Turkeys For 2013

[Bettacreek]

I dunno... at $7/lb, I'd sell em for market!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Thank you for the link which totally satiated my curiosity on the black meat of the silkie. However, no offense to anyone . . . I am officially declaring that silkies are in the same catagory as octopus legs!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Do you all use a live stock scale to weigh your larger animals? I have a great scale but I need a large scale to weigh turkeys, sheep, peas, etc. Any suggestions?

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Do you all use a live stock scale to weigh your larger animals? I have a great scale but I need a large scale to weigh turkeys, sheep, peas, etc. Any suggestions?

Sheep, goats, and cows I use the less than accurate measuring tapes with the weight on them. As for poultry and fowl, I do the weigh me and the bird, then deduct my weight thing on the bathroom scale. I really need to get something better since it is NO fun what-so-ever hugging an irritated 20+ pound bird while trying to weigh yourself.

 

[Celie]

I have cornish cross hens under leghorns and EE's. The fertility isn't as high on them, but it could've been due to too many roos? I just sold two roos, so we'll see if fertility increases. I'd LIKE to mix them with silkies to see if I could get that black meat in a bird that's worthwhile to actually butcher, lol.

Since the silkies have black skin, I can't get past that point! LOL

From what I have been able to find, this was the initial "mix" used to create the Beltsville's:
Standard Bronze (2 strains); Broad Breasted Bronze (1 strain); Charlevoix Bronze, a Canadian small-type Bronze, (1 strain); White Holland (4 strains); Black (1 strain); Narragansett (1 strain); wild (4 strains); and White Austrian (1 strain) a small-type turkey imported from Scotland specifically for this project.

So, their is plenty of bronze and some black creeping around in their gene pool!

So, the BBB had to be created forst, which brings in even more genetic crosses into play !

I have read that the bronze will have a shot of wild introduced every so often into their genetics, for their coloration, IDK

Either too many roos and the hens are hiding, or if the hens body shape and the rooster's don't mesh...they have a hard time successfully mating. I know in my ducks when one of my Mallard drakes tries to breed one of the much larger Pekin or Appleyards, they often fall or are thrown off before "doing the deed". I've seen the same thing when one of the Cornish roosters tries to get on one of my poor little Ameraucanas: Those hens wiggle out from under those heavy brutes in a big hurry.
If you have an area to pen the hens up with 1 rooster for each 4 to 5 I would do that. Pick the rooster with the same size and body type as the hens and see if that doesn't help.

We had a small mallard drake fly into the yard last spring, and flocked with Rouens, I guess he thinks they are all the same breed, IDK, but he has stayed and it is really funny when he tries to mate with one of the rouen ducks, because he is so much smaller. It is mission impossible!!!LOL

X2

 

[Arielle]

I dunno... at $7/lb, I'd sell em for market!

All for it!!!

Just not going on MY plate. LOL I"ve tried many foods, and might even try siklies someday, MAYBE. lol

Who is buying at this price?? I have many ethinic consumers in my areas however, most what it for nothing.

 

[Bettacreek]

I dunno, I saw that on the one thing online. George's buddy's family owns two Chinese restaurants here though. He's been after my regular chickens, so I'm going to ask him about the black meat and quail eggs once they get started.

 

[Bettacreek]

I dunno, I saw that on the one thing online. George's buddy's family owns two Chinese restaurants here though. He's been after my regular chickens, so I'm going to ask him about the black meat and quail eggs once they get started.

 

[chiqita]

I have cornish cross hens under leghorns and EE's. The fertility isn't as high on them, but it could've been due to too many roos? I just sold two roos, so we'll see if fertility increases. I'd LIKE to mix them with silkies to see if I could get that black meat in a bird that's worthwhile to actually butcher, lol.

OK to answer this first f1 silkie crosses are not black meated ad not that big. The meat is darker but more Lt grey. This was marans/silkie crosses not attractive and didn't taste much like silkie.

Now hello. This is my first year with Turkey s and I'm excited. I have royal palms and am waiting for the girls to start laying. Look forward to keep king up with this thread.

 

[Arielle]

I dunno, I saw that on the one thing online. George's buddy's family owns two Chinese restaurants here though. He's been after my regular chickens, so I'm going to ask him about the black meat and quail eggs once they get started.

That is great to have a commercial outlet for the silkies!!