?
3. What breeds do you plan on raising for 2014?
Regarding turkeys specifically? Narragansetts
4. What is your current Tom/Hen Ratio?
1 tom to 3 hens currently, but hoping to expand. Ideally I'd love to grow into 1 tom to 6 hens and have two breeding pens each set up with that ratio.
5. How many poults do you plan on hatching?
Roughly 50, half from my own eggs, half from out sourced eggs.
6. Did you order any poults from other hatcheries? If so, what hatchery, what breed and how many are you expecting?
I've ordered 12 poults from Red Bird Ranch (https://www.facebook.com/redbird.ranch?fref=ts&__rev=1024226) just for starters. We'll see where we go from there.
7. Are you ordering turkey eggs from someone? If so, how many?
I hope to, I plan to, but as of right now I haven't found a reliable source.
8. Will you be using an incubator to hatch your turkey eggs?
Yes
9. Do you want your hens to go broody so that they can hatch eggs?
Do I 'want' them to? I didn't know I got a choice?!?! LOL!
10. Will you be selling eggs and/or poults?
Absolutely plan on selling poults. Selling eggs will depend on how many eggs I have available.
11. What are your feed plans for 2014? Anyone trying fermented feed for their flock?
In the past I have fed breeding/laying turkeys a mix of turkey starter (22% protein) and all purpose (16%). The birds I intend to grow for meat start on the turkey starter and then get transitioned to game bird (27%) protein. This year I hope to incorporate a fodder system to provide my birds with high quality, fresh, real food as well as cutting my feed costs.
12. Do you have your housing ready for your poults and turkeys?
I have a nice brooder system that has pr oven to be a blessing! And one laying pen. We will be adding a 'growing pen only' this year.
13. How many turkeys will you be processing for your freezer for 2014?
For my personal freezer - roughly 10 (a few whole, a few parted out and several ground). We also intend to grow out and harvest several (20 or less) for friends and family.
14. What did you do this year that you want to do different next year (2014)?
SO MANY THINGS! Last year was barely a chance to even get to know turkeys. This year is when we'll get serious. Now ask me next year what I'll do different. By then I'll have a list, a big one...
