Turkeys For 2013

[Arielle]

Quote: lol they steal without paying too!! dang it!! I only put out 1 doz at a time now

 

[1Chick Magnet]

lol they steal without paying too!! dang it!! I only put out 1 doz at a time now

that is awful. I would be tempted to put a camera out there.

 

[yinepu]

Has anyone here ever deep fried a heritage turkey? My family wants to try deep frying one, and I know that you roast heritage birds differently than butterballs. Would I have to deep fry one differently also? If so, what has worked?

We deep fry a few every year. I would have to ask my husband how long he leaves them in the fryer. but I think he goes by the times listed on the box of oil.. lol
they come out very tender and moist. but i also like them baked in the oven. the deep frying gives him something to do while I'm baking pies and home made dinner rolls.

 

[racinchickins]

We deep fry a few every year. I would have to ask my husband how long he leaves them in the fryer. but I think he goes by the times listed on the box of oil.. lol
they come out very tender and moist. but i also like them baked in the oven. the deep frying gives him something to do while I'm baking pies and home made dinner rolls.

Good to know. Thank you very much for the response!

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
you also have to remember with deep frying the hot oil sears the outsides of the bird fast.. so the juices are trapped inside. plus the inside cavity is exposed to hot oil as well. so the bird is cooking from the outside in (and from inside the cavity into the meat as well). so it is pretty fast compared to oven baked. I don't know why they come out so tender. unless the searing of the outsides of the muscles keeps the muscle tissue from contracting too quickly..

 

[uphilljill]

morning snow

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

that is awful.  I would be tempted to put a camera out there.

Absutely! Put a sign and start an egg shaming website where you post photos of them in the act of stealing. Set up the cameras so you can see their license plate, their face, and how much money they leave. Send the photos to the local paper. maybe someone can loan you cameras and help you set them up.

I know it is a small crime, but that makes it worse, IMO. Who hands over their soul for free eggs? If you can afford to donate eggs to hungry people, leave info for people about how to get free eggs without stealing.

 

[Chad Cool]

I'm planning on raising some turkeys next year 2014. Right now i'm doing real good with a flock of 50 chickens. My question are what are the best meat turkeys? How long do you raise them? Should i hatch them like I do my chickens?

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Keeps him out the kitchen . . . . .you're very clever!! lol

morning snow

Beautiful!!

 

[Arielle]

I'm planning on raising some turkeys next year 2014. Right now i'm doing real good with a flock of 50 chickens. My question are what are the best meat turkeys? How long do you raise them? Should i hatch them like I do my chickens?

Chad--

THere are many turkey possibilites. FInding the variety you want can be much trickier.

I started with the BBW and BBB and learned how to feed them and get them to a butcher.

THe heritage breeds come in many sizes. THe wishard bronze and holland whites are almost as big as the BBW just take much longer to grow out. Depending on how you feed them slow growth can be the way to go. MIdget whites and beltsvilles are the smallest turkeys. THe palms are mostly beautiful and not as filled out meat wise in the breast area. THen you have many other medium sized birds: narrigansetts, bourbon reds, etc.

NOt all areas have a butcher available. If you want to sell any dressed birds, they must be done at an inpected facility licensed for processing birds. OTherwise I have learned to process my own birds.

Finding lines that are good meat birds is hit or miss. THey have been neglected for a long time. I am trying to focus on 2 breeds: an APA recognized bird and a non APA but old variety: AUburns.

Ofcourse I have been holding back my 2 narrigansett TOms!! Just love them.