Turkey Talk for 2014

[Americano Blue]

Why does the color of the turkey chicks effect the price?

 

[R2elk]

Why does the color of the turkey chicks effect the price?

The price of turkey poults is determined by which breed they are. Which breed a turkey is determines the color of the poults.

Typically broad breasted turkeys are the cheapest poults. Broad breasted turkeys typically come in either white or bronze.

Heritage turkeys typically sell for more than the broad breasted turkeys. The rarer the variety of heritage turkey often causes an increase in price.

 

[Americano Blue]

The price of turkey poults is determined by which breed they are. Which breed a turkey is determines the color of the poults.

Typically broad breasted turkeys are the cheapest poults. Broad breasted turkeys typically come in either white or bronze.

Heritage turkeys typically sell for more than the broad breasted turkeys. The rarer the variety of heritage turkey often causes an increase in price.

ok thanks

 

[duluthralphie]

My slate blue hen hatched 5 chicks on Sept 10th. In the middle of some of the worst weather you can imagine. 7 turkeys drowned in the eggs when the pipped.

She lost 3 of the young over the last 6 weeks. This morning was the worst morning. She lost her slate red one. ( I am guessing somewhere in the background was non-slate blue turkey. Most likely the tom as he does not look purely blue.

Anyways, an eagle did a number on my flock today. I know it was an eagle because one of the turkeys got a feather off it. NO not a hawk.

I have problems with young eagles from time to time. I have a hen from May's hatch that has the side of her neck opened up and a mess of feather missing and on the ground. It appears the eagle went after the hen first then decided to take the baby because it is easy picking.

Every bird I own is locked inside now, no more free ranging until this threat leaves.

It is a sad day here. I have my doubts the hen will survive. I knew I had a slim chance of having any of s Sept hatch live, but this is not how I expected them to die.

 

[Nickeyo]

You would be amazed what birds can survive, I have a Yokohama bantam hen who had he entire back of her neck ripped off, you could see tendons and all. But we stitched her up and she made a full recovery

 

[TeaChick]

Hi, my DD is thinking of getting some Narragansett poults at the beginning of next year. DH and I have some things to consider before we get them for her.
The two main things are feed and attrition rate.

We already feed the chickens medicated chick feed (because we have cocci in our soil, and we lost about half our chicks to coccidiosis) and we feed fermented scratch grains (b/c we free range for the summer). We'll add fishmeal pellets for protein in winter.
~What do you feed turkey poults? (and how should we combat coccidiosis in them?)
~Is fermented grains and free ranging in the summer (with extra protein added in winter) okay to feed grown turkeys?

We started feeding a non-medicated gamebird crumble to chicks this summer and lost about half of what we got in. So, now we're feeding medicated and have stopped losing them.
~About what is the expected attrition rate for turkeys (poults and adults) compared to that of chickens kept the same way?
(are turkeys heartier, more likely to get sick and die, less likely to die of illness, more/less suseptible to predation, etc?)

Are there any differences between turkeys in general and Narragansett turkeys specifically that I should know before we get the poults?

 

[duluthralphie]

I bought 8 poults last May, everyone is still alive today. I fed them non-medicated gamebird feed and started free ranging at about 3-4 weeks.

I had a hen hatch 5 poults on Sept 10th and have one left. One died because it wanted too, one got caught in a fence and 2 were taken by air borne predators. The last being that young eagle. I have no idea if I have any diseases here or not, but I assume I have everything, my Great Grandfather had birds here and they have been here for the last 125 years I am guessing. During that time I think every bird disease in the world most have been here.

Can birds develop a resistance to coccidiosis ? If they can is it passed through poop in and on the ground?

I know this does not help you at all, Sorry. I am just curious as to the possibility of you developing resistant birds.

 

[TeaChick]

I bought 8 poults last May, everyone is still alive today. I fed them non-medicated gamebird feed and started free ranging at about 3-4 weeks.

I had a hen hatch 5 poults on Sept 10th and have one left.  One died because it wanted too, one got caught in a fence and 2 were taken by air borne predators. The last being that young eagle. I have no idea if I have any diseases here or not, but I assume I have everything, my Great Grandfather had birds here and they have been here for the last 125 years I am guessing. During that time I think every bird disease in the world most have been here.

Can birds develop a resistance to coccidiosis ? If they can is it passed through poop in and on the ground? 

I know this does not help you at all, Sorry. I am just curious as to the possibility of you developing resistant birds.

Thank you so much for the information!
No need to apologize, and I happen to know the answers to your questions.
A chicken (idk whether it's different for turkeys) does build up a kind of resistance, but coccidiosis is a parasite like worms, so they cannot become immune to it. No, resistance is not passed on.

The only thing I have (that I know of) that the birds can become immune to its pox virus. My New Hampshires have gotten it; the ones that have lived are immune and will pass that immunity on to their offspring.

Again, thank you so much for the info!

 

[chickadoodles]

Hi, my DD is thinking of getting some Narragansett poults at the beginning of next year. DH and I have some things to consider before we get them for her.
The two main things are feed and attrition rate.

Narragansetts are sexlink turkey you look at the wing feathers like a chick for male or female and they are very friendly. Turkey eat alot of food if you free range you still need to keep feed out for them but they will eat less when free ranged. Turkey poults are more fragile than chicks I do not put my poults on the ground till they are two months old.

We already feed the chickens medicated chick feed (because we have cocci in our soil, and we lost about half our chicks to coccidiosis) and we feed fermented scratch grains (b/c we free range for the summer). We'll add fishmeal pellets for protein in winter.
~What do you feed turkey poults? (and how should we combat coccidiosis in them?)
~Is fermented grains and free ranging in the summer (with extra protein added in winter) okay to feed grown turkeys?

Medicated gamebird feed for the turkey also is best. I also boost their protein with catfish feed and lots of left overs and scraps of all kinds.

We started feeding a non-medicated gamebird crumble to chicks this summer and lost about half of what we got in. So, now we're feeding medicated and have stopped losing them.
~About what is the expected attrition rate for turkeys (poults and adults) compared to that of chickens kept the same way?
(are turkeys heartier, more likely to get sick and die, less likely to die of illness, more/less suseptible to predation, etc?)

I use auto feeders or large feeders in my pens for my turkey they eat alot compared to chickens. I have never measured their food I keep their feeders full.
Turkey are more likely to get sick easier thank chicks till they get older about 2 months. As far as predators Predators will kill turkey.

Are there any differences between turkeys in general and Narragansett turkeys specifically that I should know before we get the poults?
I have had several breeds of turkey and the Narri's are more friendly to me. But all are different.
There is alot of wonderful info on this thread for newbies Kuntry Girl has posted so much to help newbies look up turkey101.

 

[Hbarth12]

I love turkeys