Turkey Talk for 2014

[feedman77]

I think Two batches might be all I can handle.What would I do if I couldn't sell them or worse yet couldn't give them away.Its hard here.I have a hard time selling chicken eggs at 2.00 a dozen. I have very nice eggs and feed non-GMO feed. They all want them when I give them away but wont pay 2.00 for them. I cant figure that one out.

Two batches. If figure out how to stop at that let me know please. I have about 70 in the bator. I have 6 broodys setting on at least that many eggs. If and when they hatch I'm gonna put up a few for sale fliers. Try an ad on craigslist and if they don't sell there. I have 3 small animal auctions within 30 minutes of my home so any left will go there.

 

[marchick]

Two batches. If figure out how to stop at that let me know please. I have about 70 in the bator. I have 6 broodys setting on at least that many eggs. If and when they hatch I'm gonna put up a few for sale fliers. Try an ad on craigslist and if they don't sell there. I have 3 small animal auctions within 30 minutes of my home so any left will go there.

I will see how many I am stuck with.That will put an end to it real quick! I am thinking of waiting till they are about three weeks of age so they have a little better odds. I have no Idea of how much they sell for. Any idea?

 

[feedman77]

A lot will depend on the variety people in you area want.

I paid 12 dollars a piece for bourbon red poults last year and guy I bought from had a waiting list for more than he could hatch. He sold as day olds.

The blue slates I bought for 6 a piece cause they had no calls for them.

I'm gonna start a 8 dollars a poult. If sell them out at that might go up. If not can come down.

There were some a craigslist about 2 weeks ago 6 dollars each were gone in 45 minutes.

 

[marchick]

A lot will depend on the variety people in you area want.

I paid 12 dollars a piece for bourbon red poults last year and guy I bought from had a waiting list for more than he could hatch. He sold as day olds.

The blue slates I bought for 6 a piece cause they had no calls for them.

I'm gonna start a 8 dollars a poult. If sell them out at that might go up. If not can come down.

There were some a craigslist about 2 weeks ago 6 dollars each were gone in 45 minutes.

o.k. thanks! Is this your first time hatching turkey eggs? What kind of bator do you have?

 

[feedman77]

o.k. thanks! Is this your first time hatching turkey eggs? What kind of bator do you have?

Hatched a few late last year.
I have 3 incubators. Brinsea 20 adv. 1588 genesis. And reptipro 6000.

1st batch in 1588. So far I like it. Time will tell.

Octagon 20 have had best results with.

Reptipto 6000 is alright but it seems to give me fits still figuring it out.

If I keep flock about where it Is and have decent results selling poults and chicks. Probsbly gonna sell all these and get a dickey or gqf cabinet incubator.

 

[marchick]

Hatched a few late last year.
I have 3 incubators. Brinsea 20 adv. 1588 genesis. And reptipro 6000.

1st batch in 1588. So far I like it. Time will tell.

Octagon 20 have had best results with.

Reptipto 6000 is alright but it seems to give me fits still figuring it out.

If I keep flock about where it Is and have decent results selling poults and chicks. Probsbly gonna sell all these and get a dickey or gqf cabinet incubator.

I have the 1588 but have just hatched one batch last year.Let me know how your hatch turns out in it.

 

[desertmarcy]

desertmarcy I really like your turkey nest boxes. I on the other hand used some old tires and filled them with straw and the girls like them.

I tried an old tire filled with mulch, with fake ceramic eggs, in one pen and the hens would not use it.

 

[desertmarcy]

Very nice nest boxes! So your hens prefer community nesting?

They will community nest. I think the hatch rate might decrease with them all crowded in there like that, though. Don't really care, I hatch what I want in my incubator. I just give them eggs to hatch because otherwise they will just sit and sit and wear themselves out trying to hatch nothing.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Last year my girls laid from March to October. The year before they laid April to August. This year they started in March. I take all eggs every day, but a few hens still tried to collect chicken eggs to brood

Do some varieties lay more or longer than others, or does it just depend on the hen? Our 2 Midget White hens have been laying since the beginning of January. So far I set 84 of their eggs and some were too frozen to set, so they actually laid more, probably over 100. One hen definitely lays more than the other one, at least 2 or 3 for every one from the other one. I think her eggs hatch better too.

 The 2 black mottled hens started toward the end of Jan and laid a lot less, I believe only one of them has laid at all. They are pretty and friendly, but not pulling their weight in the egg department, LOL.

Lots of factors come into play. Local wrather, additional lighting, nutrition, number of birds in the flock, age of hens, health, parasites...plus the individual hen herself. Mine begin laying earlier when I add lights to the coop. They slack & want to brood when it gets real hot, then go back to laying until weather cools again. Every hen lays differently. You just have to get to know your birds.

Last year my girls laid from March to October. The year before they laid April to August. This year they started in March. I take all eggs every day, but a few hens still tried to collect chicken eggs to brood

I think Two batches might be all I can handle.What would I do if I couldn't sell them or worse yet couldn't give them away.Its hard here.I have a hard time selling chicken eggs at 2.00 a dozen. I have very nice eggs and feed non-GMO feed. They all want them when I give them away but wont pay 2.00 for them. I cant figure that one out.

My heritage poults sell for $15 each at hatch & people rarely bat an eye at my prices. Heritage are hard to get in my area. I hatch every poult I can & never have trouble selling them. I usually have a waiting list.

 

[marchick]

Lots of factors come into play. Local wrather, additional lighting, nutrition, number of birds in the flock, age of hens, health, parasites...plus the individual hen herself. Mine begin laying earlier when I add lights to the coop. They slack & want to brood when it gets real hot, then go back to laying until weather cools again. Every hen lays differently. You just have to get to know your birds.
My heritage poults sell for $15 each at hatch & people rarely bat an eye at my prices. Heritage are hard to get in my area. I hatch every poult I can & never have trouble selling them. I usually have a waiting list.

I am thinking of selling them at day old. Just because it doesn't take me long to bond with them and not want to let them go.I know thats wierd!