Turkeys For 2013

[Chaneys Ranch]

Thank you. I think I need to go to Porter's web site as there seems to be a lot of information there. I guess I thought the color possibilities would be more of a chance. I haven't seen a turkey (color) that I didn't think "gosh, they are beautiful". I wish I could keep mine but as they want to stomp the chickens and I just don't have the room. My mom has been in the hospital with cancer, had a heart attack, etc. I'm not at home as much as I wish. Thanks again. sue

My thought are with you. I have similar situation with my mom, now in remission. I am her primary caregiver (and Dads)
She is on dialysis 3 days a week, I know its very challenging, and a very difficult thing to watch a parent go thru.
Mom gets much joy seeing the newborn birds each week, and I bring her in a basket of fluffy dry babies to hold and cuddle.
Same for Dad, he coos and babytalks them like a grandchild

 

[chickadoodles]

So sorry to hear this. When did he go blind|? My blue slates are now about 9 weeks old - one of them has been blind since I got him/her as a 3 day old. S/he manages pretty well using her ears and pipping and I have to say, they seem to know that she can't see and 'look out' for her, calling to her when she gets lost so she can catch up. I also have a couple of male Narragensetts that seem to have taken over care of them, and are very protective.
Keep feeding them in the same place and make the same call when its chow time. I bang their food bowl and call them in a high pitched voice and they come flying over.
She also uses a 'disability aid' - my son made a plank with little slats on it for traction and the first night it was there she marched up it to the roosting bough I have in their turkey tractor. Prior to it she was pitifully trying to fly up and find the roost and 95% failing.

Thanks Turkeytruff. My slated was not blind at first. He could see the feed and water dishes and would come running to me with all the other birds when I came to feed or play with them or give them goodies. But as was nearing maturity he was having more trouble seeing the feed in the goodie pans I would bring out. I use huge plastic party dishes that are bright blue and bright green to put treats like grits and scrambled eggs and leftovers in. He will stand in the middle of the dish and eat the other birds just eat around him. I cannot feed him out of my hand any more because he gets me instead of the food. I am so sorry about your turkeys babys! Privit hatchery supplied the poults to the co-op that I bought the slates from. And they knew the birds had blue eyes and sold them anyways. I called the co-op and told them I was not happy after waiting all these moths for my birds to get to breeding age only to find out that he was blind! I told them I would not buy any more of their birds! I don't holler or yell. I just speak to my birds and ask them "how's everybody doing" lol.
That was pretty awesome that your son made a ramp for the turkey! How cool is that! Now my turkey did fly thru the run and hurt it's wing, I had to bandage it up for a couple of weeks.
Good luck with your turkey!

 

[chickadoodles]

I need some advice please. I have one turkey hen she has been flirting with all three of my Narri's and my MW and none of the 4 toms are paying her any attention. They are all old enough to be breeding her but they are not interested. They are all displaying all day all the time. But no mating. Any suggestions?

 

[Arielle]

I need some advice please. I have one turkey hen she has been flirting with all three of my Narri's and my MW and none of the 4 toms are paying her any attention. They are all old enough to be breeding her but they are not interested. They are all displaying all day all the time. But no mating. Any suggestions?

Are you sure?? THe boys are secretive creatures. I never saw any action, but the cross bred poults proved otherwise!!

My boys are active either early in the morning ( usually) and sometimes at dusk. NADA during the day. I suspect it is a high risk activity so they have developed a timing that is safer in a predator filled world. 10 minutes on the job is high risk. lol

 

[chickadoodles]

Are you sure?? THe boys are secretive creatures. I never saw any action, but the cross bred poults proved otherwise!!

My boys are active either early in the morning ( usually) and sometimes at dusk. NADA during the day. I suspect it is a high risk activity so they have developed a timing that is safer in a predator filled world. 10 minutes on the job is high risk. lol

No I am not positive, but she has not laid any eggs yet either.

 

[chicken pickin]

How old is your hen?

 

[chickadoodles]

She is 6 months old

 

[desertmarcy]

Regarding the blind Slate, there was a discussion about this on Porter's Turkey Color Genetics list a while back. The Slate turkeys can have hereditary glaucoma, which expresses itself usually between hatch and 22 weeks. It is an ocular glaucoma condition causing corneal protrusion and increased curvature. Since this is a hereditary condition, lines of turkeys showing this should not be bred.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
I separated the birds out by breed before the girls were laying . . . boys had already been busy.

 

[Arielle]

Regarding the blind Slate, there was a discussion about this on Porter's Turkey Color Genetics list a while back. The Slate turkeys can have hereditary glaucoma, which expresses itself usually between hatch and 22 weeks. It is an ocular glaucoma condition causing corneal protrusion and increased curvature. Since this is a hereditary condition, lines of turkeys showing this should not be bred.

Do you ave a link?