Turkeys For 2013

[Arielle]

Quote: I'm with you Kuntrygirl--tilapia is a staple in my house. As long as the fish is not the poo itself, I'm good.

 

[Arielle]

First of all, I have never known of any poultry that will break a good egg. It is the job of a bird, to eat any broken eggs and shells that are cracked or broken, so that predators will not be attracted to their nests. I have fed eggs back to my chickens, ducks, turkeys and if there is any, that are not cracked or broken, they will not break and eat it. Every broken or cracked egg will quickly be eaten up. If a chicken accidentally, breaks an egg, she/he is clumsy, overcrowded with too many eggs in the nest, or the eggs have too soft of a shell for the chicken's weight. In most cases, the egg yolk will also get onto other eggs in the nest. I have heard people say not to feed raw eggs or eggshells to chickens, either. I saw hogwash! I bet lots of chickens will end up with koolade becks, because they will all join in when an egg breaks!

I know catfish are bottom feeders and eat all the dead things that sink to the bottom of the water. They clean up the water of waste and filth, just like Shrimp, Crabs and crawfish. Oysters are the water filters and also consume the filth. I did not know that Tilapia was also in this category, but I do know that not all fish sold in groceries are the type they say they are. The TV news had a special about this not long ago!

I am working on an experiment to try to tell the sex of very young turkeys, that is going along well, but is not far enough along to comment on it yet. With many breeds, you have tells regarding color and edgings of the feathers, but in all white feathered turkeys, it is not so easy! So far the first 4 turkeys banned has been 100 % correctly sexed, but like I said, more poults have to be banded, before any accurate results are known! When I am reasonably sure I can tell at a day or a week, all will be revealed!

Celie-- you are absolutely right-- and a voice of reason. I love fish, shell fish, catfish etc. Many that filter or clean up. ANd they taste great.

I have a hen that is breaking eggs. I caught her today. We had it down to the two look alike sisters and I caught her today, breaking and eating. I have noticed a number of eggs are rather thin shelled and perhaps she is targetting those. I give them layer but maybe a few are out and about foraging too much and need a calcium source. What do you think? ( these are chickens and I didn't have a problem until 2-3 weeks ago)

Eager to know the sexing secrets.

 

[Sally8]

I'm not a big fish eater. When I was a young girl, we ate fish rarely. Living on a beef farm, well, we ate mostly beef. When we would have fish my father would totally dissect the fish, looking for bones. It was unappetizing to say the least. Last year we vacationed in Maine, DH ate Lobster as often as he could. I'm just not a fish eater.

 

[Arielle]

I'm not a big fish eater. When I was a young girl, we ate fish rarely. Living on a beef farm, well, we ate mostly beef. When we would have fish my father would totally dissect the fish, looking for bones. It was unappetizing to say the least. Last year we vacationed in Maine, DH ate Lobster as often as he could. I'm just not a fish eater.

I grew up coastal Maine-- lots of fish there!! If I was limited to ONE meat is would be beef. I never tire of it. We raise a lot of lamb and chicken now though, so we eat a lot of lamb and chicken. Oh, and TURKEY!!

Overall, I do like variety.

 

[chicks and hens2]

Whats that saying ...You are what you eat, Just sayin'. Just joking with ya but, really that 's why I try not to eat store bought eggs and limit my meat consumption with all the junk they are fed to get them to weigh more at a quicker pace. etc...., Shellfish mmm I like the shrimp, Prawns etc, except when they get that Iodine taste yuck!!! I don't eat much meat though.

Guess I'm wondering why people want to feed their poultry meat or fish, is it to boost their protein intake 'cause I thought too high of protein wasn't good for them (chickens anyway)

 

[Sally8]

Whats that saying ...You are what you eat, Just sayin'. Just joking with ya but, really that 's why I try not to eat store bought eggs and limit my meat consumption with all the junk they are fed to get them to weigh more at a quicker pace. etc...., Shellfish mmm I like the shrimp, Prawns etc, except when they get that Iodine taste yuck!!! I don't eat much meat though.

Guess I'm wondering why people want to feed their poultry meat or fish, is it to boost their protein intake 'cause I thought too high of protein wasn't good for them (chickens anyway)

I've heard that too and I've always wondered. If we are what we eat, then that creates a wide opening of jokes!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Still here reading the thread, wonderful information and so many amazing pictures! I had bought 20 BBW's for my first try at turkeys this year. Oh my, they are just little sweeties! Love neck rubs, and one little tom is already displaying at 3 weeks old

Looking ahead to heritage and can't make up my mind. I do like the Holland's, I want a large bird. But i also love the colors. Porters birds are very attractive.

I don't want a hatchery bird either, but they have so many choices... ugh. Decisions.... I want a flavorful bird that's cold/heat hardy, friendly and colorful. (Don't we all!) I do know we will be raising turkeys from now on, what sweet little souls and so social! I love the new sounds I hear them make, their voices change daily. My youngest, who is 20 and "all girl" even likes them, that's quite a challenge. She told me last night "its weird. they follow me." I told her they trust her and just want to be friendly.So she plopped down in the grass, and they perched all over her! She didn't even care that one pooped on her shoe!

There is hope for my girly girl yet

 

[Sally8]

Still here reading the thread, wonderful information and so many amazing pictures! I had bought 20 BBW's for my first try at turkeys this year. Oh my, they are just little sweeties! Love neck rubs, and one little tom is already displaying at 3 weeks old

Looking ahead to heritage and can't make up my mind. I do like the Holland's, I want a large bird. But i also love the colors. Porters birds are very attractive.

I don't want a hatchery bird either, but they have so many choices... ugh. Decisions.... I want a flavorful bird that's cold/heat hardy, friendly and colorful. (Don't we all!) I do know we will be raising turkeys from now on, what sweet little souls and so social! I love the new sounds I hear them make, their voices change daily. My youngest, who is 20 and "all girl" even likes them, that's quite a challenge. She told me last night "its weird. they follow me." I told her they trust her and just want to be friendly.So she plopped down in the grass, and they perched all over her! She didn't even care that one pooped on her shoe!

There is hope for my girly girl yet

 

[chicken pickin]

I was curious for those of you who have raised BBWs and other heritage birds, I loved the personalities of my BBWs they were my favorite and even though I tried not to bond with them they made it very difficult. My Bourbons are nice too but I was looking to add another type of turkey with a calmer laid back sweet personality. I like the look of the white turkeys how do a midget white or a holland compare in personality, or maybe a royal palm?

 

[redneck farmer]

My turkey is repeatedly pooping out just pure water u guess- its a classic poop but its clear like water... He's eating an drinking but drinking ALOT