Turkeys For 2013

[kuntrygirl]

In theory , when you only want a few , or two toms, start with 25-30 poults from a good source like Porters or URch .  Or Reese!!  He is offering birds this year-- can't remember which varieties.  THen raise them up, pick the best, sell the rest, or freezer camp.

KuntryGIRls-- WOW you scored!!!!  I drive a small car, but you should see what I can fit in it!!! I keep an eye out for pallets and boxes.  So does DH!

That's a good idea. I have always heard good things about Porters. Perhaps I will put in my order for 2014. That will be a good year to start since I have already started hatching for 2013.

Thanks on the score. I remember when I had a small car about 4 years ago. I was the same as you. I could fit the mall in my car.

 

[larry529]

lmfao @ they are in your kitchen!

 

[Celie]

Weelllll, I only have two hens. I wasn't allowed to buy new turkey hens just a few days ago, and now that one is down with a broken leg as of last night, I don't think he's going to complain. I have ten or so eggs in the bator now. What's being laid now is getting shipped away, but when I move and get the bator set up, EVERY LAST turkey egg will be set in MY incubator. If I get 100 poults, I'll think about selling off newer hatches, but darn it, I'm not going to be faced with only two hens next year, or one hen and one hen with a broken leg! Darn it! I'll get my ten hens afterall, LOL.

What happened to his leg?

No, I never had a light colored Tom. Here is a pic of my very 1st male. I got him many, many, many years ago. He has retired from breeding, so he is just living the good life out on the farm. He is related to all of the turkeys that have been hatched out over the years because it started with him.

Maybe it's a recessive gene showing itself. Do you know if the eggs that hatched into light poults came from the lighter hen?

Here is another turkey brooder.

I picked this up about an hour ago on my lunch break. As I was driving by this mechanic parts shop, this shipping crate was calling my name, so I had to turn in and answer. I went inside and asked the guy if they had any shipping crates that they wanted to get rid of. He said that he just got 1 in and if I wanted it that I could have it. So, he pointed to the shipping crate that was calling my name. He told me to back in and he would load it in my truck. It is PERFECT!!!! I was looking for something taller for my baby poults and this will make the perfect brooder. It's very light, so I can move it where I need it with no problems.

Great find! You are lucky to find it !

Thank you so much. I am so happy. I can't wait to get it home and clean it up and put it in the garage and move the baby poults in there. They will still have the heat lamp but at least they will be OUT OF MY KITCHEN !!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought I was BAD, using the 3rd bathroom! DH would kill me it I left them in the kitchen.

That's a good idea. I have always heard good things about Porters. Perhaps I will put in my order for 2014. That will be a good year to start since I have already started hatching for 2013.

Thanks on the score. I remember when I had a small car about 4 years ago. I was the same as you. I could fit the mall in my car.

I had one like that, too, but in the country, you really need a truck!

 

[kuntrygirl]

I weighed the poults last night and their weights range from 1.6 oz (the newly hatched poults a few days ago) to 4.6 oz (the first poult to hatch). And then the weights staggered as did the hatches.

UPDATE ON WEIGHTS FOR THE WEEK:

The last group that hatched increased from 1.6 oz to 4.6 oz. So they gained an average of 3 oz in 1 week.

The 1st group that hatched (1st poult that hatched out) increased from 4.6 oz to 8.5 oz. So, he had a gain of 3.9 oz (almost a 4 oz gain). The others had the same average weight gain.

I don't have anything to compare it to. Can someone compare their weights to mine to see if that is "normal" weight gain" for that age group?

They have already started flying around and are ready to bust out of the brooder to try their wings.

 

[Celie]

Sorry, Julie, all I have left are 3 days old and younger! I wanted to ask you about turning eggs before incubation You said the turkey eggs were in the fridge for 2 weeks before you started incubation? Did you turn them during incubation, or is this really necessary? I put eggs into cartons for customer pickup and turn them several times a day, always an odd number of times, but is that necessary or what? I also had a customer who bought hatching eggs from me 3 times, twice without success, because he listened to someone on the net, that was teaching people to lower humidity to have a "dry hatch" to increase air space. I think I finally talked some sense into him to up the humidity, because he finally got a good hatch and didn't need any more eggs. I don't know why, but common sense just isn't very common anymore! I don't mean to be so gruff, but some people keep hitting the"A" and think they will eventually Get a "B" to print!

 

[HeeereChicken]

That is one gorgeous bird in the pic a few posts up

 

[kuntrygirl]

Sorry, Julie, all I have left are 3 days old and younger! I wanted to ask you about turning eggs before incubation You said the turkey eggs were in the fridge for 2 weeks before you started incubation? Did you turn them during incubation, or is this really necessary? I put eggs into cartons for customer pickup and turn them several times a day, always an odd number of times, but is that necessary or what? I also had a customer who bought hatching eggs from me 3 times, twice without success, because he listened to someone on the net, that was teaching people to lower humidity to have a "dry hatch" to increase air space. I think I finally talked some sense into him to up the humidity, because he finally got a good hatch and didn't need any more eggs. I don't know why, but common sense just isn't very common anymore! I don't mean to be so gruff, but some people keep hitting the"A" and think they will eventually Get a "B" to print!

As far as the turkey eggs, no I didn't turn them. They were originally in the fridge because I was going to eat them. Remember? So, no turning took place. Some people say that you HAVE to turn eggs but look at what I did. Those eggs stayed in one place for 2 weeks with no turning and ALL of them hatched. So, I say to them "How do you explain that?" So, my experiment leads me to believe that you don't have to turn eggs.

Any thoughts or comments about turning eggs?

 

[kuntrygirl]

That is one gorgeous bird in the pic a few posts up

 

Thank you so much. That is my original Tom He has been through so much and he is still kicking. He doesn't breed anymore because I have retired him. But he does enjoy walking around the chicken yard enjoying every day. He is about 6 or 7 years old.

 

[r4eboxer]

My turkeys are almost 10 months old. I will see eggs this March won't I? I wanted to put out a feeler on Craigs list for any interest but I started thinking maybe I won't have eggs. I will be doing fertility testing before offering hatching eggs but would like to know if all the work of setting up breeding pens is really going to be worth it.

 

[kuntrygirl]

My turkeys are almost 10 months old. I will see eggs this March won't I? I wanted to put out a feeler on Craigs list for any interest but I started thinking maybe I won't have eggs. I will be doing fertility testing before offering hatching eggs but would like to know if all the work of setting up breeding pens is really going to be worth it.

 

Yes, your hens should lay this year. And we will hope for March.

Do you have more than one breed of turkey?