Turkeys For 2013

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
oh, you wont regret it... Its fantastic! I started brining birds about 2 years ago, and now that's the only way hubby wants it cooked. Then I slow roast. Wonderful drippings for gravy, and so tender and juicy! Its a little more prep but there are NEVER any leftovers, poof, gone! We have big family dinners for holidays, and I usually prepare at least a 24 pound bird. Thats what made me decide on the BBWs this spring, I need a bigger bird!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: You are so right! X2! That's the "I am scared" or "I don't feel good" call. When I got the poults from meyer hatchery, I lost 3 the first day. I think they chilled at the post office, I was late getting them due to moms dialysis not going well that day. They were there for 5 hours, The 3 didn't make the day (the rest are HUGE now!) and all three made that pitiful eee eee eee sound

Both sets I hatched I flat ran to them if i heard it, now it sends chills thru me thinking one is sick! FF is wonderful to help keep the birds healthy, It also lets them absorb more of the foods value. I start every chick on it now, its a lil messy but worth the benefits. My goats are the only animal here that doesn't get fermented foods.

 

[chickadoodles]

Arielle and JCHNY2000 - thanks a lot for your advice. I wish I had been able to act more quickly - I'm a live-in farmhand and sadly my own babes come last.

The rest are looking well, there seems to be a sort of cough in some of the bigger ones that are 4 weeks (not like the one that died had) but even so, those birds are still milling about and chirruping. Should I be concerned? I also noticed one with foamy looking poop but looked at the chart and it looked cecal to me.

I'm thinking of more aggressively amending their water and food with acv, an essential-oil mix and some cayenne as preventative measures against cocci, blackhead etc. can't hurt, right? Has anyone tried this?

Thanks all.

I just read an article yesterday by a vet that said not to give any chickens or poultry ACV in this heat! That it could cause their death! It dehydrates them fast!

 

[TexasLisa]

oh, you wont regret it... Its fantastic! I started brining birds about 2 years ago, and now that's the only way hubby wants it cooked. Then I slow roast. Wonderful drippings for gravy, and so tender and juicy! Its a little more prep but there are NEVER any leftovers, poof, gone! We have big family dinners for holidays, and I usually prepare at least a 24 pound bird. Thats what made me decide on the BBWs this spring, I need a bigger bird!

You will love raising the BBWs! We raised 5 of them last year--lost one to a coyote. They are fun to have around. They love attention. Of course, they will eat any and everything in the yard.

Lisa

 

[Zootopia]

While I was feeding today the Rio Grand hen got up to eat and when she went back to the nest the Tom was sitting on it? Anyone had a Tom sit a nest? She was chirping so I went back to see what was up and she was standing over him. I watched for a few min and she scratched at him a couple times but he wouldnt budge. I finally had to make him move.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Ya'll have been busy chatting it up. I have a lot to catch up on.

 

[kuntrygirl]

While I was feeding today the Rio Grand hen got up to eat and when she went back to the nest the Tom was sitting on it? Anyone had a Tom sit a nest? She was chirping so I went back to see what was up and she was standing over him. I watched for a few min and she scratched at him a couple times but he wouldnt budge. I finally had to make him move.

Yes, I have a tom that is setting on a duck egg right now. :/ He has been setting for 2 weeks. Poor thing . I don't have the nerve to remove the egg from under him. I just let him set on his lone little egg.

 

[chickadoodles]

Yes, I have a tom that is setting on a duck egg right now.

He has been setting for 2 weeks. Poor thing . I don't have the nerve to remove the egg from under him. I just let him set on his lone little egg.

That is so sweet! I don't think I would have the heart to take his egg either!

 

[Lorilyn Farms]

My bantam chicken roos like to sit on a next and get it ready for the hen. Then he calls her over and stands over her until she lays. Sometimes he does the "I;ve laid an egg" call, but when I go out to check, it's just him doing it and not the hen, who is sitting quietly on the nest. I guess some birds just like to impress the girls.

 

[RockerHen]

Had my first unexplained poult death today

It was acting rather strange yesterday however. It looked like it had gotten beat up, it's back feathers were mussed, it's head looked bruised and it was kind of lying flattened in the run. I cut it open just in case. It's crop had mostly water in it, and it's lungs looked strange. Maybe one of the roosters mounted it and broke a rib and punctured a lung. I took a picture of the liver just in case, does it look like blackhead? I didn't see any of the bullseye things and I didn't see any yellow poop in the run though.