When To Butcher Turkens

[Poultrybreeder]

Hello all, I was just wondering when a good time is to butcher Turkens. I have heard these are a little faster growing dual purpose bird, that's what made me wonder. Thanks! Have a great day and God Bless!

 

[Beer can]

I always process around the time the cockerels just start to crow. I process both cockerels and pullets I don't need then. They aren't real big, dressed weight between 2.5 for the pullets and 3.5 pounds for the cockerels. They are still pretty meaty at that size.
Save on feed and they're good and tender even on the grill.
Best to let them sit in the fridge two to three days to 'rest'.
Best thing about those naked necks, not only is there way less feathers but NO HAIR! to singe off.

 

[Beer can]

Couple Turkens on the grill, way better than those store bought chickens. Super tender, meaty for their size. I made the mistake of trying to dry pluck them, their skin is pretty thin and I ripped some. Better scalding them.
So one with skin and one without.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

Thank you!

 

[RUNuts]

When the skin rips, take bacon and pin it in place with toothpicks over the hole or wrap the whole bird in bacon to add flavor and keep the meat moist. Smoked bacon followed by BBQ yardbird. Mmmm-Mmmm!

Thank you for the picture of the BBQ. It is that time.

 

[BantyChooks]

Best thing about those naked necks, not only is there way less feathers but NO HAIR! to singe off.

Wow, really? Even on the rest of the body?

 

[Beer can]

Wow, really? Even on the rest of the body?

I was told this by others before I got mine, and their NN crosses had no hair either.
Yup, pluck the strips of feathers off and smooth skin, and no hair even where the feathers were. I had some crossed with silkie/giants, they did have some hair but not a lot, just plucked them out.
Worst I had were my silkie/giant crosses. They didn't have silkie feathering but man do they have tons of feathers, could've stuffed a mattress lol. And the hairiest birds I ever seen, had to singe them.

 

[Kenny in the desert]

I always process around the time the cockerels just start to crow. I process both cockerels and pullets I don't need then. They aren't real big, dressed weight between 2.5 for the pullets and 3.5 pounds for the cockerels. They are still pretty meaty at that size.
Save on feed and they're good and tender even on the grill.
Best to let them sit in the fridge two to three days to 'rest'.
Best thing about those naked necks, not only is there way less feathers but NO HAIR! to singe off.

Hi, I am purchasing turkeys as dual purpose birds. Would it be safe to say the hens (pullet) would be more tender than a roo at 20 weeks (maturity age). Is that too late to process? Thanks

 

[RUNuts]

Hi, I am purchasing turkeys as dual purpose birds. Would it be safe to say the hens (pullet) would be more tender than a roo at 20 weeks (maturity age). Is that too late to process? Thanks

I would guess not, but I'm not a turkey farmer. At less than a half year (24 weeks), chickens are both pretty tender.

 

[Kenny in the desert]

I always process around the time the cockerels just start to crow. I process both cockerels and pullets I don't need then. They aren't real big, dressed weight between 2.5 for the pullets and 3.5 pounds for the cockerels. They are still pretty meaty at that size.
Save on feed and they're good and tender even on the grill.
Best to let them sit in the fridge two to thr

I would guess not, but I'm not a turkey farmer. At less than a half year (24 weeks), chickens are both pretty tender.

Autocorrect got me lol. That should be Turkens, not Turkeys. I was reading the thread about Turkens. Sound like Cockerels or hens at 20 weeks would be equally tender. We've done broilers before, but I want to get away from hybrids that can't reproduce and have all types of issues. Though We did Murray's Big Red Broilers last year and they don't have the leg issues. Thanks for your time.

ee days to 'rest'.
Best thing about those naked necks, not only is there way less feathers but NO HAIR! to singe off.