Turkey Talk for 2014

[chickadoodles]

CherMoz I get the turkey delight at the farmers co-op it is a mix of seed and cracked corn for 11.00 for a 50# bag. TSC has a wild bird seed that is close with out the corn for 10.00.
Here people put the turkey delight out for hunting fields.

 

[CherMoz]

We feed Tucker Miller Gamebird Layer/Breeder feed. It is 20% protein. We also give calcium and have started adding wheat to increase fertility (something new we were told about and want to see if it works - but we had great fertility without it last year, so I don't know how we'd see any difference, but the hubby wants to add it and heck, the turkeys will just be thrilled thinking it is a "treat" added to their food...LOL).

My turkeys eat 20% protien fermented food. Same as all my flocks. Occasional treats are unsalted peanuts. Grit and oyster shell on the side. This will be my first year for turkey eggs (I HOPE).

We are also feeding a 20% protein, with the addition of sprouted wheat, silage (made from our overripe sweet corn and stalks), buckwheat, and romaine lettuce, all organic or grown by us, with grit and oyster shell on the side. We had good success last year with this feeding regimen as well.

 

[CherMoz]

CherMoz I get the turkey delight at the farmers co-op it is a mix of seed and cracked corn for 11.00 for a 50# bag. TSC has a wild bird seed that is close with out the corn for 10.00.
Here people put the turkey delight out for hunting fields.

Thanks chickadoodles. Does the Turkey Delight have a list of the seeds used in the mix. I have the room to grow a lot of stuff and would like to save on feed costs.

 

[chickadoodles]

CherMorz I will have to wait till I get some more to read you the tag. We dump our feed into metal trash cans with locking lids to keep the mice and rats out. As my feed room is in the pasture by the coop and pens.

My gamebird starter/grower is 27% protein and that is what I have read that turkey need to grow. I have read several articles Mr. Frank Reese has wrote on raising turkey and I try to go by it.

 

[AmericanMom]

One day shy of 9 months old and I walked out to the run to find one of my BR turkey hens wondering around by herself.. I thought it odd as the other hen and Tom were out foraging on the property, Stood there and watched her for a bit and realized I have seen that behavior before. Last week in anticipation for the coming Turkey eggs next month I had placed out old chick brooder under some tree's and covered it, it has a hinged lid. I watched her go in and scratch around for a bit then come out and walk around... I decided it was time to make it look more inviting so I went and grabbed more hay and a fake large egg I found at a second hand store.. Made it cozy and in she went, plopped herself down on that nest and after 30 min is still there... Dare I hope my girl is going to give me an egg a month before I expected it?

 

[AmericanMom]

One day shy of 9 months old and I walked out to the run to find one of my BR turkey hens wondering around by herself.. I thought it odd as the other hen and Tom were out foraging on the property, Stood there and watched her for a bit and realized I have seen that behavior before. Last week in anticipation for the coming Turkey eggs next month I had placed out old chick brooder under some tree's and covered it, it has a hinged lid. I watched her go in and scratch around for a bit then come out and walk around... I decided it was time to make it look more inviting so I went and grabbed more hay and a fake large egg I found at a second hand store.. Made it cozy and in she went, plopped herself down on that nest and after 30 min is still there... Dare I hope my girl is going to give me an egg a month before I expected it?

Yay!!! First one!

 

[chicken pickin]

Yay!!! First one!

Congrats!!! First eggs are ALWAYS SUPER EXCITING!!!

 

[chickadoodles]

Congrats AmericanMom how eggciting for you!!!

 

[AmericanMom]

Busy day.. First Turkey egg! I cant believe so long ago when I posted on this thread my desire for Turkeys that I would finally be here today...so super excited... Will crack it open later to see if it is fertile, have watched the Tom get jiggy with the hens but not expecting it to be fertile ....yet...

Two incubators full of chicken eggs, 1st one in lockdown with 4 pips, second one just on day one.... Two of my pullets have started laying, found their nest in the rabbit house, in the hay bin

Going to have to teach these ladies where the main coop is...

Been an exciting day for sure!

 

[chickadoodles]

Congrats!

This will be my third year with poultry and yet last year after raising up so many turkey I never got a egg. This year so far I have 3 hens that have started laying so far still waiting on the others. So very exciting! I have my bator so full that I can't squeeze another one in there. lol