Turkeys For 2013

[Celie]

This is some of the craziness that I see at my house. The duck was the first one to go broody and then the turkey hen decided to join the party. I hate to tell both of them but they are setting on goose eggs.

It will be a pleasant surprise when the babies hatch. And when the babies try to go for a swim, the turkey won't know what's going on.

Geese with 2 surrogate Mammas !!!!!

 

[r4eboxer]

This is some of the craziness that I see at my house. The duck was the first one to go broody and then the turkey hen decided to join the party. I hate to tell both of them but they are setting on goose eggs.

It will be a pleasant surprise when the babies hatch. And when the babies try to go for a swim, the turkey won't know what's going on.

That is the cutest, funniest thing I have EVER seen on BYC

 

[r4eboxer]

and now I have another question, If your turkeys go broody can't you still take the eggs from them? I have a RP that is in the box occasionally and hisses at me, I still take the eggs is she going to stop laying even though I'm taking her eggs, or is it a matter of incubator space to let them sit?

 

[kuntrygirl]

and now I have another question, If your turkeys go broody can't you still take the eggs from them? I have a RP that is in the box occasionally and hisses at me, I still take the eggs is she going to stop laying even though I'm taking her eggs, or is it a matter of incubator space to let them sit?

Sure you can take the eggs. Is your RP broody or just laying eggs in the box? She won't stop laying eggs until she decides that she wants to go broody. You can let her build up her clutch and see if she will go broody but then you have to hope that she does go broody. Because if not, you will have a heap of turkey eggs on your hand that you will need to incubate ASAP.

One of my girls went broody with only 1 egg under her. :/ So of course, you know that I had to put some goose eggs under her.

 

[r4eboxer]

Sure you can take the eggs. Is your RP broody or just laying eggs in the box? She won't stop laying eggs until she decides that she wants to go broody. You can let her build up her clutch and see if she will go broody but then you have to hope that she does go broody. Because if not, you will have a heap of turkey eggs on your hand that you will need to incubate ASAP.

One of my girls went broody with only 1 egg under her.

So of course, you know that I had to put some goose eggs under her.

I have lots of incubator space and I'm hoping to keep filling it. What I'm hoping is that even if they want to set on eggs and I keep taking them they will keep laying. I know chickens and geese will and I'm assuming Turkeys will but I've learned not to ***..u..me anything.

So funny that girl is sitting on goose eggs, she must think she is the queen with all those humongo eggs

 

[Sally8]

My hen went broody in February and I let her set on them for a couple weeks, then one day I saw that she had 18 eggs. So I took 6. She continued to set and lay eggs. Again I took 6. Setting went on and it was really cold. I noticed that she was off eggs for a long time so I took all but 3. Finally, I saw that she had stopped laying so I put 3 chicken eggs out there and the next day she had kicked them allover the coop. A week went by without her setting or laying. Again, she's laying and setting but I take her egg daily. (I saw her and the tom mating as I was concerned if the eggs would be fertile after all this) So far, I've got 9 poults and 3 more to hatch that I can see movement. 3 in the incubator are questionable and I have 6 or 8 ready to go in the incubator. She started setting and laying at the beginning of February. I should have left her alone. I think they would have hatched as I now hatch 1 this day, 2 a few days later, etc. That's crazy nonsense!

 

[joshm97]

The

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Hi joshm97, I live on the west coast near Seattle,WA, too far to ship when they do start laying.He had previously been the new guy on the block and could have been bullied by the "aggressive" Narrangansett I was warned not to turn my back on. The Jake is protective of his hens (what are they called if they are only in their first season of lay?) but he is not aggressive at all he just watches over them.  We thought if we gradually spent more time with them and build their trust we might be able to get them a little tamer.Is that possible to do?
Thanks for your response. The flock seemed much calmer today since they were able to range all day in the 45' x 25' garden area that is totally fenced in. We have a "movable "hoop coop" that my DH built and put it up again the gate so they could choose to get in out of the rain if they wanted.   
[/quote the females are called Jenny's when under one year and the males are called jakes. Older bird are toms and hens ( I think you will know which gender goes with what name) up here birds start laying from late march to may... And the wild bunch... Well they lay from April to July some times later

 

[joshm97]

Does anyone know what happens when chocolates crossbreed with blue slate Narragansett or bourbons

 

[kuntrygirl]

I received a call from a guy wanting to buy 1 of my Toms. He asked me if he bought my turkey would my turkey continue to look as good as he looks now in November (Thanksgiving). I asked him what is be planning on feeding him. He said chopped corn. I said, "No, he will not look good at all. He will lose a lot of weight and he will probably die". He asked why would he die. I explained that a turkey needs more than just corn to survive, have weight and look good. He asked me what did I fed my turkeys and I told him. He asked where could get the feed from and I told him but I get my feed from a store that is 60 miles away and I know this guy will not drive 60 miles for feed for a turkey. So, I gave him another option as far as what to buy at the local feed stores. He said that he would buy the feed for the turkey. Some how I don't believe that but who knows.

 

[Sally8]

I received a call from a guy wanting to buy 1 of my Toms. He asked me if he bought my turkey would my turkey continue to look as good as he looks now in November (Thanksgiving). I asked him what is be planning on feeding him. He said chopped corn. I said, "No, he will not look good at all. He will lose a lot of weight and he will probably die". He asked why would he die. I explained that a turkey needs more than just corn to survive, have weight and look good. He asked me what did I fed my turkeys and I told him. He asked where could get the feed from and I told him but I get my feed from a store that is 60 miles away and I know this guy will not drive 60 miles for feed for a turkey. So, I gave him another option as far as what to buy at the local feed stores. He said that he would buy the feed for the turkey. Some how I don't believe that but who knows.

That's what scares me most about selling mine. I read somewhere that they were considering putting together a care sheet to go with her poults. NOW, I know how she feels