Turkeys For 2013

[Arielle]

Quote: My long past great aunt lived to a ripe old age, and got up at 5 am to put the coffee on and get the day going. SHe lived alone for nearly 30 years. Too much to do to sleep in!!

THe birds were just letting your in laws know it was time to "rise and shine" !!

Maybe gift them with a nice fresh turkey for roasting . . . .

 

[hogster160]

how do i stop a turkey hen from going broody? Her nest is outside in their pen. She's been on it 2 days now. I have removed all eggs daily. Any ideas are helpful!

Thanks

Deb

 

[Arielle]

THe only time I was susessful in breaking up a chicken broody was by moving her and her eggs to a new coop. and new nest . . . she didn't like that and quit the nest. Bam! done.

Otherwise I have never been able to break a broody chicken. No experience with broody hens here.

 

[hogster160]

THe only time I was susessful in breaking up a chicken broody was by moving her and her eggs to a new coop. and new nest . . . she didn't like that and quit the nest. Bam! done.

Otherwise I have never been able to break a broody chicken. No experience with broody hens here.

ugh, I really don't want to brood baby turkeys. Not until spring anyway. They are outside all the time. They do have a hoop house, but rarely use it. Well crap! So do I just let her keep the eggs? Seems to me like I'm going to have baby turkeys....time to start reading

Thanks

Deb

edited: spelling

 

[chicken pickin]

If you really don't want poults this time of year which I agree its kind of late in the year and getting cold. I would keep taking the eggs. Egg laying time is gonna stop very soon(I get one egg every couple of days now). So keep taking the eggs and pushing her off the nest maybe even block that nest off, I doubt she will find another spot she wants to brood in if she is penned.

 

[hogster160]

If you really don't want poults this time of year which I agree its kind of late in the year and getting cold. I would keep taking the eggs. Egg laying time is gonna stop very soon(I get one egg every couple of days now). So keep taking the eggs and pushing her off the nest maybe even block that nest off, I doubt she will find another spot she wants to brood in if she is penned.

Their yard is 24 x 90 with a hoop coop in there. 8x8 If I block off that nest, won't she just make another in the coop? I would rather not do poults at this time of the year.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: If you take the eggs, no poults. Simple. Make breakfast with them, substitute for chicken eggs.

If you are new to hatching poults, I would suggest starting when the weather is easier on you.

 

[hogster160]

If you take the eggs, no poults. Simple. Make breakfast with them, substitute for chicken eggs.

If you are new to hatching poults, I would suggest starting when the weather is easier on you.

That really would be the easy thing to do. I just don't really know what I'm doing with poults. First year with chickens too.

Thanks everyone.

Deb

 

[drakeschicks]

Ok guys, we're getting turkeys in the spring! Very excited! Now we have to build a shelter. I'm thinking a three-sided shed with the roof slanted down towards the back. If we make it 12 ft long and 10ft deep we could have two stalls 6X7 and an aisle across the front 3 ft wide with a door to walk through. If we put 1" chicken wire across the front of the stalls and heavy fence wire across the front of the whole shed, would that be predator- proof enough? I want to keep the front open so I can see them from the house. They would only be locked up in there at night.
Thoughts?

 

[chicken pickin]

Ok guys, we're getting turkeys in the spring! Very excited! Now we have to build a shelter. I'm thinking a three-sided shed with the roof slanted down towards the back. If we make it 12 ft long and 10ft deep we could have two stalls 6X7 and an aisle across the front 3 ft wide with a door to walk through. If we put 1" chicken wire across the front of the stalls and heavy fence wire across the front of the whole shed, would that be predator- proof enough? I want to keep the front open so I can see them from the house. They would only be locked up in there at night.
Thoughts?

That sounds like a great shelter I love the 2 stalls idea I wish I had separate stalls to separate certain turkeys when I need too. Are they going to have a fenced in run or will they free range during the day? Are you also planning on over wintering them? If so you may want it to build a full shed or make it so you can roll down a tarp from the top and fasten it to the bottom so you can cover the front in bad weather. What variety of turkey are you planning on?