Turkeys For 2013

[Minniechickmama]

Up until this year I always had bronze - I didn't think the whites were very attractive to live with. I always started out with 15 birds, but lost a third to half of my flock to raccoons. This year, I raised a few whites and three Bourbons for a total of 15, and lost none of them: I was turkey rich.
The Bourbons were my favorite to have around. They jumped, flew and got into more mischief than all the others - I liked having them around. I had to tell guests to park down the driveway a bit because the goofy Bourbons might jump on their car or truck. The only issue I had with the Bourbons is that they don't get very large in the short time I keep them - one hen was only six pounds dressed. I was tempted to keep the bourbons over winter, but I don't have adequate housing for them for our harsh winters.
Next year I might go heavier on the whites, but fewer in total. I gave away 8 turkeys this year, so those people will likely want one next year. The problem is I have a bit over $800.00 invested in them when all is said and done, so I may have to say no to a few people if I raise fewer. Fortunately I have six months or so to decide.
I like having a variety of critters running about the yard. The variety makes summer much more enjoyable for me.

I just started reading through this thread, but had to stop when I read what you said about keeping turkeys in the harsh northern weather. I have had turkeys since last year. Last winter I gave the dummies a coop to go into and they preferred to be out no matter what the weather, and my ducks are the same way. I have a trio of Beltsvilles right now and they roost outside on top of the runs and are out all of the time. I hardly ever find them inside the coop. So, I don't think our winters are too harsh that turkeys will struggle unless they are whimpy birds to begin with.
Just sayin'.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I'm in Massachusetts, and I have found the turkeys to do just fine. Only about a year and a half into turkeys but they seem to do ok.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Last winter, when it was below zero and the wind blowing, I still had to go out and put my two turkeys into their run. I also had to do it when it was freezing on rain and sleet and absolutely miserable for us humans. I finally quite putting them in after a while because I figured I was doing it for me and not them, really. They tuck their heads under their wings and hold on. They never got frostbite or anything. I butchered the tom last Spring and we had him for dinner. I sold the hen to a lady who came for chicken eggs and needed a turkey hen. Funny though, the tom must have been depressed, he started losing weight right after that so I had him processed. Here processing costs $15 at one place that does the full works with the shrink wrap and weights marked on the package. I think this next year I am going to be looking to do my own, but I have a guy who will do them for about $5 each but I have to do the final cleaning up and wrapping. I don't mind for that price. He does my chickens for $1.50 each too.

 

[Minniechickmama]

The girls are up to their old tricks again. Looks like they have been laying eggs a while. I was the only dummy who didn't know it.
Found 2 dozen eggs in a bush in the front yard. This is their same spot as last year.

What's that about fool me once....? LOL I have a hen two summers ago who laid 24 eggs in a corner of the granary. I didn't even know she was laying as she was my only white egger, until my son and hubby went in to get a piece of equipment out and found her in there on a pile.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Last summer I had a bowl of eggs marked , open one at a time . . .

 

[Minniechickmama]

Last summer I had a bowl of eggs marked , open one at a time . . .

If I don't know how old they are, I toss them. There are few things worse than opening a rotting egg. Of course, if one is that bad, you can smell it even before cracking. Or did you mean so that no chicks or poults are inside? That would be a nasty surprise for someone to buy eggs from us then get a partially formed chick. I fear that would send them away from fresh eggs for some time. LOL!

 

[bayvistafarm]

Hello! I haven't read all thru this thread.... one, because I have too much to do right now. My palms are hatching poults... I have snagged 3 already and put them in the brooder box, as its -5C or about 23 F.... and blowing, snowing, just plain miserable. AND two hens are brooding/hatching. The Tom still tries to mount them (while they are brooding, the pig, lol), and a couple guinea fowl and 5 chickens (a roo in there), can get in and out of the pen thru the gate bars to eat and drink. Poults running around in there would be mashed/and eaten, not likely in that order either. So.... to get to my REAL question, because I can't seem to find a store with turkey starter available, can I grind up some turkey grower finer, and get that into them while I keep looking? I have abit of that left from raising the guineas. Well... I guess I will be using that for now.. just hope it doesn't kill them, if the weather doesn't. Thanks in advance! (ps. it is medicated feed).

 

[kuntrygirl]

The girls are up to their old tricks again. Looks like they have been laying eggs a while. I was the only dummy who didn't know it. Found 2 dozen eggs in a bush in the front yard. This is their same spot as last year.

What's that about fool me once....? LOL I have a hen two summers ago who laid 24 eggs in a corner of the granary. I didn't even know she was laying as she was my only white egger, until my son and hubby went in to get a piece of equipment out and found her in there on a pile.

Yep and they tried to fool me TWICE!!! LOL

 

[kuntrygirl]

The girls are up to their old tricks again. Looks like they have been laying eggs a while. I was the only dummy who didn't know it. Found 2 dozen eggs in a bush in the front yard. This is their same spot as last year.

What's that about fool me once....? LOL I have a hen two summers ago who laid 24 eggs in a corner of the granary. I didn't even know she was laying as she was my only white egger, until my son and hubby went in to get a piece of equipment out and found her in there on a pile.

Last summer I had a bowl of eggs marked , open one at a time . . . :/

Oh yea, I did the open one at a time thing. It was pretty smelly.

 

[Celie]

You can check to see how old an egg is easier than that. If you put an egg in just plain clean water, like a kitchen sink of water, a fresh egg will sink to the bottom and lay on it's side, an old egg will float and the ones laid in between, will be, well, in between! That's what I do to check eggs I find hidden like that, as soon as I find them. If any even stand on their end, upright in the water, I just feed them back to the chickens.

The floaters, I bury in the compost pile, so they don't get broken and stink! Stinkers, as I call them, really do smell quite awful !!!