Turkeys For 2013

[desertmarcy]

Contact the member "Treebird" here. He breeds lilacs and I think I remember him saying he had a few extra young toms. I'm waiting on some of his lilac hatching eggs, so for now I'm living vicariously through you guys in this thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/177771/treebird

I am actually getting lilacs myself this spring from Porter. Genetically they are not the same as slates.

 

[Bitterroot]

I am actually getting lilacs myself this spring from Porter. Genetically they are not the same as slates.

Lilac isn't the same as lavender? Huh. My bad. That's why I like this forum, I learn something new every day.

I'm on the list for lilacs from Porter's too. You'll have to share some pics of your poults once they arrive. Not nearly enough love for the lilacs out there.

 

[r4eboxer]

Bourbon Reds-- I started with a hen and tom. I loved them as they were docile and the tom not a problem. I have kids, no problem animals allowed. We raised 7 poults, all wonderful. THe 4 muskateers had free range of the farm. THen the next generation added 2 more toms to the free rangers-- all well behaved gentlemen.

NOw I can't speak for all turkeys -- just how mine have behaved. I have a number of other breeds from Porters and I have no problem with any of them, and half are males, ( of course!)

The aggressive males came up as a subject on the heritage thread and I had first shot at the question. THe reason why most heritage breeds have docile males is because the naughty boys get culled or eaten. No need to keep a bad boy around for long.

I did keep an aggressive rooster for too long-- he was a beloved pet. I kept 3 of his rooster sons and none are a problem. Perhaps the effect of their beloved mother. IDK, but 3 full brothers are not aggressive like the dad.

Thank you Arielle, I think what I have concluded by all the posts is this guy has one or more mean toms and doesn't know how to handle them, it's not a breed problem but a breeder problem. 25 years is a long time to go without learning much

 

[joshm97]

So two of my jakes were fighting this morning for some reason in the shed. They ran my hen of her nest and crushed some eggs. I don't know what to do... Some of eggs didn't get crushed but now have yolk on them... I'm sure that most of them can hatch because they did not get any on them... If anyone has ideas please help

 

[desertmarcy]

Lilac isn't the same as lavender? Huh. My bad. That's why I like this forum, I learn something new every day.

I'm on the list for lilacs from Porter's too. You'll have to share some pics of your poults once they arrive. Not nearly enough love for the lilacs out there.

The lilacs from Porter are bronze-based, with two slate genes: b+b+DD
Lavenders are black-based, with two slate genes: BBDD
Slates are black-based, with one slate gene: BBDd. When you breed two slates together, you get 50% slate, 25% black, and 25% lavender.
Kevin Porter's lilacs will breed true. Some other bloodlines may not.

 

[Andrewdp123]

I have two bronze turkeys, the hen is sitting on her eggs in a dog house in the fenced area, and the Tom keeps pacing back and forth by the fence. I let the Tom out because he is starting to lose feathers from pacing so much, but I want to get him back in his pen. Is there any way to get a turkey to stop pacing in his fence?

 

[Sally8]

So two of my jakes were fighting this morning for some reason in the shed. They ran my hen of her nest and crushed some eggs. I don't know what to do... Some of eggs didn't get crushed but now have yolk on them... I'm sure that most of them can hatch because they did not get any on them... If anyone has ideas please help

Were you thinking of having her back on her nest? Can you keep the jakes away from her and her nest? Otherwise if I had an incubator, I'd put them in there. Either way, the eggs can be cold for a while and still hatch. Let me know what you decided. Sorry.

I have two bronze turkeys, the hen is sitting on her eggs in a dog house in the fenced area, and the Tom keeps pacing back and forth by the fence. I let the Tom out because he is starting to lose feathers from pacing so much, but I want to get him back in his pen. Is there any way to get a turkey to stop pacing in his fence?

When I first put my tom and hen in the pen, they both paced non stop. Thats why I was origonally going to get rid of them. It's gotten better but he still paces. All the feathers are gone from his chest. Not sure how he managed that. If I'm going to be home

 

[joshm97]

I cleaned up the smashed eggs and the yolk too. Went from 17 to 11 but she doesn't want to budge. I have an incubator but have never used it before. I think I will leave her alone and let her continue to try. She is not on the nest now but my Narragansett is... They seem to share the nest for mutual advantage

 

[TexasLisa]

Bourbon Reds-- I started with a hen and tom. I loved them as they were docile and the tom not a problem. I have kids, no problem animals allowed. We raised 7 poults, all wonderful. THe 4 muskateers had free range of the farm. THen the next generation added 2 more toms to the free rangers-- all well behaved gentlemen.

NOw I can't speak for all turkeys -- just how mine have behaved. I have a number of other breeds from Porters and I have no problem with any of them, and half are males, ( of course!)

The aggressive males came up as a subject on the heritage thread and I had first shot at the question. THe reason why most heritage breeds have docile males is because the naughty boys get culled or eaten. No need to keep a bad boy around for long.

I did keep an aggressive rooster for too long-- he was a beloved pet. I kept 3 of his rooster sons and none are a problem. Perhaps the effect of their beloved mother. IDK, but 3 full brothers are not aggressive like the dad.

Arielle, We had 5 BBWs. We lost one to a coyote and that left me with the '4 Muskateers'. I cracked up when I saw what you called yours. Those girls wouldn't go anywhere by themselves. I would step outside and here came the '4 Muskateers'. Watching 20-25 lb turkeys waddle toward you, in a line, is hilarious!

I am hoping to get some more soon.

Lisa

 

[Arielle]

So two of my jakes were fighting this morning for some reason in the shed. They ran my hen of her nest and crushed some eggs. I don't know what to do... Some of eggs didn't get crushed but now have yolk on them... I'm sure that most of them can hatch because they did not get any on them... If anyone has ideas please help

I cleaned up the smashed eggs and the yolk too. Went from 17 to 11 but she doesn't want to budge. I have an incubator but have never used it before. I think I will leave her alone and let her continue to try. She is not on the nest now but my Narragansett is... They seem to share the nest for mutual advantage

My understanding from a long time breeder is to wash the yolk off-- looks like you did just that. Glad the Narri is helping out and giving the other hen a moment to regroup.

YOu didn't mention what you did about the boys-- did you relocate them??