Turkey Talk for 2014

[SilkieSensation]

Hello All! I might have an unusual post. I just rescued two BBW turkeys from a factory farm. They are 14 weeks old. I brought them home yesterday and so far they are adjusting well to "pet" life. I do need some advice from you Turkey experts. My first is, can turkeys be cold? Living in a barn with 2000 other turkeys, my girls are missing good chunks of feathers on their chests. Every now and then they will ruffle and shake their feathers and look like they might be chilled. I live in Northern California, it never gets really cold. Today it is about 57. Is their anything I can do to make sure they are warm? I built them a shelter that they slept in very comfortably, but during the day when they are ranging I worry about them being warm enough. Especially when it starts to rain. Also, will their missing feathers grow back? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!! I know chickens, but these are my first turkeys. Here they are! And here is their shelter I made. Is it ok?

Living in Cali. they should not get cold unless they are very young and do not have their feathers in yet. Keep them dry. Broad Breasted turkey will get very large very fast if you feed them all they want and at 5 months old they will not be able to walk well. I kept mine on a diet and fed them once a day and by 7 months they had to go. There is a ton of info on the turkey for 2013 and the turkey101 thread! I read everything I could find online when I was thinking of getting turkey. They are very fun and can also be very protective. Enjoy!

BBW really do not make good pets. They are bred for rapid growth & huge size. Their legs often give out due to their weight. Do not be surprised if these do not make it to 6 months old. They already look quite large for just 14 weeks old. BBW are specifically bred for meat.

 

[ivan3]

My tom injured his leg about a week ago when he tried to land on my goat fence. After untangling his leg, we disinfected and wrapped it. Despite this he appears to have developed an infection and/or swelling. Any suggestions on how to treat this, shy of making him dinner?

Can you post a shot of the "leg" injury that you treated/wrapped? The pododermatitis (if that's what it is - any swelling/disocloration in thigh/leg above ankle/limping badly??) looks to be pretty well developed (but compared to other foot??). To treat our old roo, we used 2"x2" cotton gauze pad soaked with mix of antibiotic ointment & Durvet Scarlet oil wound treatment http://www.durvet.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=53:scarlet-oil-with-sprayer ) the soaked pad on the bottom of foot - covered with a "stack" of two more unmedicated pads. This was held in place by ~ two feet of 1" wide gauze wrap, wound around/between toes & lower leg - secured in place with narrow strips of duct tape. Dressing was changed every 2-3 days (clean area with betadine from spray bottle and then soak foot for 15 min. in ~4 cups of warm water in which 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts had been WELL dissolved). Foot was then rinsed/dried and dressing replaced. Our vet had him on 250 mg Cephalexin BID. We kept him on clean, soft bedding and provided no roosts for him (less chance of infection spreading owing to sudden pressure on foot "pad" from "landing". We were also advised not to poke/squeeze infected pad unless abscess was protruding and clearly defined - and then only lance with needle and immediately soak in the warm water/Epsom salts - this worked as drainage would be substantial. Took about 45 days before 8 lb. roo was "cured"


Another possible option: https://sites.google.com/a/poultryp...oultry-podiatry#chickens_penicillin_injection

 

[DylansMom]

BBW really do not make good pets. They are bred for rapid growth & huge size. Their legs often give out due to their weight. Do not be surprised if these do not make it to 6 months old. They already look quite large for just 14 weeks old. BBW are specifically bred for meat.

Not always the case, this is our girl "Turtee" she turned 9 years old this past summer, she has been a free range pet for the last 8 & 1/2 of those years, she still gets around pretty well considering her age. You should limit the food intake though, all the grass and greens they want will not hurt them, but the grains and feed will pack on the pounds.

 

[casportpony]

BBW really do not make good pets. They are bred for rapid growth

Not always the case, this is our girl "Turtee" she turned 9 years old this past summer, she has been a free range pet for the last 8 & 1/2 of those years, she still gets around pretty well considering her age. You should limit the food intake though, all the grass and greens they want will not hurt them, but the grains and feed will pack on the pounds.

She is a special girl! -Kathy

 

[Sueg4332]

SHE IS 2


here is my turkeys hatched this year think I have all boys. We all made it pass Thanks Giving. gobble gobble !!!!!





slate cross bourbon red going on 3 years ROCKY


he reminds me of a muscle builder


sweetgrass 2014 Tom ?

