Turkeys For 2013

[Chaneys Ranch]

Just got through this thread. Lots of excellent information, huge thanks to the OP and those that shared! I have sure learned to not waste my time asking TSC or other farm stores advice on feeds. Got my BBW poults from Meyer last week, and called all 3 chains, TSC, RK and Orschlien we have here, not one word about the higher protein feed

So I got on here to research. Sure enough, chick starter is way too low. Thank you for the links and wealth of info on this thread! I am getting a trio of mini whites from a lady next week (friend of the family), so i feel much more confident in their proper care. She is "retiring" from keeping her flock so I will be getting most of what she has.

 

[Arielle]

This is what eggs I have gotten from my Red Bourbons in the picture I did not know there was such a difference in the colors.
If the weather would straighten up and stay warm for more than a day out of every 5.
Today it has snowed 5 days ago it was in the 70s what the heck.

Frank, these are gorgeous!! I too am surprized by the variety of colors. Very nice.

 

[Arielle]

Well, today I awoke to find my biggest, loveliest, most dominant tom dead in the yard. His head and breast were completely eaten, bones and all, and it looked like he was dragged a good way, so I think it was a fox or coyote. Poor boy, he usually roosted in the tree (they ignore the house we built for them) but his friend, our other tom, sometimes refused to roost and instead laid on the ground, so he would stay with him on the ground rather than leaving him. I think the fox or whatever it was simply snatched him off the ground. I usually chase them up into the tree when they do this, but last night I didn't. RIP big guy. What meat that was left (a good bit, the legs, etc) we salvaged for our dogs.



Later today, however, I found something which almost made me cry. My Royal Palm hen has been disappearing into a briar thicket the past few days, so I thought I would check it out. Lo and behold, there was a nest with 5 eggs. These eggs are what's left of the tom I lost; he was the one who always mated with the hen, and did not allow the other near her. So, if these hatch( I plan on collecting more if she lays more), I'll have a little piece of my tom to live on.

sorry you lost such a wonderful TOm-- praying the eggs hatch!!

 

[chicken pickin]

These are my eggs that I set this afternoon.

 

[chicken pickin]

sorry you lost such a wonderful TOm-- praying the eggs hatch!!

X2

 

[Arielle]

i got bronze turkeys and they are too young to lay any eggs

Welcome!! Are you planning on breeding them . . or other plans? I have a few that are pets and others that are dinner.

Quote: Good to know. Had to find county extension information for turkeys sometimes.

I would like to raise some turkeys this year. What do your turkey pens/coops look like?

I don't take many pictures, but no two are the same even here as we try to repurpose leftover materials. Larger versions of chicken houses. WIth larger roost closer to the ground.

I have some turkey poults. They are now three days old and I was wondering how do you sex a turkey? I should have asked this first and then went to buy them but I didn't. So far they are doing great. They are eating chick starter but I am giving them "treats" three times a day of scrambled egg, bugs (as I can catch them), and some mackerel (though not much of this). Should that be good enough or should I increase the protein amounts? If you want I can provide pictures of the three poults (which I am hoping for two hens and a tom but my luck is never that good).

Only a few breeds are sexable by color at a young age. The mysery continues for a long time. Perhaps someone already filled you in on this. . . . .

 

[RockerHen]

X2

sorry you lost such a wonderful TOm-- praying the eggs hatch!!

Thank you

I have broody hens on the eggs now, I'll keep everybody updated.

 

[Arielle]

Momma MW is finally setting her clutch! woo hoo

My Red Bourbons are laying 1 to 2 eggs a day that's 5 Hens and I found one Hen that may have been trying to be broody but just missed the mark.
I think I have some far sighted Turkey Hens twice now I have found a Hen I don't know if its the same one or not setting in the nesting area all fluffed up and being vocal about me taking her egg but there was no problem in taking it because she had missed the mark by a good foot in distance from setting on the egg and no other eggs were found.
I know they make glasses for Chickens but for Turkeys ?

I have 2 Toms that have no feathers on there chest because of all the mating.
Remember the 70s when some men would have there shirts unbuttoned and would have there gold chains on you know the John Travolta look I think I need to get my 2 Toms some bling and hang a disco ball in the Pen

These cold and dreary SPRING DAYS I need a good Smile from time to time I hope I could do the same for you.

Frank-- always like to hear from you!

Hi all, Ashandvine told me about this thread. I started reading it and realized I was never going to have time to get through all the posts before 2013 is up, so I'd better just jump in and say

This will be my 5th year keeping turkeys. I just love them! Guess I am a bit crazy when it comes to keeping turkeys since I ordered 3 more breeds from Porter. Bourbon Red, Pencilled Palm, and Lilac. I had the Bourbon Red before, those and Royal Palm were my first breeds. They were hatchery stock and I had a lot of trouble with the Bourbon Reds, so I gave up on them, but always liked them. I'm looking forward to getting some better ones from Kevin! Right now I'm breeding Narragansett (just have a pair), Royal Palm (from two bloodlines), Blue Slate and Lavender (Lavender tom over Blue Slate and Lavender hens) and Mottled Black (from Porter).

Rockerhen, one of my Royal Palm hens laid a big egg like that yesterday, but it had a toenail hole in it, so I cracked it into the frying pan for lunch today. It was a double yolker! This is the first turkey double yolker I've gotten. Yum, made a great fried egg sandwich

Welcome-- I bought 20 from Porters last summer-- doesn't seem like very many really. I particularly wanted the Auburns, which I am really liking so far, and got ALL toms, every surviving poult grew up to be a boy! Got lucky with a pair of Narrigansetts, and a trio of sweet grass. ANd I have 8 Bourbon red hens with plenty of toms to visit them !! ANd yes, I like eating turkey eggs too. Can't hatch them all! lol

Quote: What a nice momma hen !!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
He was so handsome! So fortunate that you found the eggs! So very sorry for your loss.

 

[Arielle]

Do the chicken treats article apply to turkeys cause I wanna give my poult some broccoli

In moderation . . . .variety is the healthiest route.

If anyone sells poults here, what do you charge for them. I have Royal Palm's and Royal Palm/Bronze crosses. I have lots of people wanting them but don't know what to charge. I was thinking $5.00. does that sound right?

I sold out of all my turkey poults at $15 each. For Bourbon Reds. Porters prices have gone up. Heritage birds are hard to find.

I need a 'how to raise your turkey poults from hatch to table" thread. Anyone have one? Momma is sitting firm, and so far she hasn't hissed much. The jake seems despondent to be alone but its easier on all of us this way. I might have poults from the incubator soon.... that thread? Anyone? I know they are fragile and I don't want to kill them out of stupidity.

Oh, and yey DesertMarcy! Arielle told me to come here and then I got you to come in... its a chain of turkey fans.

THey are not any more fragile then chicks. THey need a little more help finding the water and food so I hatch a chick or two to help them locate everything-- a turkey tutor. Otherwie they need the warmths of a heating source and prevent falling in water just like a chick. I rarely loose a poult. It happens , but no more than a chick.