Turkey Talk for 2014

[feedman77]

I official got my first egg out of my pen of royal palms today.

 

[feedman77]

 I'm in TX.  All I can say is, that boy is huge.  My 6 hens are calling him constantly.  I don't have a tom and those girls are desperate.  I should probably sell them to someone with a tom.  I do have eggs ordered from Country Hatchery.  I could start over with better stock. decisions, decisions.  

any chance you could let them out a have a traveling boyfriend.

 

[gevshiba]

any chance you could let them out a have a traveling boyfriend.

It has crossed my mind. But my luck, I'd lose a hen. However, if I find it is a turkey breaking eggs on purpose, she might be volunteered. No broken eggs today except the one laid on the roost.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have had it with the one splash Jake!

He is on the short list for freezer camp! He jumped me when I was watering the chickens today. I had him by the net and he wigged away. He is the biggest prettiest Jake from last year. He has finally made me not regret his day of reckoning.

I have some things to do and the weather is a tad chilly here today, but the first sunny day he is a goner. I have never had a bird I wanted gone so badly...

That said, I will regret having to do in the other 2 with him. I wanted more size on them before I processed.

What age do those of you with slate blues send yours to freezer camp?

 

[JJSS89]

I'm in TX. All I can say is, that boy is huge. My 6 hens are calling him constantly. I don't have a tom and those girls are desperate. I should probably sell them to someone with a tom. I do have eggs ordered from Country Hatchery. I could start over with better stock. decisions, decisions.

Does Texas even have Easterns? Not that I am aware of. I thought they had mainly Rios, a few Merriams in the West.

You'd have some dang flighty birds if they were crossed with him

 

[desertmarcy]

I have had it with the one splash Jake!

He is on the short list for freezer camp! He jumped me when I was watering the chickens today. I had him by the net and he wigged away. He is the biggest prettiest Jake from last year. He has finally made me not regret his day of reckoning.

I have some things to do and the weather is a tad chilly here today, but the first sunny day he is a goner. I have never had a bird I wanted gone so badly...

That said, I will regret having to do in the other 2 with him. I wanted more size on them before I processed.

What age do those of you with slate blues send yours to freezer camp?

Having a big bird do that is no fun and can cause some serious damage to you. I have heard people tell about turkeys that act like aggressive roosters can, but luckily

I have never had a mean tom turkey. And I have about 14 toms right now. But if I did have one jump at me like that, I'd do the same thing you are doing, no questions asked.

With my heritage turkeys, I consider 6 months minimum to butcher. I don't free range and they get a good organic commercial feed. I guess free ranging, they might need more time to get up to weight? I have butchered at 7-8 months and that is a bit better. But under 6, there is just not enough meat on them yet. I have slates and a lot of other varieties as well.

Why do you have to do in the other 2 at the same time?

 

[WalnutHill]

I have had it with the one splash Jake!

He is on the short list for freezer camp! He jumped me when I was watering the chickens today. I had him by the net and he wigged away. He is the biggest prettiest Jake from last year. He has finally made me not regret his day of reckoning.

I have some things to do and the weather is a tad chilly here today, but the first sunny day he is a goner. I have never had a bird I wanted gone so badly...

That said, I will regret having to do in the other 2 with him. I wanted more size on them before I processed.

What age do those of you with slate blues send yours to freezer camp?

I process mine at 26 to 28 weeks. I'd like to hear how old they can be and still be great roaster fare.

 

[gevshiba]

Does Texas even have Easterns? Not that I am aware of. I thought they had mainly Rios, a few Merriams in the West.

You'd have some dang flighty birds if they were crossed with him

My first turkeys were Eastern. I got them from someone I knew. They were pretty flighty.

I think we do have Easterns. At least in this area. But I could be wrong. I've been known to be wrong a time or two.

 

[duluthralphie]

Having a big bird do that is no fun and can cause some serious damage to you. I have heard people tell about turkeys that act like aggressive roosters can, but luckily

I have never had a mean tom turkey. And I have about 14 toms right now. But if I did have one jump at me like that, I'd do the same thing you are doing, no questions asked.

With my heritage turkeys, I consider 6 months minimum to butcher. I don't free range and they get a good organic commercial feed. I guess free ranging, they might need more time to get up to weight? I have butchered at 7-8 months and that is a bit better. But under 6, there is just not enough meat on them yet. I have slates and a lot of other varieties as well.

Why do you have to do in the other 2 at the same time?

I guess I would not have to do the other two at the same time. but if I am heating water, pulling out the plucker and al the rest I might as well make the mess once as several times.

These birds were hatched in May but they really do not look like they have a lot of meat on them.

 

[desertmarcy]

I guess I would not have to do the other two at the same time. but if I am heating water, pulling out the plucker and al the rest I might as well make the mess once as several times.

These birds were hatched in May but they really do not look like they have a lot of meat on them.

Oh, I totally understand. It is a lot of work to get all set up and clean up. I don't like butchering less than 5 birds at a time myself, 10 is better. If they are May hatch, they should be plenty finished unless they have been wormy and not putting on weight because of that.