Turkeys For 2013

[chicken pickin]

So, for "dubbing" the toms, is it necessary in cold areas?

Quote:

OUCH! Why do you want to dub?

Is dubbing removing the snood? I would never do that and I am in a cold area its going to be -5 tomorrow and thats norm for my winter. That seems cruel to do. JMO.

 

[fowlsessed]

You are welcome and Thanks. If I knew when the girls would go broody, I would let them hatch ALL of their eggs. But it really doesn't take much for them to want to go broody. I think that if I would leave the eggs there in the nest, they would set on them but I'm always too excited and I always take the eggs from them.

I think my turkeys eat once a day. And I see the chickens at the feeder 12 times a day.

The chickens are the first ones out of the coops and run to the feeders while the turkeys really don't too much care about eating all the time. I have no idea why. I'm thinking that the chickens use up more energy during the day because they run ALL OVER THE PLACE and they have to fuel up again. They have about an acre of property to cover and the chickens cover every single inch of it. The turkeys pretty much walk at a VERY slow pace, so they don't use much energy. I don't know. I'm just guessing.

What type of feed do you have in your area?

LOL, interesting. I can pretty much get any kind of feed, not brands, but like gamebird, layer, pigeon etc., etc. my feed store is good about ordering for me what I need. Right now I'm using something that's %18 protein for my pigeons and chickens, hoping to put the turkeys on that, It's got a couple kinds of pellets and a bunch of grains. Dunno, might work.

 

[fowlsessed]

Yea, removing the snood. But apparently it's not necessary. What's that for? "Social positioning system"? lol Looks lik eit would really get in the way and they'd be pecking their "nose" instead of the feed, lol

 

[kuntrygirl]

You are welcome and Thanks. If I knew when the girls would go broody, I would let them hatch ALL of their eggs. But it really doesn't take much for them to want to go broody. I think that if I would leave the eggs there in the nest, they would set on them but I'm always too excited and I always take the eggs from them.


I think my turkeys eat once a day. And I see the chickens at the feeder 12 times a day. The chickens are the first ones out of the coops and run to the feeders while the turkeys really don't too much care about eating all the time. I have no idea why. I'm thinking that the chickens use up more energy during the day because they run ALL OVER THE PLACE and they have to fuel up again. They have about an acre of property to cover and the chickens cover every single inch of it. The turkeys pretty much walk at a VERY slow pace, so they don't use much energy. I don't know. I'm just guessing.


What type of feed do you have in your area?

LOL, interesting. I can pretty much get any kind of feed, not brands, but like gamebird, layer, pigeon etc., etc. my feed store is good about ordering for me what I need. Right now I'm using something that's %18 protein for my pigeons and chickens, hoping to put the turkeys on that, It's got a couple kinds of pellets and a bunch of grains. Dunno, might work.

I really enjoy the gamebird pellets that I have been purchasing. I think it's 26% protein and it's $14.95 for a 50 lb bag. I have been doing monthly trips to this feed store that is about an hour away. They make their own feed and I really like the feed and the price . I have noticed that the eggs are HUGE since using the new feed. This weekend (Saturday) is my monthly trip. I feed it to all of the animals and it lasts a long time. I hope you find the feed that works for you.

If the price of BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) would go down, I could start feeding that again.

I also use to feed catfish pellets. They have 30% protein. Anyone ever try the catfish pellets?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Yea, removing the snood. But apparently it's not necessary. What's that for? "Social positioning system"? lol  Looks lik eit would really get in the way and they'd be pecking their "nose" instead of the feed, lol

No, not necessary to dub. Nothing gets in the way. The snood is what makes them so handsome.

Do these boys with snoods look like they have missed any meals? LOL I have a 7 year old tom and he is still alive as well. No meal missed and his snood did not get in the way the past 7 years.

 

[fowlsessed]

I really enjoy the gamebird pellets that I have been purchasing. I think it's 26% protein and it's $14.95 for a 50 lb bag. I have been doing monthly trips to this feed store that is about an hour away. They make their own feed and I really like the feed and the price . I have noticed that the eggs are HUGE since using the new feed. This weekend (Saturday) is my monthly trip. I feed it to all of the animals and it lasts a long time. I hope you find the feed that works for you.

If the price of BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) would go down, I could start feeding that again.

I also use to feed catfish pellets. They have 30% protein. Anyone ever try the catfish pellets?

Cool, the feed I'm using actually has some fish pellets in it, too. I grow some BOSS, not enough though. It just last for some treats, lol

 

[fowlsessed]

No, not necessary to dub. Nothing gets in the way. The snood is what makes them so handsome.

Do these boys with snoods look like they have missed any meals? LOL

I have a 7 year old tom and he is still alive as well. No meal missed and his snood did not get in the way the past 7 years.

HAHA! They look good. So, do you (or anyone) know what that snood is for? Kinda like a roosters comb maybe? Sound amplifier? Do you guys notice bigger snooded toms being the dominant birds? Or preferred by hens?

 

[kuntrygirl]

I really enjoy the gamebird pellets that I have been purchasing. I think it's 26% protein and it's $14.95 for a 50 lb bag. I have been doing monthly trips to this feed store that is about an hour away. They make their own feed and I really like the feed and the price . I have noticed that the eggs are HUGE since using the new feed. This weekend (Saturday) is my monthly trip. I feed it to all of the animals and it lasts a long time. I hope you find the feed that works for you.


If the price of BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) would go down, I could start feeding that again.


I also use to feed catfish pellets. They have 30% protein. Anyone ever try the catfish pellets?

Cool, the feed I'm using actually has some fish pellets in it, too.  I grow some BOSS, not enough though. It just last for some treats, lol

Well you have some good feed with those pellets. I"m jealous.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Snoods, Wattles and Beards
So what exactly is a turkey’s snood? Male, or tom, turkeys have a number of features that experts believe are intended to attract female turkeys (hens). These include the familiar fleshy red wattles on its neck and throat as well as a fleshy mass over their beak known as a snood. As turkeys are polygamous and happy to mate with as many hens as they can attract, a seems reasonable to conclude that a more spectacular wattle and snood will result in more breeding success.

A tom’s plumage follows the same principles. Bright colors and unique features rule the day. His feathers have areas of green, copper, bronze, red, purple, and gold iridescence. Most males also have a beard; in reality a group of specialized feathers growing from the center of his breast. The photo to the above right clearly shows many of the tom’s irresistable (to hens at least) qualities.

Snood
The snood is a fleshy appendage that attaches just above the beak. When the tom relaxes, the snood is short — maybe half an inch long. When the tom struts, the snood engorges with blood and extends to hang down over the beak. According to the National Wild Turkey Federation, the snood has no known function.

 

[fowlsessed]

Thanks again Kuntrygirl!! good to know.