Turkeys For 2013

[nanceann]

We are in our second year of raising chickens, we have a variety of egg layers. This weekend two wild turkeys came into the soybean field behind our property and hung out. Actually, there were three Saturday, but Sunday morning brought a scene of carnage; one turkey with a missing head and breast. The other two stayed around most of the day, and took off late in the evening. We haven't seen them today.
My husband is now obsessed with turkeys. He thinks he wants some next year. The funny thing is, he doesn't care to eat turkey or chicken. He just liked the turkeys and wants some. So, my questions to those with turkey experience: Can they run with the chickens, or do they have to be separated? Do they lay eggs, and is there any problem eating them? How high can they fly? We also have 6 dogs, including a chocolate lab and a lab mastif mix that will eat a chicken if they are foolish enough to get close. Will the turkeys just cause more problems? Are they prone to disease, and can they transfer it to chickens? Do they eat chicken feed?

 

[TexasLisa]

No... lol I have no clue. How do you do yours?

We have only eaten 2 turkeys so far this year. We are experimenting with different brines. The brine that is our favorite for now is an Apple Brine.

BEAUTIFUL pictures!!!

Lisa

 

[chickadoodles]

We have only eaten 2 turkeys so far this year. We are experimenting with different brines. The brine that is our favorite for now is an Apple Brine.

Thanks Lisa, I will try a brine of some kind on one.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

Plenty of fat on the chest of the boys that are a year old!!! Helps keep the breast meat moist. My youngsters are only 4 months and eating the 22% feed keeps them growing. THis morning everyone was "starving" so I caved and poured out pellets right away. lol ALlowed me to excape and drive my kids to the bus stop. lol

ps-- syrup is almost gone!!!

That came from old timer turkey farmers and they sold all their turkeys. I guess that is why. I keep my birds on a high protein diet also. I am glad ya'll like the syrup. I took down my ad for it because I got sick and could hardly manage just tending my birds. But if anyone wants some and lets me know I can make some. I will be making some for my family before Christmas.

My kids love the syrup-- like most things they were used to maple syrup. Now the pecan or hickory goes on their morning oatmeal. Sorry you needed to stop making it. IT is yummy with a different flavor than maple. Are you beter now?? I hope so.

I still hear people asking about fattening their birds-- it made sense at one time I guess when fat was an important source of calories and most people burned 5000 calories a day in hard work. I just know that I have eaten thin birds and the amount of fat is still plenty for a fat lover like me.

These days I'm shocked by the amt of fat on the commercial chicken at the grocer, especially the thigh part. Like all the fat is cut to fold under the thigh doring packaging!! Having butchered my own now, this is a marketing ploy.

 

[chickadoodles]

My kids love the syrup-- like most things they were used to maple syrup. Now the pecan or hickory goes on their morning oatmeal. Sorry you needed to stop making it. IT is yummy with a different flavor than maple. Are you beter now?? I hope so.

I still hear people asking about fattening their birds-- it made sense at one time I guess when fat was an important source of calories and most people burned 5000 calories a day in hard work. I just know that I have eaten thin birds and the amount of fat is still plenty for a fat lover like me.

These days I'm shocked by the amt of fat on the commercial chicken at the grocer, especially the thigh part. Like all the fat is cut to fold under the thigh doring packaging!! Having butchered my own now, this is a marketing ploy.

I will make the syrup if someone wants some. I just need a couple days notice so I can make and can it. I don't want maple syrup any more! I am feeling better thanks. I have not eaten any of my own chickens yet either. But we will. I hate spending my money on chicken from the grocery store!

 

[NewToFarming]

At what age can you tell if you have a hen or a Tom? I am pretty sure I have one Tom for sure but I am not real sure about the other two. One does seem to be a bit smaller than the other 2 but not a whole lot yet.

 

[Arielle]

At what age can you tell if you have a hen or a Tom? I am pretty sure I have one Tom for sure but I am not real sure about the other two. One does seem to be a bit smaller than the other 2 but not a whole lot yet.

celie wrote up a very good data sheet to figure out girls v boys . Well documented info so very reliable. She did it this summer for us . . . . .it is here on this thread. Do you know how to use the search feature??

 

[Reyvaughn]

Not to change the subject, but we are often asked, how to tell the sex of turkey poults and young adults. These are the facts I believe to be true and if anyone would care to contribute to the list, please do. If I have something wrong, please correct me, since I do not want to spread incorrect information. This seams to be the number one question asked on the turkey threads !

1. All colored feathered turkey hens will have lighter edging on the breast features and toms will have darker edging.
2. Males will weigh more than females hatched at the same time and this will become more apparent as they grow older.
3. Toms will have thicker legs than hens.
4. Both can have beards, but toms will grow longer.
5. Toms have longer thicker snoods as they reach maturity.
6. Toms Chronicles will be bigger than hens and the heads and necks will be a darker red.
7. Toms will be bald, while hens will develop a thin line of feathers up the back of their heads.
8. If you can hold the bird on your lap, laying on it's back, at any age, if it holds it's feet up close to it's back, it is probably a hen, because it is a defensive position for a tom or a rooster, too,(for that , matter) to extend one or both legs. This, I find works from day old chicks or poults, with 94 degree accuracy.
9. Both will display when young, but by the age of sexual maturity, only toms gobble.

This year I have done my own research on how to tell the sex of very young poults and chicks before they are old enough for the above! I have used a couple hundred poults to test as I hatched out Holland White, Midget White and A few Bourbon Red Poults this year, with 94% accuracy!
10. If you can hold the bird on your lap, laying on it's back, at any age, if it holds it's feet up close to it's back, it is probably a hen. If it extends it's legs or even just one leg, you probably have a tom. This, I find works with day old chicks and poults and seams to be based of their natural defensive posture of male vs female responses in these birds. I thought someone else might benefit from my findings, too, so I thought I would share.


Arielle, this is the experiment I spoke to you about last winter, before I had enough research done to support my suspicions. Hope it helps!

This one, Arielle?

 

[Arielle]

Yess!!!!!! Thank you!!!

If Celie is lurking I have a q---

"I am going to start using only year old toms for breeding, because I raise White Holland Heritage breed and the toms are huge and weigh around 40 to 50 pounds compared to the 25 to 30# hens."

Why would anyone need a BBW with white HOllands around???

Seriously though, are the hens really 25-30#? That is almost the size of a BR or Narri tom.

 

[NewToFarming]

This one, Arielle?

Thank you for this info....what are chronicles. LOL

Looks like I have alot to learn! I am glad I got them, I am really enjoying them. They surprised me how fast they can move though. They can see me with the feed bucket from the whole way across the yard and come hauling butt to see what I have. They also found what was left of the garden today and seemed to really enjoy that!