THESE TURKEYS ARE SPOILED. THEY SLEEP NEXT TO MY BEDROOM WINDOW EVEN DURING THE STORMS. iF i TURN A LIGHT ON DURING THE NIGHT THEY GOBBLE AT ME..

 

[chickadoodles]

Sueg you have some beautiful turkey and I spoil mine also!

 

[duluthralphie]

Sueg you have some beautiful turkey and I spoil mine also!

Turkeys are meant to be spoiled! They are like big loving dogs with feathers.

One of my young Toms helped me make a decision today. I was carrying table scraps to the birds. Whenever I go to the coop all the turkeys come running to greet me. They then turn around and follow me. They have followed me to the far side of the pasture, which is just under 1/4 mile away.

For the last few weeks the toms have been playing young turkey games. They dance with each other, they chest bump, they follow the poor hens trying to get as close to the hens as they can, the hens ignore them.

Basically, they are misbehaving teenage turkey boys! Today I heard a loud drumming coming from the shed. I went into the shed and a young Tom was on the top of a barrel doing the mating dance/drumming (Like a grouse does). The empty barrel was a great amplifier. He was so proud of his racket he did not even stop when I asked him what he thought he was up too?

Anyways back to the original story, I was carrying the scraps and the turkeys greeted me and followed me towards to coop. The turkeys are not big table scrap eaters like the chickens are. I was watching the chickens who where expectantly waiting for me at the feeding area. All of a sudden I felt a huge rush of air and flapping on my left side behind me. It appears a young tom said "pick me, eat me, I want to die." by attacking me! The choice has been made. This is the same tom that I thought made a run for my grand daughter.

Any one want to guess where this turkey will spend Xmas eve? I can give you a hint it is 360 degrees cooler than where he will be Xmas day.

 

[chickadoodles]

Once in awhile we find a bad apple in the bunch. My DH went to move three of our turkey into a larger pen and one he picked up got a wing loose and flogged my DH and nearly broke his jaw and knocked him out cold! Guess you know he was a special guest for Thanksgiving.

 

[Sueg4332]

Turkeys are meant to be spoiled! They are like big loving dogs with feathers.

One of my young Toms helped me make a decision today. I was carrying table scraps to the birds. Whenever I go to the coop all the turkeys come running to greet me. They then turn around and follow me. They have followed me to the far side of the pasture, which is just under 1/4 mile away.

For the last few weeks the toms have been playing young turkey games. They dance with each other, they chest bump, they follow the poor hens trying to get as close to the hens as they can, the hens ignore them.

Basically, they are misbehaving teenage turkey boys! Today I heard a loud drumming coming from the shed. I went into the shed and a young Tom was on the top of a barrel doing the mating dance/drumming (Like a grouse does). The empty barrel was a great amplifier. He was so proud of his racket he did not even stop when I asked him what he thought he was up too?

Anyways back to the original story, I was carrying the scraps and the turkeys greeted me and followed me towards to coop. The turkeys are not big table scrap eaters like the chickens are. I was watching the chickens who where expectantly waiting for me at the feeding area. All of a sudden I felt a huge rush of air and flapping on my left side behind me. It appears a young tom said "pick me, eat me, I want to die." by attacking me! The choice has been made. This is the same tom that I thought made a run for my grand daughter.

Any one want to guess where this turkey will spend Xmas eve? I can give you a hint it is 360 degrees cooler than where he will be Xmas day.

 

[TurnipTruck]

Turkeys are giving me fits the last little bit. My tom appears to be on the mend, but my hen has decided, after months of peaceful coexhistence on free range, that she needs to eliminate my pullets.

She killed one, but until this morning I thought it was a hawk attack. Then I saw her relentlessly pecking at the head of another pullet, that she had knocked off her feet, this morning. I broke it up and it looks like my pullet will survive.

The question is what should I do to protect my chickens? As of now I plan on catching that hen and putting her in isolation for a bit. Is there anything else shy of freezer camp that I can do. If I add another hen will that help or exacerbate the problem? I open to suggestions. I really don't want to get rid of my hen, if I need to I will.

She has not shown any aggresion toward people, only the chickens.