Turkeys For 2013

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
OH no! Love me some tenderloins and ribs! Froze the bacon slabs for cooler weather to smoke them.

but he was a good size and did do a lot of sausage. We didn't do hams this time so used the ham cuts for sausage also. Will be raising 2-3 next time, we went thru that pork pretty fast.
Good for you!! WIsh I lived closer !! I love pork, but I love the little piggies too so I need to find someone to buy from at this point. I know my limitations with pigs! lol


I tried the breeding route, just not feasible yet, too expensive and very slow weight gain for heritage pigs. Went over a year for my Hereford and not a single pregnancy. Same with my Berks. I look at Craigslist for mine, I will not buy at an auction. Landrace or yorkshire seem to be the best breed for fast growth.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Not to change the subject, but we are often asked, how to tell the sex of turkey poults and young adults. These are the facts I believe to be true and if anyone would care to contribute to the list, please do. If I have something wrong, please correct me, since I do not want to spread incorrect information. This seams to be the number one question asked on the turkey threads !

1. All colored feathered turkey hens will have lighter edging on the breast features and toms will have darker edging.
2. Males will weigh more than females hatched at the same time and this will become more apparent as they grow older.
3. Toms will have thicker legs than hens.
4. Both can have beards, but toms will grow longer.
5. Toms have longer thicker snoods as they reach maturity.
6. Toms Chronicles will be bigger than hens and the heads and necks will be a darker red.
7. Toms will be bald, while hens will develop a thin line of feathers up the back of their heads.
8. If you can hold the bird on your lap, laying on it's back, at any age, if it holds it's feet up close to it's back, it is probably a hen, because it is a defensive position for a tom or a rooster, too,(for that , matter) to extend one or both legs. This, I find works from day old chicks or poults, with 94 degree accuracy.
9. Both will display when young, but by the age of sexual maturity, only toms gobble.

This year I have done my own research on how to tell the sex of very young poults and chicks before they are old enough for the above! I have used a couple hundred poults to test as I hatched out Holland White, Midget White and A few Bourbon Red Poults this year, with 94% accuracy!
10. If you can hold the bird on your lap, laying on it's back, at any age, if it holds it's feet up close to it's back, it is probably a hen. If it extends it's legs or even just one leg, you probably have a tom. This, I find works with day old chicks and poults and seams to be based of their natural defensive posture of male vs female responses in these birds. I thought someone else might benefit from my findings, too, so I thought I would share.


Arielle, this is the experiment I spoke to you about last winter, before I had enough research done to support my suspicions. Hope it helps!

WOW thank you

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
OH no! Love me some tenderloins and ribs! Froze the bacon slabs for cooler weather to smoke them.

but he was a good size and did do a lot of sausage. We didn't do hams this time so used the ham cuts for sausage also. Will be raising 2-3 next time, we went thru that pork pretty fast.
Good for you!! WIsh I lived closer !! I love pork, but I love the little piggies too so I need to find someone to buy from at this point. I know my limitations with pigs! lol


I tried the breeding route, just not feasible yet, too expensive and very slow weight gain for heritage pigs. Went over a year for my Hereford and not a single pregnancy. Same with my Berks. I look at Craigslist for mine, I will not buy at an auction. Landrace or yorkshire seem to be the best breed for fast growth.
I hear you. I"m not ready to deal with a boar-- I"m down siziing!! In many ways. A big boar is not to my liking once I really thought about the reality of a full size animal. I can deal with raising piglets, been there, but I would like a pastured situation this time.

I'm learning that some of our health problems as a natin are because of the grain only fed meats. THe arachadonic acid causes high blood presure for those people sensitive to it. THis is especially true of grain fed beeef and eggs from grain fed chickens. I'm looking to have some source of normal aa meats. ANd grazing does that. All grass fed is best. ( I do eat store meat too.)

WOuld like to buy from someone butchering their own and buy half a hog 1-2 times a year. THe Butcher is half the cost to sent it to a facility.

Can get piglets here for about 75-100$ each.

 

[chicken pickin]

I hear you. I"m not ready to deal with a boar-- I"m down siziing!! In many ways. A big boar is not to my liking once I really thought about the reality of a full size animal. I can deal with raising piglets, been there, but I would like a pastured situation this time.

I'm learning that some of our health problems as a natin are because of the grain only fed meats. THe arachadonic acid causes high blood presure for those people sensitive to it. THis is especially true of grain fed beeef and eggs from grain fed chickens. I'm looking to have some source of normal aa meats. ANd grazing does that. All grass fed is best. ( I do eat store meat too.)

WOuld like to buy from someone butchering their own and buy half a hog 1-2 times a year. THe Butcher is half the cost to sent it to a facility.

Can get piglets here for about 75-100$ each.

Im with you. DH and I have been seriously thinking about buying a pig off craigslist and have them butcher it for us. We already put chicken and turkey in the freezer why not pig too. Im also not ready to raise my own so we will look into buying from a farm every year.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Anyone have any new hatches?

 

[chicken pickin]

No new hatches for me yet. But I have first time broody turkey hens sitting on a clutch of eggs. I think around 12-15 eggs. Both hens seem to be sitting on them together. Im guessing hatch day will be early sept. Im trying to decide what to do with my Toms so they don't disturb the hens and their clutch...


edited to add pics

 

[chickadoodles]

I have 6 of Arielle's Red Bourbon eggs in my bator that are due to hatch on the 31st. This is only my second hatch so I am keeping my

 

[kuntrygirl]

No new hatches for me yet. But I have first time broody turkey hens sitting on a clutch of eggs. I think around 12-15 eggs. Both hens seem to be sitting on them together. Im guessing hatch day will be early sept. Im trying to decide what to do with my Toms so they don't disturb the hens and their clutch... edited to add pics

That is sooooooo exciting !!!!!! Beautiful birds ya got there.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have 6 of Arielle's Red Bourbon eggs in my bator that are due to hatch on the 31st. This is only my second hatch so I am keeping my

Sending good vibes your way. That is exciting. Keep us posted.

 

[chickadoodles]

chicken pickin
Love the pic! They are so beautiful! Good luck on their hatch!