Turkey Talk for 2014

[SilkieSensation]

Would I be safe in saying my lil 8wk is a Tom? 1st time i seen him puff up like this, sooo cute.

As mentioned above, hens can display, but snoods on 8 week old hens do not tend to be that large & floppy. From the 2 factors together, I'm gonna say it's a little tom.

 

[Corny Caleb]

Well like you all already know, I set 10 turkey 5 weeks ago and then a week after setting those I set 5 more, well a little more then a week ago all 10 hatched. I was like "AWESOME". And now today the other 5 hatched...all of them.

best hatch I've ever had.

 

[R2elk]

I use 20-24% protein for my poults but I prefer mine to grow a bit slower. If they grow slower they have stronger legs, especially for broad breasted, but it works well for heritage as well.

It is my opinion that it is not a good idea to deprive newly hatched poults of the high protein feed their bodies require. I start all turkey poults,
BBs or heritage on turkey game bird starter that is 28% protein. It helps their internal organs grow better. I have not had leg issues with either variety of turkeys but then I actually free range my turkeys starting at about 6 weeks old. Mine are normally down to 20% protein at about 4 weeks of age.

If you want to slow the growth of your BB turkeys, do it after they are 2 weeks old.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I use 20-24% protein for my poults but I prefer mine to grow a bit slower. If they grow slower they have stronger legs, especially for broad breasted, but it works well for heritage as well.

It is my opinion that it is not a good idea to deprive newly hatched poults of the high protein feed their bodies require.  I start all turkey poults,
BBs or heritage on turkey game bird starter that is 28% protein.  It helps their internal organs grow better.  I have not had leg issues with either variety of turkeys but then I actually free range my turkeys starting at about 6 weeks old.  Mine are normally down to 20% protein at about 4 weeks of age.

If you want to slow the growth of your BB turkeys, do it after they are 2 weeks old.

I forgot to mention that I ferment all of my feed which drastically boosts usable protein in the feed, therefore, my babies are probably actually getting much more useable protien in the 22% feed than they would from unfermented 26% feed. My babies are far from deprived.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Well like you all already know, I set 10 turkey 5 weeks ago and then a week after setting those I set 5 more, well a little more then a week ago all 10 hatched. I was like "AWESOME". And now today the other 5 hatched...all of them.

best hatch I've ever had.

Fifteen out of fifteen !!!!!!! You're a master hatcher. How do you get those results? And where are the pictures?? We want to see cute little munchkins.

 

[Kelsykin]

Quote:

The Dumor Brand has chick starter for turkeys, chukars, quail and pheasants. That is what we got. it is the higher protein.

 

[Wasson6Pack]

My local feed store convinced me to get a flock raiser so I didn't have to get many kinds and I use it as a starter in the crumble form and mix the pellets with their special blend to get a mix for the older gourds that I ferment. Or am trying to. They love the FF, but it doesn't have the sourkraut angel that I think it should.

 

[chickadoodles]

From everything I have read on turkey one of the ways to tell if you have a hen or a tom is: a hen will have a mohawk and a tom will have a bald head. Celie posted several ways to tell which is which from her experience with turkey also.

 

[BullChick]

My local feed store convinced me to get a flock raiser so I didn't have to get many kinds and I use it as a starter in the crumble form and mix the pellets with their special blend to get a mix for the older gourds that I ferment. Or am trying to. They love the FF, but it doesn't have the sourkraut angel that I think it should.

Bubbles!

They make me giggle. Not laugh. I really giggle.

 

[Corny Caleb]

Basically since I have 2 toms to 1 hen... So I get REAL good fertility! Oh, and here's a photo of those "lil munchkins" lol : )

that's mine after just a week an a half. Wow hey grow fast!