turkey weight

[ScoobyRoo]

When my DH and son gets home from football practice I will have them weigh our tom. I am curious about the weight now.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Henry'schickens :

Can I impose??? I bought BB back in late March (makes him almost 5mos.) and my tom sure is a big boy. I do need to take the scale out and have my son weigh him. I question whether he HAS to be a meal? Will he survive as a pet? My DD would love to hope so. I thought that their bodies will not endure that weight for too long. How long could we keep him as a pet? They free range most of the time and they are on flock raiser. And.....he can not fly up to roost as my BR's and BS.

BB types aren't known for a long life, the legs can't support the body weight, and they haven't been bred for longevity only rapid weight gain.

Steve in NC​

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Quote:
BB types aren't known for a long life, the legs can't support the body weight, and they haven't been bred for longevity only rapid weight gain.

Steve in NC

That is not what I wanted to know.

He weighed out at 22# (in 5 mos). Now that I got the not-so-good news,,,,,,,,,,,,when is the ideal time to do 'the deed'? I don't want to wait til it is too late.
Are you sure?????? He is neat to hang with and we adore him the most out of the 11 turkeys we have, next to the Bourbon Reds. Please give me some good news!

 

[turkeyman]

Steve is right. he may live longer if you let him get plenty of exercise and don't over feed him.

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

But still they must be bigger than "store bought" how about some pics. It should be very obvious to see yours would be larger thru your selective breeding and feeding methods.

What is store Bought ?? They are only 3 months old at the oldest. They look just like any other young turkey right now, turkeys don't put on good weight till the last 2 months of their lives.I will take pics of the oldest ones when they get back from the fair, probably on Monday or so, on the scale !!

I must have missed your weight postings ??​

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

What is store Bought ??

IE hatchery stock

They look just like any other young turkey right now

I figured that

I will take pics of the oldest ones when they get back from the fair, probably on Monday or so, on the scale !!

You can if you want but the weights on older birds have little interest for me. What I really want to see is the ones you are growing out for this Thanksgiving, it would be very interesting to see first hand the results of your breeding for weight gain program in the 6 to 7 month old time frame.

Steve in NC​

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

You can if you want but the weights on older birds have little interest for me. What I really want to see is the ones you are growing out for this Thanksgiving, it would be very interesting to see first hand the results of your breeding for weight gain program in the 6 to 7 month old time frame.

The biggest oldest T day birds are at the fair is what I meant. I have about 40 turkeys at the fair right now.

If you like to see the weights on a 6-7 month old turkey then you will need to wait till Nov. when they will be that old.​

 

[chickenannie]

Henry'schickens :

Quote:
BB types aren't known for a long life, the legs can't support the body weight, and they haven't been bred for longevity only rapid weight gain.

Steve in NC

That is not what I wanted to know.

He weighed out at 22# (in 5 mos). Now that I got the not-so-good news,,,,,,,,,,,,when is the ideal time to do 'the deed'? I don't want to wait til it is too late.
Are you sure?????? He is neat to hang with and we adore him the most out of the 11 turkeys we have, next to the Bourbon Reds. Please give me some good news!​

Some people do the deed before the turkey gets too big to fit in the oven. Some folks have stories here of not being able to fit a big bird in the oven at Thanksgiving.

It IS tough when you get attached to them. Just remember yours had a better life than most ones you buy at the grocery store.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Chickenannie----- I know it needs to be done

I didn't think about the oven part. My DD is not too happy either. A neighbor offered to buy him from us. He is such a neat turkey. We do have 2 BR's and some Black Spanish that are neat to have around too. It is just that he was our '1st' Tom turkey that we raised.