Turkeys For 2013

[joshm97]

T

What color was your son waring? My turkeys only go after me if I ware blue red or any violet. He might of just thought your son was another Tom trying to steal his hens...

I had heard that before, thanks for reminding me. I think Chris had a softer blue t shirt on. Before I do anything, we'll experiment. Problem is will I ever trust him around the kids. My 5 yr old grandson is all boy and even tho he might be at fault. ............ I will add that at those ages, I never leave them outside unattended nor will I let them torment the birds. Thank you again.

that might explain it. I know what u mean... Just a hint if you to. Starts making a loud trilling noise or a very soft purr( check out fighting purr sounds) then that's the time to make sure no colors are showing.

 

[RockerHen]

My first batch of chicks (fathered by my tom who was killed) are underway in earnest. One is out, one is mostly out, and the other two are pipping and beginning to zip. The one that is out is solid yellow, and so cute. Mama chicken hen is very proud.
Also, my royal palm hen has been on her nest of 11 eggs almost all day, I think she's made the decision to be broody!

 

[chicken pickin]

I have my first batch of BR turkey eggs in lockdown now. They are on day 26 hatch day should be Sun

 

[Zootopia]

It's a sad day at my house. A while back we were talking about whether or not tom's were aggressive. Tonight my Tom "Chuck" came at my son. He took his foot and pushed Chuck back until DS could get out of the fence. My son is 36 but I have a 5 yr old grandson and twin 3 yr old grand daughters. "Chuck" is going to have to go. I will never take chances with my babes. DH had said a while back that he was acting funny. I am not "close" with any of my birds but that doesn't mean that I can't have a soft spot.

I have a RP tom that can be pushy, especially this time of year. I also have a now 4 yr old grandson. Last year they were eye to eye and grandson was kinda scared of all the turkeys. I taught him that any time the birds approached him it was because they wanted food and thought he might have the bread treats he often feeds them. That helped him not to be as afraid then I showed him if he reached for them they would walk away. (Except FatSue who likes to be petted) this made grandson feel like he was in control and the tom really does back off if you reach out to touch him. We don't have any issue with the free range roos cause they are BJG, never had one I couldn't trust, even with the kids sitting in the dirt. The turkeys, well the toms anyway are all in the back pasture, to big to go over or under the gates. The hens pretty much go where they want.

 

[Sally8]

Chuck has never made any aggressive movements towards me. I'm going to sound silly but whenever my husband gets hear the hen, she squats, but not for me. I've always wondered if they could tell genders. lol Rosie cannot be contained so at bedtime when I make sure everyone is in, sometimes I'll just pick her up and carry her back to the coop. Chuck will follow me anywhere if I'm carrying Rosie.

My son is really pushing me to get rid of Chuck because of the kids but since he is the only one Chuck feels is competition, I don't feel compelled to just yet. Am I just kidding myself? I was 12 before I was flogged the first time by a turkey. lol

I've had 12 eggs hatch and as I said, Chuck is a Bronze/Royal Palm mix and Rosie is Royal Palm. I'll try to download a picture but the markings on the feathers of the offspring is different. I get many more light ones than colored. It's amazing. I still have over 2 doz in the incubator and Rosie's still laying.

 

[chicken pickin]

Your turkeys sound wonderful(minus chucks new behavior) His behavior sounds similar to my last Toms behavior, he became Easter dinner. Do you have a fence you can keep them penned up when you have company or your grand kids are over? And I dont think turkeys can tell gender, my hen squats for me 50 times a day. Im tripping over her constantly lol. As I walk she runs ahead of me squats infont of my feet I walk past her she gets up runs infront of me squats in front of my feet and this behavior repeats over and over. She also squats for my DH but not the Toms. I feel mean, we have trick mated her twice, when she was squating for me I quickly moved and a Tom moved in so I blocked the other tom so he doesnt try to knock the first tom off the hen

