Damummis'- Auf wiedersehen

[Farmfresh]

I raise turkeys every year. I actually prefer the Broad Breasted Bronze because they seem to do what I need them to and do pretty darned good on (modified) free range as well. I have raised Slate, Royal Palms and Bourbon Reds as well. Of the heritage turkeys I prefer the Slates. Just beautiful birds.

I raise my turkeys with my replacement pullets. I know chickens and turkeys together is E.V.I.L., but I have never had a problem. Then again I eat all of my turkeys each year and do not carry any over winter.

 

[Dace]

Last night I decided to put on a documentary about GMO food in a ploy to get my DH to allow me to get more chickens. Well, after watching it I get the response..........."I'd rather have turkeys than meat birds" Huh?? I said craning my head like a dog that has been asked if it wanted to go out. What? Did I hear that right? Turkeys?? Then he says, "we might want to think about goats for milk and maybe a pig too for meat." Huh? Huh? I said in a Tim Allen man groan. For real?? "First I think we fire up the tractor and dig up another garden." Holy Cow!! My head is swimming with the possibilities. Then he looks at me and laughs saying "You look like a little girl who's dad just said she could get a pony." Well, YA, darn tooting. I am overwhelmed to say the least. Now............What kind of turkeys???? BYC here I come.

LOL...I wish my Dh was that easily convinced! Although,if we had some land perhaps it would be easier!

 

[chicken stalker]

That's great. I'm slowly wining the sustainable food war here also. I snuck some turkey eggs in the bator last month. It was all good until a week before the hatch. DH descided to look in the bator..."what are those big eggs in the back?...(me) They're midget whites. (DH) Midget White what, they don't look very small.......I think my face gave it away....DH: They're turkeys aren't they.... smirking he walks out of room

 

[Dace]

Smart one!

 

[Aidenbaby]

That's great. I'm slowly wining the sustainable food war here also. I snuck some turkey eggs in the bator last month. It was all good until a week before the hatch. DH descided to look in the bator..."what are those big eggs in the back?...(me) They're midget whites. (DH) Midget White what, they don't look very small.......I think my face gave it away....DH: They're turkeys aren't they.... smirking he walks out of room

That would be me. It's like when hubby caught me with the rabbit. "Honey, where'd the rabbit come from?" That's the same look I got last year when he discovered the chicks.

 

[Damummis]

It is a toss up between Midgets, red Bourbons and Narragansetts.
Now which ones????

 

[chicken stalker]

this is my first time with turkeys so I choose Midget Whites. I figure they are small and easier to handle. If all goes well I will graduate to bourbons in a year or two.

 

[Farmfresh]

I have had Cornish Rocks that butcher out at about the same weight as the midget whites.... I would go with the Bourbon Reds!

 

[Ohioann]

this is my first time with turkeys so I choose Midget Whites. I figure they are small and easier to handle. If all goes well I will graduate to bourbons in a year or two.

I have Midget Whites too. Last year I bought poults from Sandhill Preservation in Iowa and ended up with 4 toms and 1 hen. We ate two of the toms (dressed out at 14# and 14 1/2# in November from spring poults) and traded 1 tom for a hen from Townline in PA. Also bought a hen from Townline. So this spring I have three hens that are laying well. I have been puting the eggs in the incubator and this week have my first 4 new babies. This first hatch was 4 out of 6. I have 3 more groups in the incubator as I set them each Friday from the eggs that week. We like the size of the butchered birs as there are just two of us and the bigger breeds would be too much meat at one time unless we split them or boned them.

 

[Damummis]

So I got this e-mail today:

"Do you mind giving me a call! I've got a really interesting story for you and some baby midget white poults, (they are here now!). Please call, if I don't answer leave a message and I will get back to you."

So White Midgets it is!!!!

I am waiting for a call. Apparently the hatchery mixed up her meat-bird order and sent 15 WM poults instead of 30 meaties. She is waiting to hear from the hatchery to find out how to handle the mix-up.

YAY!!!