Turkeys For 2013

[newduckie]

Originally Posted by kuntrygirl

You need turkeys. You need turkeys. You need turkeys. You need turkeys. You need turkeys!!!.


And by the way............YOU NEED TURKEYS!



I have a royal palm Tom and a red bourbon hen, but I don't need babies...

 

[R2elk]

Oh I know they need higher protein. I usually fee 28% turkey starter. This time I am brooding them with chicks also and chicks shouldnt have as high of protein so I thought a good compromise would be 22%. This is my first time brooding poults and chicks together so Im not positive.

I frequently brood chicks and poults together. Whenever I do, I always feed turkey starter. I have never had any issues with the chicks being fed the higher % protein. At my supplier the chick starter is 23% protein. At the local chain store the chick starter is 18% and they charge as much for it as my supplier does for the higher quality chick starter.

It is my opinion that the suppliers push the lower % protein chick starters because they are cheaper to make and allow the manufacturer and the vendor to make a higher % profit and has nothing to do with what is best for the chick.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have always read that heritage turkeys need a much higher protein to get started well. Mine get 28%. Most any commercial turkey starter I have seen is at least 26%. If you are going to give them only 22%, I would supplement it with chopped hard boiled eggs.

Oh I know they need higher protein. I usually fee 28% turkey starter. This time I am brooding them with chicks also and chicks shouldnt have as high of protein so I thought a good compromise would be 22%. This is my first time brooding poults and chicks together so Im not positive.

They will be just fine.

 

[redneck farmer]

I wish I lived in more land so I could have more turkeys!!!!!....

 

[kuntrygirl]

Oh I know they need higher protein. I usually fee 28% turkey starter. This time I am brooding them with chicks also and chicks shouldnt have as high of protein so I thought a good compromise would be 22%. This is my first time brooding poults and chicks together so Im not positive.

I frequently brood chicks and poults together.  Whenever I do, I always feed turkey starter.  I have never had any issues with the chicks being fed the higher % protein.  At my supplier the chick starter is 23% protein.  At the local chain store the chick starter is 18% and they charge as much for it as my supplier does for the higher quality chick starter.

It is my opinion that the suppliers push the lower % protein chick starters because they are cheaper to make and allow the manufacturer and the vendor to make a higher % profit and has nothing to do with what is best for the chick.

My first year brooding 1 chick (a chicken layed an egg in the turkey nest and I didn't know it) and poults yielded a chick (Rooster) that was the same size of the turkey and he is still the same weight as them now. All of them were on 30% protein. I have not weighed him a long time but when you pick him up, he feels like he weighs about 40 lbs. His feet are HUGE!!!!!!!!! I have had so many offers to buy him because he is soooooooooo big but I would never sell him. He is about 3 years old now.

I took this pic of him on yesterday. When he runs, he reminds me of a clumsy 13 year old that is 6'5" and weighs 250 lbs.

This is a pic of him last year.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I wish I lived in more land so I could have more turkeys!!!!!....

How many do you have now?

 

[redneck farmer]

1

 

[kuntrygirl]

1

Well, can you get 1 more so that 1 will have a friend?

 

[Sally8]

Well I got home today from work and found 2 Poults had hatched and loudly peeping I just took the egg turner out yesterday the hatching was to start the 25th so they are early so far.
we will see how the other 27 eggs do.
Celie I dont know yet if they are Holland whites or Bourbon Reds no ducks yet I did not hold the Incubator open long enough to tell plus they were still wet and it would be hard to tell any way.
Do I have any body wanting to see some pictures out there

.

Yes I want to see pictures! I had another surprise poult hatch overnight!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Congrats on all of the hatches everyone !!!!!

POST PICS !!!!!



POST PICS !!!!!




POST PICS !!!!!



POST PICS !!!!!