Turkeys For 2013

[Arielle]

THe comparison was to eggs stored at 50-55 degrees. THe colder temps seem to do better at the longer storage time.

THe book is by Jan Stromburg-- I assume related to the Stromburgs. Lots of technical info on studies, though mostly commerical applications and not heritage birds and not turkeys. Great reading though. Very clear that health and nutrition of the hen is as vital as egg storage and handling before setting the eggs.

 

[uphilljill]

Quote:
One of the reasons I picked that breed is because I heard they were super friendly. That and we had one for Thanksgiving dinner and it was delish!

Just trying to decide if we should get poults from a neighboring farm, or hatching eggs. Leaning towards started poults, but my new incubator is calling to me.

 

[kuntrygirl]

We're planning on adding our first turkeys (Bourbon Reds) to our flock this year as well. Looking forward to learning more from all of you!

Oh, you will LOVE that breed. They are so cool to have. So tame and so beautiful. I'm excited for you. Please post pics when you get them.

One of the reasons I picked that breed is because I heard they were super friendly. That and we had one for Thanksgiving dinner and it was delish!

Just trying to decide if we should get poults from a neighboring farm, or hatching eggs. Leaning towards started poults, but my new incubator is calling to me.

Poults are always fun to have but incubating should be a lot of fun for you as well. If you have patience and can wait those 28 days, then you will be ok. I think an incubator is a good investment to have (just in case). Last year was my first year ever incubating anything. I always let my turkeys or chicken hatch any and all eggs. In a way, I'm glad that I did have an incubator for times like these when I don't have any broody hens to help with incubating.

 

[GotCoop]

How far do your turkeys range? I have 300 x1300 ft lot mostly open pasture, but there is woods on one side where my chickens will range. My neighbor who lives in front of the woods has grapes...I read someones post about how their turkeys stripped their grape vines. how much buffer do I need?

 

[Scottingitup]

Got coop, you will need a fence or a pen. My lot is 150x1000 and before I fenced it was a constant battle to keep them in the yard even supervised.

 

[GotCoop]

Thanks Scottingitup. I have a few months before the poults arrive...I'll work on some design options.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

How far do your turkeys range? I have 300 x1300 ft lot mostly open pasture, but there is woods on one side where my chickens will range. My neighbor who lives in front of the woods has grapes...I read someones post about how their turkeys stripped their grape vines. how much buffer do I need?

Right now I have 9 Beltsville Small Whites: 3 Toms and 6 hens (have 14 of their eggs in the incubator). Our lot is just under 7 acres (something like 500 feet on two of the sides...don't know about the rest since the property is wedge shaped). Anyway, we only have neighbors on one side, a horse farm on the second, and woods on the other two. We had to put up a 7' tall metal fence (we are way outside of town) to keep them from going into our neighbors yard since he is a jerk and trained his dogs to attack the birds. We also had to put up tall fencing on the other end of our property since they were going into the woods, which the bobcats liked, but we didn't.

Also, turkeys love to perch anywhere high, so if your vehicles or tractors are not someplace the birds cannot get on them, you need to either keep their wings regularly clipped or be prepared for a scratched up paint job.

Even with clipped wings, mine can jump pretty high, around 3-4 feet. Despite cozy nesting areas, they jump on top of some windows we have stored in the barn and lay up there (they use the tractor tires to help them get to the top of the 5' tall windows). I have convinced my husband to build a nesting box up there for them, which we are doing this weekend....if it ever stops raining here.

Funny thing is that despite causing the most trouble out of any of the poultry or fowl on the property, these guys are my husband and son's favorites. They are completely funny to watch and love to play and investigate anything and everything.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Got coop, you will need a fence or a pen. My lot is 150x1000 and before I fenced it was a constant battle to keep them in the yard even supervised.

I agree.

 

[kuntrygirl]

How far do your turkeys range? I have 300 x1300 ft lot mostly open pasture, but there is woods on one side where my chickens will range. My neighbor who lives in front of the woods has grapes...I read someones post about how their turkeys stripped their grape vines. how much buffer do I need?

Right now I have 9 Beltsville Small Whites: 3 Toms and 6 hens (have 14 of their eggs in the incubator). Our lot is just under 7 acres (something like 500 feet on two of the sides...don't know about the rest since the property is wedge shaped). Anyway, we only have neighbors on one side, a horse farm on the second, and woods on the other two. We had to put up a 7' tall metal fence (we are way outside of town) to keep them from going into our neighbors yard since he is a jerk and trained his dogs to attack the birds. We also had to put up tall fencing on the other end of our property since they were going into the woods, which the bobcats liked, but we didn't.

Also, turkeys love to perch anywhere high, so if your vehicles or tractors are not someplace the birds cannot get on them, you need to either keep their wings regularly clipped or be prepared for a scratched up paint job.

Even with clipped wings, mine can jump pretty high, around 3-4 feet. Despite cozy nesting areas, they jump on top of some windows we have stored in the barn and lay up there (they use the tractor tires to help them get to the top of the 5' tall windows). I have convinced my husband to build a nesting box up there for them, which we are doing this weekend....if it ever stops raining here.

Funny thing is that despite causing the most trouble out of any of the poultry or fowl on the property, these guys are my husband and son's favorites. They are completely funny to watch and love to play and investigate anything and everything.

Mine love to perch high as well. They sleep on top of the chicken house and the chicken coops. They will fly over the 4 foot fence but then fly back over. I don't have any predators, so I'm really not worried about anything happening to them.

Some of the girls will lay eggs in the nesting boxes but the others will go in the feed storage building and fly on top of the shelves and then fly on top of the hay, which is about 5 feet high and then they will lay their eggs.

 

[chicken pickin]

I also Agree. 1st because in my town they have to be penned if you have under 2 acres(which I am just shy of) and 2nd because they are curious and they like to wander. Not to long ago I found one of my hens in the middle of the road and the other 4 were gonna follow right behind her silly turkeys. I have an enclosed Pen with a large turkey house attatched. The pen is roughly 14ftx40ft ish.With aviary netting over the top. I do let them out on a occassion supervised. They dont go far from home but given the chance and curiosity hits them they might.