Turkeys For 2013

[Arielle]

Just got through this thread. Lots of excellent information, huge thanks to the OP and those that shared! I have sure learned to not waste my time asking TSC or other farm stores advice on feeds. Got my BBW poults from Meyer last week, and called all 3 chains, TSC, RK and Orschlien we have here, not one word about the higher protein feed

So I got on here to research. Sure enough, chick starter is way too low. Thank you for the links and wealth of info on this thread! I am getting a trio of mini whites from a lady next week (friend of the family), so i feel much more confident in their proper care. She is "retiring" from keeping her flock so I will be getting most of what she has.

SOme feed stores are better than others. . . . . glad you found the information you neeeded. Are the mini whites a turkey or a chicken?? you'll have to post pics when you they arrive. HOw wonderful that you can carry on the line.

These are my eggs that I set this afternoon.

Oh how lovely!!! My girls are not laying yet, I think its the effect of living on the north side of a hill. Good luck!!

 

[Arielle]

Dh and I spent the day finishing a coop for the turkeys. TIme to divide up everyone for the breeding season as I saw one sweetgrass hen laying down trying to entice any tom possible. THree were walking all over her last night without a clue what to do-- she was trying to teach them, but they were too impetuous and not persistant enough. GOt her moved to the pen with the correct tom.

All the auburns got moved, all toms, no hens unfortunately. Move a BR tom to live with them . Hmm, maybe I should toss Mutt and Jeff in with them-- the bachleor pad.! lol

The young bourbon red hens were introduced to the Three Amigos-- will see if they can figure out the process!

One more pen tomorrow to finish, and then the Narrigansets and Sweetgrass will be separated.

( rubbing hands) anticipating a good breeding year!! My biggest thread is coyotes and fox. Using the dog to make his rounds to help with that. THen to set up electric fencing. Just in case.

Envy that so may of you have eggs cooking , and poults.

 

[RockerHen]

Okay, can you guys shut your egg cartons containing turkey eggs? Because I can't, they barely even fit in the slots. I have to leave them open on the counter. Does my hen just lay big eggs? These are my first turkeys, I'm not sure of the average egg size.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: They are the mini white turkeys, similar in size to the beltsville, but not the same breed from what I am learning. The BBW's were for the freezer, but this trio is adult birds. 2 toms and a hen. I will be looking for more hens, The sweet lady has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and is already on dialysis. She has run a bird rescue on her land for years. I am taking her Pekins, some bantys and several assorted adult birds. She knows I won't sell them off or eat them. I am retired and home full time, so I finally get to keep my birds, etc after waiting a lifetime

I still help out a little at times training people for commercial construction billing, but on MY schedule and terms LOL

 

[R2elk]

Okay, can you guys shut your egg cartons containing turkey eggs? Because I can't, they barely even fit in the slots. I have to leave them open on the counter. Does my hen just lay big eggs? These are my first turkeys, I'm not sure of the average egg size.

My turkey eggs are a tight fit in jumbo egg cartons with an occasional one just a tiny bit too big. Anything smaller than a jumbo carton doesn't have a chance of fitting.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

How do you all store the turkey eggs, I am ordering the plastic flat trays for geese eggs. are they about the same size? a goose egg is about 5- 5 1/2 oz usually. The turkey hen coming next week is laying so I plan to set weekly.

 

[Sally8]

I should have asked this question when I asked what poults were worth (thank you all, by the way, I was in the ball park and this is my first year incubating turkeys)
My next question is have your Tom's ever gotten mean and how old were they? When I was 12ish my Dad bought a huge white Tom at an auction and before long he would chase my sister and I from the house to the barn. If you didn't get that hook loose to open the door quick enough, he got us. How my Dad would roar. Then it happened to him. My Dad never had a sense of humor when it came to him being flogged by that turkey. I think the Tom was gone that very day. Anyway, my Tom is a yr old, no signs of being mean. Will it eventually happen? (My last question, I promise!)

 

[r4eboxer]

If anyone sells poults here, what do you charge for them. I have Royal Palm's and Royal Palm/Bronze crosses. I have lots of people wanting them but don't know what to charge. I was thinking $5.00. does that sound right?

I charge $7.00 for all my poults though I see that I should be charging more

I should have asked this question when I asked what poults were worth (thank you all, by the way, I was in the ball park and this is my first year incubating turkeys)
My next question is have your Tom's ever gotten mean and how old were they? When I was 12ish my Dad bought a huge white Tom at an auction and before long he would chase my sister and I from the house to the barn. If you didn't get that hook loose to open the door quick enough, he got us. How my Dad would roar. Then it happened to him. My Dad never had a sense of humor when it came to him being flogged by that turkey. I think the Tom was gone that very day. Anyway, my Tom is a yr old, no signs of being mean. Will it eventually happen? (My last question, I promise!)

None of my Toms are mean either.

I'm just catching up on the thread, it's moving faster than I can keep up. Congrats to all of you who are getting eggs and poults.

I had a question but I think I have my answer after reading all the recent posts. I have so many orders for poults and eggs that I'm worried about filling them all. I'm wondering how many months a turkey hen lays. I know it's different for all parts of the country. Is there an average number of months I can expect eggs? I see I have been selling my poults and eggs too low so maybe that is why I have so many orders.

I am going to fill what I have now at the price and then I'm going to up it. Maybe that will give me some time.

 

[Franzen Farms]

If anyone sells poults here, what do you charge for them. I have Royal Palm's and Royal Palm/Bronze crosses. I have lots of people wanting them but don't know what to charge. I was thinking $5.00. does that sound right?

$10 ea. for pure breeds that are NPIP certified.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Just got through this thread. Lots of excellent information, huge thanks to the OP and those that shared! I have sure learned to not waste my time asking TSC or other farm stores advice on feeds. Got my BBW poults from Meyer last week, and called all 3 chains, TSC, RK and Orschlien we have here, not one word about the higher protein feed So I got on here to research. Sure enough, chick starter is way too low. Thank you for the links and wealth of info on this thread! I am getting a trio of mini whites from a lady next week (friend of the family), so i feel much more confident in their proper care. She is "retiring" from keeping her flock so I will be getting most of what she has.

 

Congrats on the new turkeys. Please post pics when you get them.