Turkey Talk for 2014

[chickadoodles]

That's a lot of turkey Marselle! I love turkey

 

[chickadoodles]

Thanks chickadoodles!

Your welcome.

 

[chickadoodles]

unfortunately many of them (40%) died of mycoplasma ... (((

How sad, I am so sorry!

 

[SilkieSensation]

 
Thinking forward to Thanksgiving, what day do you all like to have your turkeys processed on. Im sending my turkeys to the processor down the road and I scheduled for the Mon before. I wonder if I should have done the Sun before or if it doesn't really make a difference.

It should be fine.  I always recommend letting the carcass rest in a cooler or refrigerator for at least 3 days.

I like to brine mine for about 2 days. I processed Tuesday evening last year & pulled her straight from the brine to the roaster pan. Brining makes the meat so much more moist & flavorful. Only problem, finding a pan big enough to brine the biggest birds in. Maybe use a large cooler for them & add ice to the brine.

 

[poultrypals]

Desertmarcy, Thank you soooo much for your info. We are in southern AZ so we are also 'desert'. Thanks again, looking forward to info about all types of poultry.. poultry pals

 

[BullChick]

I'm raising 3 turkeys this year..2 Spanish black and 1 slate. They are 9 weeks old now but I feel like they are a little under weight. They are currently on a 22% protein feed. Any suggestions? I would like to process at least one for thanksgiving.

You need to put them on a 30% feed. At least 28%. Do this from now on for your new babies for the first few months. Especially the first two months. Your standard Bronze is supposed to be a heavy meat bird. It should give you a little more meat this year.
All I can say is up their protein, and butcher right before Thanksgiving. You will get meat, but not as much as the others will give you next year.

See if Silkie Sensation has an extra (older) turkey for you.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I'm raising 3 turkeys this year..2 Spanish black and 1 slate. They are 9 weeks old now but I feel like they are a little under weight. They are currently on a 22% protein feed. Any suggestions? I would like to process at least one for thanksgiving.

You need to put them on a 30% feed. At least 28%. Do this from now on for your new babies for the first few months. Especially the first two months. Your standard Bronze is supposed to be a heavy meat bird. It should give you a little more meat this year.
All I can say is up their protein, and butcher right before Thanksgiving. You will get meat, but not as much as the others will give you next year.

See if Silkie Sensation has an extra (older) turkey for you.

I have 7 left that are 3-4 months old & growing well. My hens are also still laying if anyone wants eggs. I have about a dozen collected this week, still fertile. My Benny is definitely doing his job.

 

[BullChick]

I am familiar with the "normal chicken poop" picture page. I am curious about this mess I found today in with the turkeys.

 

[casportpony]

I am familiar with the "normal chicken poop" picture page. I am curious about this mess I found today in with the turkeys.

FYI, one of the popular chicken poo pages has some poops listed as normal that are not.

As for your poop, kind of looks like a watery cecal poop to me. Has it been hot where you are? Have your turkey been de-wormed? Definitely not normal if more than one look like that.

-Kathy

 

[BullChick]

Quote: It has been hot the last few days. I have yet to worm them. The Bourbons(the culprit) had never been outside until one week ago.