Turkeys For 2013

[Arielle]

Thanks it depends what property we buy I will try to do it

For my ducks I cut their primaries the first year so they learned "home" and their kids didn't need clipping. Raising poults by hand should keep them wanting to be "home" as well I would think-- mine come when I call them.

I'm feeling sad because I am selling all of my poults.

I guess I need to hatch more.

Yes, hatch MORE!! ((hugs))

i just got a female bourbon red turkey to replace my 1 taken by the fox

WHoot!! ANd sorry about the one taken.

If anyone is looking for Holland White poults or hatching eggs, I have some of each. Just PM me. I have 13 hens laying now and collect 6 to 8 eggs a day. I have 30 poults 2 days to 3 weeks old and will do my best to sex them for you. I am currently working on a system to be able to sex them within a few days from hatch. So far, my success rate on sexing has been 86% from 3 days to 99% at 4 weeks. The trial is not over as I only have 12 in the yard right now from 4 weeks to 3 months and am positive on the first 2 pair that are 3 months and 2 months that I banded at 2 days old. I am pretty confident about the other 8, but time will tell for sure. When I have gone further with this trial, I will post the theory and results of this trial. At this age I am unable to vent sex, so I am looking at other indications, as Holland Whites and other white feathered turkeys all have only white feathers! Between the 25 adults and these 12 juveniles, these are enough for next years breeders( I have 3 different lines) and some for the freezer. Besides the 30 in the brooder, I also have 120 in the bator, along with a few Bourbon Reds. I have a few Midget White Juveniles in the yard for everyday meal size turkeys, as well, but would like to add some Narragansetts to this group for 2013 Hatching. If anyone has some Narragansett, Blue Slate, Standard Bronze or Black Spanish and would like to trade for Holland White eggs, please let me know? I ship eggs anywhere in the 48 states, but since I do not live near an airport, can not ship poults! Poults are pick up only at $10 each.

Celie -- send via usps, or are you too rural?

While I was taking this pic, my tom turkey, Chuck came over to prance around and drum around me, like normal. I put my camera on video and recorded him and he was prancing around me. I turned to catch him from my right side and he attacked me from behind. I kicked him back as he was flying up and trying to flog me in the face again and then swung my camera out as he kept trying again and again. I yelled to my Australian Shepherd to come over and he did but bent his head down and backed away. I finally got to the gate to get out, it was the longest 30 ft I ever walked backwards. I tried to intimidate him but he wouldn't back down. I had the same coat, boots, pants that I've worn before. I don't wear perfume. It's not unusual to have my camera. I was not near Rosie. It is mating season for them What caused me to to be more alert was that he was getting redder and redder and his dance was changing. Funny thing is, my camera was recording the whole thing. It's a blur, I can see his wings hitting the lens a few times but can hear my talking to him and him talking back. As soon as I find out if I need to change his food, his days are over. He's very large and I'm not going to risk him hurting my grandchildren. He's probably 14 mo old. I am just sick over it.

Sally-- it's not your fault. He is what he is. I kept my rams penned when they were naughty and knocked down my son. And when Raptor was a menace, my boys would NOT let me do him in when I had repeated opportunities to cull him; they finally relented when I explained he was too dangerous and yes he would be missed. I watched my back for 2 weeks after he was gone, then fianlly relaxed my vigil. I will never put up with a bugger again . . . . oh I take that back, I do have another bugger . . . . I will be replacing him ASAP. ( I didn't raise him)

The hormones are raging. My rams ( brothers) are fighting. THe roosters are fighting, and the toms are going at it. Fortunately it is not all at once!! lol

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THe chestnut coloring is delightful!!!! The poults start out a pale lavendar-rose and with each molt get darker and darker. One of the prettier turkeys I have.

I took my 6 week old white turkeys out to day I have laughed so hard at them. I have 2 brozne turkeys that are 2 weeks old now

A hoot!!

Well I candled my newest batch and I see a big reddish yellow yolk and red veins everywhere very excited. 19 days to hatch...

