Turkeys For 2013

[Arielle]

Quote: I emailed him and his response was rather vague. On the website he says this is an old breed back to 1700-1800's. After placing my post I decided to google auburn turkeys to see what popped up-- on feather site they and a number of pics, mostly Porters and the same info that Kevin porter has word for word, even the need for more breeders. I do wish folks would credit sources. ANywho . . . . I keep wondering why thenif this breed is sooo old, it is not APA. Seems like everything else before 1925 is APA except this one. I don't want a recreated breed, because it is not the original bird with all the genetics deeper than feather coloring. My efforts would not be saving the real McCoy.

If anyone knows more, please let me know. I do like these birds. Very large, good growers for sure. Pretty color, too. A soft milk chocolate-red brown, really pretty.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
I built one from a plastic coooler--old and unused for years--- I can fit WAAAAYYYY too many eggs in it.: if set in cartons ( 10 to a carton), about 5 cartons fit. If I stack deep like a hen,I can stack them 3-4 deep and that is like 8 dozen or so . That was last year when I had much too much fun hatching, this year only a few eggs will go into the incubators.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

I built one from a plastic coooler--old and unused for years--- I can fit WAAAAYYYY too many eggs in it.: if set in cartons ( 10 to a carton), about 5 cartons fit. If I stack deep like a hen,I can stack them 3-4 deep and that is like 8 dozen or so . That was last year when I had much too much fun hatching, this year only a few eggs will go into the incubators.

That sounds like my kind of incubator! I'd still need two though: One for chickens and turkeys, and one for waterfowl!

I think I have had around 100 +/- eggs in incubators at all times since December 1st. Five incubators and I am STILL juggling and don't have enough room.

 

[Bettacreek]

I incubate ducks, chickens and turkeys all in the same bator at the same time. I'm debating a second bator, a redwood that holds, I believe, 1200 chicken eggs at a time. The current one only holds 180, which I've found to be insufficient during spring hatches and sales. :/ 60 eggs per week isn't very many, especially if your're doing duck and turkey eggs, since they hold up space for an extra week.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: So make two!!! lol WHere do you put all the hatchlings, . . . . or do you sell them?

 

[Arielle]

I incubate ducks, chickens and turkeys all in the same bator at the same time. I'm debating a second bator, a redwood that holds, I believe, 1200 chicken eggs at a time. The current one only holds 180, which I've found to be insufficient during spring hatches and sales.

60 eggs per week isn't very many, especially if your're doing duck and turkey eggs, since they hold up space for an extra week.

If you can sell everything, that is WONDERFUL. I"m looking to change the feeding around here this year. I"m holding back a bit on hatching this year. I think the buyers are just not there yet as it is very cold here with another winter storm hitting tomorrow.

 

[Bettacreek]

It's all ag here, so they go fairly well. Since mine have all been production, if they don't sell fast enough, I haul them down to auction. The turkeys and ducks have been in high demand though and I can't produce enough (especially with infertile duck eggs, LOL). Next year will hopefully be a different story for the turkeys, considering all the eggs I have in the bator and yet to come.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

So make two!!! lol WHere do you put all the hatchlings, . . . . or do you sell them?

I kept the first six turkey poults,sold the next 8, and everything else that hatches for the next two months is reserved. I am hoping to keep the last 6 as well. Plus, we are getting Bourbon Reds and possibly Sweetgrass this year too. The Bourbon eggs are already ordered from 2 sources. I have to wait on the Sweetgrass until we find out if our remodel company lands this big custom bath remodel we have just bid. If we get it...my husband will spring for the materials to expand the turkey barn.

As to the chickens, I had enough room in my main chicken coop to add about 48 more birds, which I have now accomplished (It is over 400 sq ft). We are closing in an area that is 5x10 and already under roof and has two framed side walls and adding that to the coop (right now we feed the goats hay in that spot): That adds room for a few more. Plus, I think I have convinced my husband that we need a couple mobile coops to drag around the property with the tractor: For instance, we could park it in our main garden after it is done for the season.

I plan on selling some of the started birds once the eggs I am currently incubating finish hatching: I have some Barred Rocks and Cornish from Good Shepherd Poultry farm in there right now along with some German New Hampshires and White Lace Red Cornish. About 12 of the juveniles I hatched are Barred Rocks, so I could "upgrade" with the better birds. We have a monthly swap/sale at a local feed store with free set-up (it has its own Facebook page) so I can take them there to sell.

As to the ducks, I only have one that has hatched, one in the process of hatching, and another 10 in the incubators. I have room for all of those in my existing housing now that most of my geese have moved to the breeder barn.

The Pomeranian geese are going to be the biggest challenge. I ordered hatching eggs from two sources and goslings from a third, plus plan on hatching at least 10-12 out of my pairs (more if I have eggs left over after orders are filled). I would like to raise around 20-24 up until they have their adult feathers so I can choose next years breeders out of them. I currently have 14 of them and 12 of them live in the breeding barn: My original set have their own little house. I have an extra stall in the barn for brooding goslings, but will have to make some sort of juvenile housing by one of the ponds for them.

All I have to say is thank goodness every adult in our family, including myself, are trained carpenters. It sure makes life a lot easier. Well that and being able to scrounge at construction sites for discarded lumber and form boards: That allows us to afford to build more buildings!

 

[chicken pickin]

SO I just witnessed my first turkey mating ever... Aw my poor turkey hen he looked so sad after dazed almost and she wouldnt come near us. I think she got tricked by accident she so far only squats for me and my DH never the toms so we were petting her and I wanted to show my DH how she gets up if the tom comes near but he got her before she could get up andf then the other toms were all over them It was a slight bit scary I thought she was gonna get hurt. Today we are setting up the barrier to section off the fenced are and putting 2 toms on one side and 1 tom and 2 hens on the other side.

 

[Sally8]

SO I just witnessed my first turkey mating ever... Aw my poor turkey hen he looked so sad after dazed almost and she wouldn't come near us. I think she got tricked by accident she so far only squats for me and my DH never the toms so we were petting her and I wanted to show my DH how she gets up if the tom comes near but he got her before she could get up and then the other toms were all over them It was a slight bit scary I thought she was gonna get hurt. Today we are setting up the barrier to section off the fenced are and putting 2 toms on one side and 1 tom and 2 hens on the other side.

It's always a traumatic sight for me. Rosie always looks ruffled. I have 1 tom to1 hen. Don't like it at all. A few weeks back my neighbor called me at work to say the turkeys were in the road and the Tom was jumping up and down on a white chicken. She said a car stopped and was taking pictures. It was the turkeys, the hen a Royal Palm, the tom a Bronze mix and they were mating. We live way out in the country. Not sure why the people in the car were taking pictures. Ahhh well...