Turkeys For 2013

[PeepsCA]

Quote: Maybe I can buy them plane tickets instead? LOL.
Ok then put me on the waiting list for eggs from them if you separate them for an experiment next season. They are gorgeous birds, and I need some free ranging in my pastures, one way or the other, lol.

I have no clue how my light poults will feather out (or if I will get anything that turns out buff or red based or not) but I definitely plan on experimenting with breeding a few of them... I love surprises, just like with my Guinea keet hatches. It's like Christmas, every hatch, lol.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote: X2!

LOTS of pics!

 

[chickadoodles]

One of my Slate Blue's was showing off struttin for his first time today he's only 2 months old!

 

[Arielle]

One of my Slate Blue's was showing off struttin for his first time today he's only 2 months old!

Love his coloring!!

 

[chickadoodles]

Thank you! I love my Turkey's!

 

[racinchickins]

Hi Everyone,

I started my Turkey raising adventure a few days ago with 4 standard Bronze and 2 Chocolate poults that are a week old. I picked them up off Craigslist. It's my first time with Turkeys, only having experience with chickens before this.

My question is - they have pretty much been peeping loudly incessantly except when they are asleep. They seem to be eating and drinking. They move in and out of the heat in the brooder, no huddling close to or away from the heat. But the peeping of 6 turkeys is so much louder than I got from my 30 chicks I raised earlier this year.

I am wondering. The guy I bought them from had them under a chicken hen. Are they calling for her? Has anyone experienced this before? I work from home, and I'll admit, It's driving me a little crazy.

 

[Zootopia]

I have 2 Rio Grand poults!

I also have a crazy Rio Grand hen! She has commandeered a guinea nest to set on. Two of the guinea hens have decided to harass the turkey. Dont know if they want to lay or set the nest but they are all crazy.
I've had male guineas fight with roos before, but never seen the girls do this. The turkeys took over a couple nests last year too but the guineas just went somewhere else. None of my chickens has tried to take a guinea nest. So what is it with the turkeys?

 

[pollo disco]

My two RGs are the same. They try to butt in with the chickens when feeding or drinking. Same thing. The chickens have to peck at them to move to the otherside of the run. I have also noticed that my hen (din-din) is the adventurous and headstrong turkey. My male (gravy) is more reserved and calm. Loves to be held and will stay with you where ever you go. Boy do these poults grow fast! I am still waiting on strutting by the male and new vocalizations. So far just singing all day long.

 

[pollo disco]

Hi Everyone,

I started my Turkey raising adventure a few days ago with 4 standard Bronze and 2 Chocolate poults that are a week old. I picked them up off Craigslist. It's my first time with Turkeys, only having experience with chickens before this.

My question is - they have pretty much been peeping loudly incessantly except when they are asleep. They seem to be eating and drinking. They move in and out of the heat in the brooder, no huddling close to or away from the heat. But the peeping of 6 turkeys is so much louder than I got from my 30 chicks I raised earlier this year.

I am wondering. The guy I bought them from had them under a chicken hen. Are they calling for her? Has anyone experienced this before? I work from home, and I'll admit, It's driving me a little crazy.

Yup. I am finding that they are very social animals. Whenever I was not in earshot or view they would call out very loudly. I ended just spending time with them while in the kitchen and taking them outside with me while doing yardwork. I do cover the brooder with wire so they do not have an unexpected visitor while I'm not looking. We have tile floors and while messing around in the kitchen, they usually would just walk along with me and explore everything. BTW, they love cereal. Just keep a paper towel handy, if ya know what I mean. hehe.

 

[Arielle]

Hi Everyone,

I started my Turkey raising adventure a few days ago with 4 standard Bronze and 2 Chocolate poults that are a week old. I picked them up off Craigslist. It's my first time with Turkeys, only having experience with chickens before this.

My question is - they have pretty much been peeping loudly incessantly except when they are asleep. They seem to be eating and drinking. They move in and out of the heat in the brooder, no huddling close to or away from the heat. But the peeping of 6 turkeys is so much louder than I got from my 30 chicks I raised earlier this year.

I am wondering. The guy I bought them from had them under a chicken hen. Are they calling for her? Has anyone experienced this before? I work from home, and I'll admit, It's driving me a little crazy.

Definitely they are upset by something.

Mine are fairly quiet until I hear the emergency call, and someone has jumped out and is lost in the house ( which means anywhere outside the brooder box!)

Recheck all the obvious--and if it is the missing mom, give them time to adjust to life without the most important person in their life and perhaps YOU can fill that void and have friends for life.

Here are a couple things you may have already checked:

Warm water and everyone can access it
right sized food
feed bowl full
mine like to have a section of brooder covered by a pizza box-- when I remove it they go crazy
draft from an open door ?

Keep us posted-- they may just need time to adjust to their new home. Mine are usually a little noisier than my chicks.