Turkey Talk for 2014

[chicken pickin]

I just ordered another Bator to use for a Hatcher!!!! Now I can incubate more eggs!!! I have some turkey eggs that should be good, can I put them in with the chicken eggs to incubate, so long as I hatch them separate? Ive had them awhile, waiting to see if she gets broody, and just hate to waste them.

You can incubate, hatch and brood chicks and poults together.

Congrats on the second incubator. What kind did you get?

 

[abmaddox1981]

This is my first year breeding turkeys. My hens hens are around 9-10 mo old. The royal palm had been laying for 3 weeks but the blue slates haven't started yet, they are the same age. Is this typical for the breed??
The royal palm lays an egg a day for several days then skips a day. But hasn't given me an egg now for 3 days. 3 days ago I moved them into the new big flight pen with the peafowl. It is huge compared to what they were in. 5 turkeys and 5 peafowl sharing a 40'x50' flight pen with a large 16' wide loafing shed attached at one end. I put hay down in the loafing shed for nesting. It had also been VERY cold for the last 2 days. Do turkeys usually lay sporadically when they first start laying??

I know chickens are pretty sporadic right at first. With the weather flip flopping around it'll probably be a little while before you get eggs regularly.

 

[SilkieSensation]

This is my first year breeding turkeys. My hens hens are around 9-10 mo old. The royal palm had been laying for 3 weeks but the blue slates haven't started yet, they are the same age. Is this typical for the breed??
The royal palm lays an egg a day for several days then skips a day. But hasn't given me an egg now for 3 days. 3 days ago I moved them into the new big flight pen with the peafowl. It is huge compared to what they were in. 5 turkeys and 5 peafowl sharing a 40'x50' flight pen with a large 16' wide loafing shed attached at one end. I put hay down in the loafing shed for nesting. It had also been VERY cold for the last 2 days. Do turkeys usually lay sporadically when they first start laying??

I would guess the biggest factor was the move to the new pen. Give her time to adjust & she will start laying again. My palm girls started laying a week or so ahead of my slates, but my slates are 2-3 yrs old & my palms are last spring's babies.

 

[sonderah]

You can incubate, hatch and brood chicks and poults together.

Congrats on the second incubator. What kind did you get?

I ordered the Hova Bator 1600, cause it was $65 shipped. I'm second guessing myself now though. I really want the genesis!!! But add the turner and wow! Lol

 

[chicken pickin]

I ordered the Hova Bator 1600, cause it was $65 shipped. I'm second guessing myself now though. I really want the genesis!!! But add the turner and wow! Lol

I have 2 of the Hova Bator 1588s and 1 turner. LOVE THEM. They are the only incubators I have ever used so I have nothing to compare them too really lol.

 

[sonderah]

I have 2 of the Hova Bator 1588s and 1 turner. LOVE THEM. They are the only incubators I have ever used so I have nothing to compare them too really lol.

All I have is an LG with the auto turner. Which if rather use the LG as the hatcher and a genesis to incubate. I'm wondering if my LG turner would fit. Specs on the genesis say its 18 1/2" x 18 1/2", my LG is 16 1/4 squared. Hmmmmmm!!!!!!

 

[sonderah]

I gave in and switched my order to the genesis. Did not get a turner yet. I'll try my other 1st, then if it don't work, I'll just have to turn manually until I get paid again!! Lol

 

[BullChick]

When I got chicks, I lasted a few weeks before getting more (though that was not my fault. I was actually rescuing them). And a few weeks after that I adopted 4 Red Sexlink hens. I just couldn't wait for the eggs! LOL! So, now I am anxiously awaiting my turkeys, and wondering if I shouldn't drive down to Reyvaughn's, and steal a few.

Seriously, how am I supposed to wait?! Especially since the BR I ordered for the 20th won't be available until "sometime" in April, and I don't even know when?

I get to play with a BBW (I have yet to decide between a chick and another poult for company) for a while. I guess that will be something.
What are some thoughts on BBB? Aside from the dark pinfeathers, how do those that have had them think they compare? I understand the BB guys are too clumsy to impregnate a hen, b ut I can still get a BR tom to fertilize a BB hen's eggs, right?

Disclaimer. I am not stealing anyone's turkeys. I am not going to let a huge BBW limp around just so I can have her mate. If she is too heavy, she will be going to camp. Freezer camp, not fat camp. And if this stuff was covered between pages 20 and 129. I have not read those pages yet. I am sorry for asking an old question again.

 

[Dragon Lady]

Just popped in to say hi it's taken me this long to read through the entire thread lol.
I'm so jealous of anyone whose hens are already laying. It's too cold here in Atlantic Canada for my girls to think about laying just yet. But they do squat down for the tom. Frankly I think they need the practice

 

[TurkenItUp209]

Does anyone know if a domestic-wild turkey cross is fertile?

The Narragansett turkey is the result of a cross between a domestic and wild bird, they are fertile.