Turkey Talk for 2014

[R2elk]

My turkey goal is to have a pair. My understanding is that toms don't get to attack the hens like roosters do. They have to get permission (so no over sexing) A trio will probably happen sooner rather than later.

Anyway, I plan on letting the "extra" one from this year's poults grow nice and big next year for Thanksgiving. The other BR will be the breeding pair, and each year whatever doesn't get sold will be sent to the freezer. My husband want s me to try fried turkey, so I guess a turkey fryer will be on the shopping list with the bigger roasting pan.

Your belief that a tom has to get permission is not really accurate and that belief could very well lead to your tom killing your hen if you insist on keeping just a pair and always keeping them together.

First problem that occurs with just a pair during breeding season is over breeding since the tom has no other hens to alternate with causing a bare backed hen. If you insist on keeping only a pair do use a turkey saddle on her during breeding season.

Once the hen starts sitting on a nest, the tom will take the fact that the hen is laying down as permission to breed. Of course the hen will be trying not to cooperate and injuries occur and in many cases the injuries can be fatal. Other things that happen are that eggs may end up being broken when the tom slips off of the hen. I have even known toms to destroy the nest and eggs in order to get the hen back into the breeding mode.

It is far better to have four or five hens for one tom. That way no one hen gets over bred and they don't all tend to go broody at the same time which allows those hens that are setting to sit in peace.

 

[TeaChick]

TC & MC:
Perfect solution-Rainbow Layers. You MUST HATCH at least 4 of every hen's egg just to make sure you get every color possibility.

Another source for diabolical poultry getting plans. Excellent!!!!! =D
Thank you!!! =)

I hatch turkey eggs and chicken eggs exactly the same, I don't make any changes and my hatches turn out fine.

Okay. Thank you. Good to know. =)

Tea, my understanding is that nothing is different but adding a week. Silky Sensation advised adding 10% humidity at lock down for poults.
Tell DH that to offset the cost of feeding the turkeys, you must hatch a lot of eggs to always have a supply of poults for selling.

Thank you. =)
I like your plan; when I need diabolical chicken/turkey getting plans, I will see you!!! =D

 

[TeaChick]

Your belief that a tom has to get permission is not really accurate and that belief could very well lead to your tom killing your hen if you insist on keeping just a pair and always keeping them together.

First problem that occurs with just a pair during breeding season is over breeding since the tom has no other hens to alternate with causing a bare backed hen. If you insist on keeping only a pair do use a turkey saddle on her during breeding season.

Once the hen starts sitting on a nest, the tom will take the fact that the hen is laying down as permission to breed. Of course the hen will be trying not to cooperate and injuries occur and in many cases the injuries can be fatal. Other things that happen are that eggs may end up being broken when the tom slips off of the hen. I have even known toms to destroy the nest and eggs in order to get the hen back into the breeding mode.

It is far better to have four or five hens for one tom. That way no one hen gets over bred and they don't all tend to go broody at the same time which allows those hens that are setting to sit in peace.

Ooooo. Good to know!!! =)

 

[chicken pickin]

edited because I thought I was posting on the easter hatch a long thread

 

[chickadoodles]

Thank you so much for posting this link. This pdf is great. It's only 28 pages total. The first portion is the history of breed preservation, which may not interest everyone, but the middle and end are very practical and useful. It answers quite a bit of the questions that I and other newcomers have had about turkeys, so would be a good read even for people who aren't interested in breeding.

Your very welcome. I was hoping it would help anyone interested. I read it last year, I enjoyed it and found it very helpful.

 

[BullChick]

Quote:
I do see what you are saying. I also see that I forgot words again (bad habit of mine when I type too fast). What I meant to type isn't the point. I am glad I posted, and that you said something about the tom not being as "respectful" as I had been told. Thank you!

 

[JWEBB]

Your belief that a tom has to get permission is not really accurate and that belief could very well lead to your tom killing your hen if you insist on keeping just a pair and always keeping them together.

First problem that occurs with just a pair during breeding season is over breeding since the tom has no other hens to alternate with causing a bare backed hen. If you insist on keeping only a pair do use a turkey saddle on her during breeding season.

Once the hen starts sitting on a nest, the tom will take the fact that the hen is laying down as permission to breed. Of course the hen will be trying not to cooperate and injuries occur and in many cases the injuries can be fatal. Other things that happen are that eggs may end up being broken when the tom slips off of the hen. I have even known toms to destroy the nest and eggs in order to get the hen back into the breeding mode.

It is far better to have four or five hens for one tom. That way no one hen gets over bred and they don't all tend to go broody at the same time which allows those hens that are setting to sit in peace.

OH! thank you so much this is good stuff to learn.

 

[JWEBB]

Yours needs to talk to mine!!! I have to start out at six eggs and work my way up to the 12-15 that I want to hatch and have a rational (sounding) explanation for why I "need" to hatch that many. It helps if the explanation is complicated enough that he has a hard time really understanding it (including breed names and egg production and percentages of anything all help).

 

[JWEBB]

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

Great picture!

 

[SilkieSensation]

The turkeys are fertile! Everything laid since the 22nd is developing. I have slates & slate/palm crosses right now. I lost my palm tom last night to a sparring injury from the slate tom that I didn't catch in time.

I had let my ex come back briefly to give him 1 last chance. He was supposed to be taking care of the birds. I noticed my palm tom acting lethargic & asked JJ to check him over. He lied & said he did then told me Henry was fine. My daughter came in screaming yesterday morning that we had a dead turkey. He wasn't yet & I tried to save him but he didn't make it through the night.

On top of that, he totaled my car yesterday & then copped an attitude with me & my daughter both this morning. He found himself with a 40+ mile walk to his nearest relative this morning.