(( clapping))

One of my newest poults has been injured

I have a large hutch with a divider in the middle, with 2 broody hens on each side. The other broody hen hasn't hatched her chicks yet. Apparently, a part of the divider got flipped up, and one of the poults got its let stuck underneath, and the broody hen on the other side attacked it's foot thinking something was trying to get to her nest. Anyway, the poor poult's whole 'drumstick' area, is skinned down to the muscle, and the other foot is pretty bruised. It was chilled and pretty much lifeless when I found it. I grabbed it and tucked it under my shirt against my skin to heat it up while I put together something to put it in. It perked up, began cheeping, and opened its eyes and lifted its head up after awhile. I washed his leg and put neosporin on it, and gave him some sugar water with a dropper, which he accepted, and now I have him in a little towel 'cave' with a heating blanket in an aquarium in the house. He's sleeping now, and I don't know if he'll make it, but I've done what I can. Hope he pulls through

Sorry . . .hope the pult pulls thru.

 

[pollo disco]

Tried putting my Rio Grandes in the run for a few hours with the chickens. (1mo sexlinks) and the chicks pretty much ganged up on the poor turkeys and had to be removed back to the brooder. *sad*. The Turks do like to be outside more though. I usually just leave the box out on the patio in the shade so they can sing away and not drive me nuts! lol. Also, those guys love insects. A keen eye and a fast attack leads to good little treats for them.

 

[Arielle]

Funny how that goes, who is in and who is out. Little gangs.

I have repurposed my dog pens ( portable puppy sized) for the chickens and poults to get them outside. WHat ever works , right?

 

[ashandvine]

Do you think the duck who has gone broody and won custody of the turkey eggs is going to notice that some of her kids are... different?

 

[RockerHen]

The baby didn't make it

I think the extreme stress of being so injured and losing blood at just 2 days old was too much for it. He lived through the night, and accepted more sugar water throughout the day, but died sometime in the past few hours, he kept acting weaker and weaker. I kind of think one of his legs was either broken or dislocated at the hip, as he never stood up and kind of kept the leg stretched out behind him. The other 3 poults are doing well. I kicked out the broody housed next to them who did this. I don't want a hen that aggressive raising any chicks for me.

 

[redneck farmer]

The baby didn't make it

I think the extreme stress of being so injured and losing blood at just 2 days old was too much for it. He lived through the night, and accepted more sugar water throughout the day, but died sometime in the past few hours, he kept acting weaker and weaker. I kind of think one of his legs was either broken or dislocated at the hip, as he never stood up and kind of kept the leg stretched out behind him. The other 3 poults are doing well. I kicked out the broody housed next to them who did this. I don't want a hen that aggressive raising any chicks for me.

Sorry for your loss but glad to hear the other 3 are doin fine

 

[RockerHen]

Sorry for your loss

but glad to hear the other 3 are doin fine

Thanks

Watching the mother silkie with her three turkey babies is just priceless. The babies don't know any better, they probably think they're going to grow up to be a fluffy white chicken one day

They'll probably outgrow her in just a few weeks.
My poults love fresh grass so much more than my chicks! The poults are kind of reserved, as hen raised babies usually are, but if they see me coming up with grass I've picked they come climbing all over my hands trying to get to it. It's so funny seeing a tiny baby eating a blade of grass that's just about as long as it is, they slurp it down like spaghetti

 

[StelleKitten]

Who here raises chocolates? I would like to get a chocolate hen.

There is a Lady in burleson with some. Pm me and i will send you the info. She is hatching eggs right now so may have some pretty soon.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hi guys, I am looking at all the options for deworming. Since I have goats, pigs, ducks geese chicken and turkey... Many of them free range together, or are in the livestock fields. We are adding calves this next month

I have Ivermec pour on and wazine I plan to use up, then switching over to valbazen this fall. Any comments, thoughts? Please forgive me if this was discussed and I missed it. Just making sure none of those products will harm the turkeys.