Turkeys For 2013

[kuntrygirl]

Okay, thank you. I'll leave them alone until late tonight or tomorrow morning then.

Yea, that would be great. Keep us posted. Sending good vibes your way.

 

[Sally8]

Well, I am a big meanie and steal all the eggs to put into the incubator. Both my son and I have checked very carefully everywhere in, on, and around the turkey coop, pen, and surrounding area looking for eggs: Didn't find a one. Yesterday, we were working outside so kept a very careful eye on them. They keep going into the nesting box and sitting for a couple minutes, but never make any deposits. They don't feel egg bound and are eating, drinking, mating, and playing normally.
So, I just wondered if this is typical behavior for first year laying hens. BTW...my birds are Beltsville Small Whites that I got from Jerry Poole last spring via hatching eggs.

I'd love to put mine in my incubator but I live in NY. These are my first turkeys and I've heard so many horror stories on how hard they are to raise. I've had these 2 from the time they were 2 weeks old. I'm not along the coast NY but halfway West. It's been 0 - 20 degrees for the last few months. Unless she hatches on her own, it's going to have to wait a couple months.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

I'd love to put mine in my incubator but I live in NY. These are my first turkeys and I've heard so many horror stories on how hard they are to raise. I've had these 2 from the time they were 2 weeks old. I'm not along the coast NY but halfway West. It's been 0 - 20 degrees for the last few months. Unless she hatches on her own, it's going to have to wait a couple months.

Ah, I remember weather like that all too clearly. I was born and raised in NE Ohio: We only moved to Louisiana 6 years ago. The winters are much, much friendlier here, but late July, August, and part of September make us pay for it: Hot, more hot, and muggy humidity.

These are my first turkeys as well. I ordered hatching eggs last year and hatched out 15 from 24 eggs. A bobcat got two and we sold 4 to a family friend leaving me with 3 trios.

So far, I have put 22 eggs in the incubator (set the fist ones Christmas day) and have hatched 14 poults. Only two eggs out of the 22 were not fertile, so I am pretty impressed.

I am keeping the first 6 and the rest are sold/reserved (will probably keep the last 6-8 as well). Heck, I have reservations for 20-30 more poults, but really need the girls to lay again.

Good luck with your turkeys and I hope that "early spring" Punxsutawney Phil forecasts actually comes to pass. It has been a cold, snowy winter for everyone up North!

 

[r4eboxer]

Just finished separating all the turkeys into pens, when I picked up one Tom his breast was almost bald. What is up with that? Is it from breeding? The other Tom I moved was not as bare but he was missing a lot of feathers on the breast.

 

[Sally8]

Ah, I remember weather like that all too clearly. I was born and raised in NE Ohio: We only moved to Louisiana 6 years ago. The winters are much, much friendlier here, but late July, August, and part of September make us pay for it: Hot, more hot, and muggy humidity.

These are my first turkeys as well. I ordered hatching eggs last year and hatched out 15 from 24 eggs. A bobcat got two and we sold 4 to a family friend leaving me with 3 trios.

So far, I have put 22 eggs in the incubator (set the fist ones Christmas day) and have hatched 14 poults. Only two eggs out of the 22 were not fertile, so I am pretty impressed.

I am keeping the first 6 and the rest are sold/reserved (will probably keep the last 6-8 as well). Heck, I have reservations for 20-30 more poults, but really need the girls to lay again.

Good luck with your turkeys and I hope that "early spring" Punxsutawney Phil forecasts actually comes to pass. It has been a cold, snowy winter for everyone up North!

Don't believe that groundhog. He lied!

How do you keep your turkeys? Mine are in a 6 x 8 coop with a 12 x 14 ft run. They aren't terribly happy confined but Rosie won't stay home. With 3 pair, how do you keep them?

 

[Jesz]

Sorry to hear about the poults. Poor babies. That's why I don't like to ship babies. I'm too scared that something like that may happen.

I will never order from that hatchery again. Its not worth it. On a better note out of the 3 that survived, one has blue eyes.

 

[Sally8]

I will never order from that hatchery again. Its not worth it. On a better note out of the 3 that survived, one has blue eyes.

Are blue eyes normal?

 

[Bettacreek]

Still have no turkey poults, lol. The first pip looks like it's made some progress on the pip, but no real zipping yet. Locked it back down until tomorrow. Slow pokes!

 

[r4eboxer]

I am keeping the first 6 and the rest are sold/reserved (will probably keep the last 6-8 as well). Heck, I have reservations for 20-30 more poults, but really need the girls to lay again.

Good luck with your turkeys and I hope that "early spring" Punxsutawney Phil forecasts actually comes to pass. It has been a cold, snowy winter for everyone up North!

I'm thinking you have MAD MARKETING SKILLS!!!!

 

[Jesz]

Are blue eyes normal?

Sally8, I am new at raising turkeys so I have no idea. I'm hoping someone else will have something to add.