 

[Sally8]

Your turkeys sound wonderful(minus chucks new behavior) His behavior sounds similar to my last Toms behavior, he became Easter dinner. Do you have a fence you can keep them penned up when you have company or your grand kids are over? And I dont think turkeys can tell gender, my hen squats for me 50 times a day. Im tripping over her constantly lol. As I walk she runs ahead of me squats infont of my feet I walk past her she gets up runs infront of me squats in front of my feet and this behavior repeats over and over. She also squats for my DH but not the Toms. I feel mean, we have trick mated her twice, when she was squating for me I quickly moved and a Tom moved in so I blocked the other tom so he doesnt try to knock the first tom off the hen

Yes, they are in a pen. I always keep them penned unless I'm right outside. Chuck's way too big to fly over. Thanks. sue

 

[frank53061]

I have Red Bourbons and 6 Hens 4 Toms 2 Hens and 2 Toms more than I need.
So far being the first mating and egg laying year I have not had any aggressive moves towards me or My Kids 18 and 19 years old.
Its pretty Funny what the Toms do tho if I am cleaning out the coop and feel something brushing my legs its those Toms displaying and they will be all gathered around my legs seeing who can get my attention

The Toms right now are as ugly as they could get with there bare chest no feathers and there heads scabbed up from all the battling they have been doing it seems to be slowing down lately.
I have Holland whites & Red Bourbon Turkey Eggs soon to come out

as well as some Duck eggs.
I am to remove the egg Turner Monday and the Hatch date will be 3 days latter so Celie if your Reading this I will let you know how things develop.

The Temps here at night are out of the norm 50s and 60s at night to around freezing I keep moving the Chicks I ordered from Cackle Hatchery back and forth from the bath tub brooder inside to the to the Heated coop slash brooder out side I am not taking any chances.
Those Chicks travel so much I may have to get them travel Visas

.

 

[TexasLisa]

I have Red Bourbons and 6 Hens 4 Toms 2 Hens and 2 Toms more than I need.
So far being the first mating and egg laying year I have not had any aggressive moves towards me or My Kids 18 and 19 years old.
Its pretty Funny what the Toms do tho if I am cleaning out the coop and feel something brushing my legs its those Toms displaying and they will be all gathered around my legs seeing who can get my attention

The Toms right now are as ugly as they could get with there bare chest no feathers and there heads scabbed up from all the battling they have been doing it seems to be slowing down lately.
I have Holland whites & Red Bourbon Turkey Eggs soon to come out

as well as some Duck eggs.
I am to remove the egg Turner Monday and the Hatch date will be 3 days latter so Celie if your Reading this I will let you know how things develop.

The Temps here at night are out of the norm 50s and 60s at night to around freezing I keep moving the Chicks I ordered from Cackle Hatchery back and forth from the bath tub brooder inside to the to the Heated coop slash brooder out side I am not taking any chances.
Those Chicks travel so much I may have to get them travel Visas

.

Good Morning!

I just ordered 6 Red Bourbon eggs from Arielle along with 12 Speckled Sussex eggs. This will be my first attempt using the incubator (Genesis 1588) and having baby poults/chicks. I am trying to get everything ready for the eggs. I ran the incubator 24 hours dry and it held the temperature at 100 degrees. I ran it the next 24 hours with water. Humidity held at 53 and the temp held steady.

When and if they hatch, I plan on putting all of them together in a brooding pen. I haven't figured out what my brooder is just yet. I have 20+ days to figure that one. I have considered a round swimming pool in the small bathroom to a cardboard box.

Needless to say, I am nervous, excited, and thinking 'what have I done?'

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Lisa

 

[dennisthe]

I make my own beer and I have been giving the wet leftover grain to my chickens for years I had two bronze turkeys that were 3 weeks old I gave them some grain they died in 15 minutes I didn't know it would hurt them I gave them a couple of tablespoons of grain