Turkeys For 2013

[1MrsMagoo]

Does everyone have an easy market for baby turkeys? Rosie is sitting on at least 6 and I scrambled up a few doz before. I never see them for sale around here and I really don't want more. (I would if I had more room) Thanks Sue

I posted on Craigslist and a local page for Poultry folks on Facebook. I delivered the first 8 poults today and have orders for 20-30 more. I have Beltsville Whites and advertised them for $7.00 each or 8 for $50.

I also have local people looking like crazy for other breeds. I had a lady ask me for Bourbon Reds today at the sale when I was delivering the poults. I convinced my husband that we need to get a couple more breeds and keep at least quads for next year.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Thought this may be a good place to ask if any of you may have hatching eggs available for the following breeds later this spring? I am looking at Narrangasett, Sweetgrass, Bourbon Red, and possibly Tiger Bronze. I looked into buying directly from Porter's since he could ship in June, but ordering the 15 poults with shipping is a bit out of my price range right now.

Also, anyone that raises these breeds, what are the pros and cons of each of them? I know that the Bourbon Reds consistently score high on taste tests, right behind the Midget Whites. Otherwise, I know they are pretty and that is about it.

 

[Arielle]

I have young stock that will start laying when they mature enough. THose are Sweet grass and Narrigansetts. THe Bourbon Reds should be starting to lay in mid APril. I would recommend the Auburns so far a they have good growth. THe Bourbon Reds are easy going, vry pretty with the red contrasted with the white in the wings and tail. All my birds have had good temperaments with my family.

 

[r4eboxer]

1MrsMagoo: I have Narragansett, Bourbon Red, Blue Slate and Royal Palm, out of my Royal Palm/Bourbon Red pairing I will have Red Bronze Toms and Golden Narragansett, I'll also have pure royal Palm and poults from Blue Slate/Narragansett breeding. This will be my first year with poults as they are 11 months old and will be the first eggs.
My website and blog is in my signature. I expect to have eggs late march early April

 

[kuntrygirl]

Still only 3 have hatched. I am hoping that I have some late hatchers. I will take out the 3 poults that have hatched today and leave the other eggs in for another day or 2. If there is no other activity with the remaining eggs, I will open up all of them to see what they look like. I'm hoping this humidity thing didn't mess them up, since I allowed the humidity to go above my normal 40. If that's the case, then the next hatch's humidity will remain at 40. I will not increase the humidity higher because it may be that higher humidity doesn't work for my eggs. This is kinda weird being as though my first hatch was 100% (every egg hatched).

 

[r4eboxer]

Still only 3 have hatched. I am hoping that I have some late hatchers. I will take out the 3 poults that have hatched today and leave the other eggs in for another day or 2. If there is no other activity with the remaining eggs, I will open up all of them to see what they look like. I'm hoping this humidity thing didn't mess them up, since I allowed the humidity to go above my normal 40. If that's the case, then the next hatch's humidity will remain at 40. I will not increase the humidity higher because it may be that higher humidity doesn't work for my eggs. This is kinda weird being as though my first hatch was 100% (every egg hatched).

I hope they all hatch, there is still time keep us updated.

If they don't hatch you are very brave to open those eggs, I've wanted to with Chicken eggs that failed but never had the nerve or stomach.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Still only 3 have hatched. I am hoping that I have some late hatchers. I will take out the 3 poults that have hatched today and leave the other eggs in for another day or 2. If there is no other activity with the remaining eggs, I will open up all of them to see what they look like. I'm hoping this humidity thing didn't mess them up, since I allowed the humidity to go above my normal 40. If that's the case, then the next hatch's humidity will remain at 40. I will not increase the humidity higher because it may be that higher humidity doesn't work for my eggs. This is kinda weird being as though my first hatch was 100% (every egg hatched).

I hope they all hatch, there is still time keep us updated.

If they don't hatch you are very brave to open those eggs, I've wanted to with Chicken eggs that failed but never had the nerve or stomach.

Thank you. I will.

Yes, I'm very curious to see what the problem could have been. It also gives me an idea of how many will be fertile, etc.

Makes me want to throw another batch of eggs in the bator.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I'm glad I"m not the only one with a refirgertor full of eggs. I've started feeding 3 a day to the dog as well as me. And I keep looking for more egg recipes!!  I have a batch of picked eggs in the refirg as a test trial. HOping they are really good. HOping. Hoping Hoping. 

I love pickled eggs. What is your recipe?

If it turns out good I'll share it. I wanted something without sugar, and with out red beet coloring. No offense to anyone, I just don't see the appeal of red eggs. Maybe it's simple because I didn't grow up on them, so I tried a recipe that didn't use beets. 

I"ll let you know if they are good. 

I woke up thinking about pickled eggs. I may pickle my guinea eggs.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Thought this may be a good place to ask if any of you may have hatching eggs available for the following breeds later this spring? I am looking at Narrangasett, Sweetgrass, Bourbon Red, and possibly Tiger Bronze. I looked into buying directly from Porter's since he could ship in June, but ordering the 15 poults with shipping is a bit out of my price range right now.

Also, anyone that raises these breeds, what are the pros and cons of each of them? I know that the Bourbon Reds consistently score high on taste tests, right behind the Midget Whites. Otherwise, I know they are pretty and that is about it.

I'll always have Bourbon Red eggs.

My Bourbons are VERY tame. TOO friendly. Not flighty. They stay very close to home. The hens know how to stand up for themselves if bullied by other animals (roosters). They keep predators (crows and other birds) out of the chicken yard. They have their own daily reality show.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

1MrsMagoo: I have Narragansett, Bourbon Red, Blue Slate and Royal Palm, out of my Royal Palm/Bourbon Red pairing I will have Red Bronze Toms and Golden Narragansett, I'll also have pure royal Palm and poults from Blue Slate/Narragansett breeding. This will be my first year with poults as they are 11 months old and will be the first eggs.
My website and blog is in my signature. I expect to have eggs late march early April

Thanks r4eboxer: I will go check that out!

I have young stock that will start laying when they mature enough. THose are Sweet grass and Narrigansetts. THe Bourbon Reds should be starting to lay in mid APril. I would recommend the Auburns so far a they have good growth. THe Bourbon Reds are easy going, vry pretty with the red contrasted with the white in the wings and tail. All my birds have had good temperaments with my family.

Arielle,

Thanks for your response: I appreciate it. I am trying to ease my husband into the turkeys slowly. We started with one breed, and now I am bringing in a couple more. I have enough room, and would like to eventually keep a couple quads of 6-8 varieties: I just need to ease the DH into it and give him time to build the housing and fencing the way he wants.

So, your Sweetgrass and Narragansetts are all still juveniles and too young to lay this spring? I am the kind of person who likes to bring in stock from multiple blood lines, so even if I get some this spring will always be interested in picking up more eggs! Let me know once they start laying and what you'd like to get for a dozen eggs.
Thanks,
Rhonda

I'll always have Bourbon Red eggs.

My Bourbons are VERY tame. TOO friendly. Not flighty. They stay very close to home. The hens know how to stand up for themselves if bullied by other animals (roosters).

They keep predators (crows and other birds) out of the chicken yard. They have their own daily reality show.

NOW, THat is a show I would make time to watch.

I thought you were pretty much sold out of eggs for the season, or I would have asked. If you find yourself with an extra dozen in late March, early April, I would sure be happy to buy those from you!