Turkeys For 2013

[Scottingitup]

If you had 15 BR turkeys, and you had some free range and some feed, can you take a just a guess how many 50 # bags of feed you would need to get to say 20 weeks?

Coming from experience and the chart found here- http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/turkeymanual/ALBCturkey-4.pdf
You would need 12 bags of feed for 15 turkeys to 20 weeks.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Too much??? Too much for what?? Say it ain't so. Lol

If I didnt have turkeys and was looking to get into them Id say too much also and move on. But because I do have turkeys and raise them and know whats been put into them to get them there, Im right with you they are worth more money. I dont know if Id ever charge $100 a hen, but I can see why someone might.

I agree.

I'm sure when people hear the prices of the hens, they will move on and that is fine with me. But when you look at it, the hen will pay for herself in the 1st year. Let's just say that she lays 12 eggs and 10 of the eggs are fertile and they hatch. The hen will most likely lay more eggs after that. Well, at least mine do. A person could sell the poults for $12.00 each and make $120.00. If they only sell half and keep the other half for next year's breeding season and perhaps put a few in the freezer, it's a win win situation. The amount of feed that 1 adult hen will eat will not be that much and add a Tom to help with those fertilized eggs will not burn a hole in that person's pocket.

But I guess most buyers are only looking at the one time amount they have to pay up front, not realizing that they will profit.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I

They are having a bon fire!!! Party!!

Party is right!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Kuntrygirl, lol. I'm finding $50 to be too much. lol

How much would you pay for an adult hen in her 1st year of laying?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Everything is dirt cheap here. Twenty five to thirty bucks a pop. Almost bought some two year olds for ten a pop, but the big G said no.

Who is the big G?

$25.00 for a turkey???????????? WOW!!!!!!

I just sold 6 older chickens this weekend for $20.00.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Celie, I may splurge and buy some BOSS. A made a few dollars this weekend selling chickens, ducks and duck eggs. I think $50.00 is a fair amount. You should set that price and see what happens. You would be surprised. When I set my prices on my turkeys, people don't blink an eye. I only had 1 problem with the cheapskate that I told ya'll about but other than that, they pay the price I set. I don't make bargains on my turkeys. NO WAY!

I agree with you about putting in the freezer . I have been dragging my feet for months and have not processed one single turkey. I don't have a plucker and one won't be built for me for another month or so. And I DO NOT want to pluck but I may have to.

Thanks about the birds. I must say that I have a great group of turkeys. They are so tame and so adorable. They don't give me any trouble at all. I couldn't ask for a better group of turkeys. I'm excited about putting the babies out in the yard in a few months. I have to get some sand in their run and get that all taken care of before I put them out.

I also noticed that some of the eggs are a lighter color as well. Does anyone get any light colored eggs?

We don't have the Home Grown brand here. All we have is Purina. I only use about 4 or 5 bags of Gamebird as they are growing and then I switch them to Pellets. I love the which is why I am a repeat buyer. I don't know what I would do if they stop making it.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Has anyone figured out what makes up the protein % in the more expensive, higher protein feeds? The ingredients label says Plant Protein< but the highest protein plant I know of is Legumes, such as soybeans. So, why can't we just grow some and buy the cheaper grains and vitamins and mix our own? Has anyone done that and if so, how did it come out? Summer vegetable gardens start being planted on Feb. 15th here !

That's a good question. If no one knows, I can ask the guy at the feed store that makes their feed this weekend. Saturday is my feed run. I can report back then. That would be great to grow our own stuff and make our own feed. Let's talk about our ingredients and what we will need, including the info about the protein that you asked about.

 

[kuntrygirl]

We're actually one of the few "recession-proof" areas. But, we've got major ag areas butted up against a large college town. Amish city here, lol. So, our feed doesn't travel anywhere, every amish farm is pumping out as many birds as possible and then we have quite a few regular farms and hobby breeders. Works for me though. When you can buy a lamb fully grown out and have itbutchered for you for cheaper than the grocery stores sell cheap ground beef, I'll take it!

I agree about the butchering. I take 1 sheep to the butcher once a year and to process and cut up is about $50.00 and I bring home about an average of 120 lbs of meat. One lamb meal at a fancy shmancy restaurant would be about $50.00 if not more. :/ Makes sense to me.

 

[chicken pickin]

I agree about the butchering. I take 1 sheep to the butcher once a year and to process and cut up is about $50.00 and I bring home about an average of 120 lbs of meat. One lamb meal at a fancy shmancy restaurant would be about $50.00 if not more.

Makes sense to me.

Oh you raise sheep too! FUN!!! What else do you raise. Ive been thinking about goats and maybe sheep later down the road. DH wants a cow so bad but we definitely dont have enough land for that.

edited to add I just read your signiture line lol nevermind

 

[kuntrygirl]

Arielle, the feed store that I travel to to get the feed delivers in my area but the delivery date is on Thursday during the day. I may have to try to schedule them to deliver and just have someone at my house to pay and receive the feed. That would take a load off of me.