What should I feed my turkeys to get them fat and juicy??

[chicken pickin]

If the turkey weighs in at 35 pounds, how much does it usually come out after butchering?

My guess would be something close to 27-28lbs.

 

[neverbdone]

For those that have birds over what the standard calls for, what breed are they and where did you get them?

I raised BBB's last year and processed in August becuase they were so big. My largest BBB at was less than 6 months and was 42 lbs. This year I'm have White Hollands and have sold 11 for Thanksgiving. Selling for $3.50 lb and will be selling for $4.00/lb next year.

 

[Celie]

My guess would be something close to 27-28lbs.

That's about right. You take 20% off of live weight and you should be at process weight for turkeys. I never weighed chickens or ducks before processing, but one big old meat bird got a bumble foot and I weighted him before processing and he was right at 16 pounds, after processing without neck or giblets, he was 12 pounds. So that rule of thumb probably might be good for all poultry?

My Hollands last year were around 42 pounds and processed out at 34#12 oz and 35# exactly. Rabbits live @ 5 1/2 # process out about 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 depending weather they had just eaten. That's about 36% weight reduction at processing? I never raised cows!

 

[furbabymum]

Recently read an article about a guy who swears by beer. lol He says it gets them pretty juicy and tasty. Also, keeps them from walking in straight lines, thus entertainment! <-made that part up.

 

[retlaw]

Kobi turkey, yummy.