Quail_Antwerp
Cold is on the Right, Hot is on The Left
I think - if she's single - we should pair her up with my FIL and pray that they spend the next 20 years making each other miserable until death do they part.
Ohiofarmgirl'sAdventuresinTheGoodLand-where ya been? whatcha been doin
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kcsunshine
Almost Self-Reliant
You're Baaaad!
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ohiofarmgirl
Sipping Bacon Martinis
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ha! thanks guys!
the thing is - her son (my husband) and her husband are the nicest men ever. its just mind boggling... the husband is really fun - if he can ever get a word in edgewise. its kinda like talking with a ventriloquist... i'll ask him a question and she answers. its very weird.
i think i'm about over it. it just makes me so mad - we work so hard on our food and to have someone just not even appreciate it is grating. where i come from, no matter what, you always say "oh this is the best supper EVER" or something. or THANKS. geez.
but not even a peep from her except could she have some of the corn to take home. and we didnt have any iced tea (we dont drink it). ugh!
plus she makes up ridiculous stories - like how Debbie the goat came from an abused home (HUH?).
whatever.
anyway. at least we have lots of leftovers!
the great news is that our orchard friends have tons of peaches. we got two baskets of 2nds and 1 basket of "thirds"...and then we got 2 lbs of greenbeans and 2 dozen ears of corn from our amish neighbors - all for only $14! the "worst" basket of peaches was only $2...so my cobbler was only a dollar... i only could use half. their "first quality" peaches are usually $16 a basket.
we ate most of our beans from the garden... so i might just go back to our neighbors and get more for canning. they just have a little stand set up at the end of their lane. i'm thinking for $10 we'd have more beans canned than we could use! whoot!
we have the worst humidity ever today - i need to swim out there and squeeze them goats. then come in and take a shower.
the thing is - her son (my husband) and her husband are the nicest men ever. its just mind boggling... the husband is really fun - if he can ever get a word in edgewise. its kinda like talking with a ventriloquist... i'll ask him a question and she answers. its very weird.
i think i'm about over it. it just makes me so mad - we work so hard on our food and to have someone just not even appreciate it is grating. where i come from, no matter what, you always say "oh this is the best supper EVER" or something. or THANKS. geez.
but not even a peep from her except could she have some of the corn to take home. and we didnt have any iced tea (we dont drink it). ugh!
plus she makes up ridiculous stories - like how Debbie the goat came from an abused home (HUH?).
whatever.
anyway. at least we have lots of leftovers!
the great news is that our orchard friends have tons of peaches. we got two baskets of 2nds and 1 basket of "thirds"...and then we got 2 lbs of greenbeans and 2 dozen ears of corn from our amish neighbors - all for only $14! the "worst" basket of peaches was only $2...so my cobbler was only a dollar... i only could use half. their "first quality" peaches are usually $16 a basket.
we ate most of our beans from the garden... so i might just go back to our neighbors and get more for canning. they just have a little stand set up at the end of their lane. i'm thinking for $10 we'd have more beans canned than we could use! whoot!
we have the worst humidity ever today - i need to swim out there and squeeze them goats. then come in and take a shower.
Javamama
Almost Self-Reliant
Ugh, humidity. Storms are coming to move the humidity out thank goodness. I can barley breathe it's so bad out today.
Are the cicadas/locusts singing in your neck of the woods? It's my favorite sound other than the ducks. I swear those ducks sound like there's a big guy having a good laugh out there. One in particular has a very deep quack. Cracks me up!
Are the cicadas/locusts singing in your neck of the woods? It's my favorite sound other than the ducks. I swear those ducks sound like there's a big guy having a good laugh out there. One in particular has a very deep quack. Cracks me up!
TanksHill
Super Self-Sufficient
Sorry about the MIL. I am sure all the food was wonderful.
On a different note. I am thinking about Turkeys. I ordered Storeys Guide to Turkey but do you have any links while I wait.
I need to review the basics. Sq footage, free ranging, Heritage breeds etc..
How long until you can dress a bird? do they get tough like chicken if there to old?
Any help would be great.
Thanks, gina
On a different note. I am thinking about Turkeys. I ordered Storeys Guide to Turkey but do you have any links while I wait.
I need to review the basics. Sq footage, free ranging, Heritage breeds etc..
How long until you can dress a bird? do they get tough like chicken if there to old?
Any help would be great.
Thanks, gina
Farmfresh
City Biddy
I have been raising 5 to 7 turkeys a year for a while now. I raise them with my chickens and have never had any disease problems, but that maybe because I don't keep them very long. I have raised Heritage breeds (Slate, Royal Palm and Bourbon Reds) as well as Broad Breasted Bronze.TanksHill said:
This year I have 5 BBBs, two jakes and three jills (that is turkey talk for young boys and girls). I actually prefer the BBB. They are quite calm and have nice personalities. I think the flavor of the meat is better on the Heritage however. Bourbon Reds IMO taste best. The birds start putting on fat at about 19 to 20 weeks, so they recommend butchering at 22 weeks. I just shoot for somewhere around there. And yes old anything gets tough.
TanksHill
Super Self-Sufficient
Thank you!!! One more question, do they roost? Ok maybe two. How many sq feet per bird? I have an empty coop with an 8 x 16 run. That with free ranging would be enough? Oh and do they put themselves to bed like chickens? Ok maybe 3 questions.
17 weeks until Turkey day. Is it to late? I guess we could eat them for Christmas. Oh, but wait they are 3 weeks old at the feed store. I bet they planned this. Ha, that would make sense.
gina
17 weeks until Turkey day. Is it to late? I guess we could eat them for Christmas. Oh, but wait they are 3 weeks old at the feed store. I bet they planned this. Ha, that would make sense.
gina
freemotion
Food Guru
More then you ever wanted to know about turkeys: http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=92240
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ohiofarmgirl
Sipping Bacon Martinis
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hey everyone! we are talking turkey? ahh.. my favorite topic! (aside from pig hatin, that is)
the storey's guide to turkey raising is really good. but if you wanna learn from the master.. well you gotta go to Turkey Steve. did everyone see their articles this past spring including this one:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/The-Happy-Homesteader/Raising-Turkey-Poults.aspx
the only thing we do differently is that we like the heritage ones much better than the BBW's (FF is so much better at her meat birds than we are!)....and we always lock our turks up at nite. i think Turkey Steve lets some of his roost outside at nite.
someone else asked me for a turkey primer and maybe i'll work on that this week. this was my short answer to them:
------
The short answer is that most folks do not think turkeys and chickens should be house or run together. Blackhead is a disease that chickens dont really get - but it kills turkeys.
We don't house or run our turks with the waterfowl b/c we tend to have cocci in our soil (doesnt bother the ducks, kills the poults).
Heritage breed turks are VERY cold hardy. They really just need shelter out of the wind - even as cold as you are there. An enclosed shelter is best, tho, as it provides optimal shelter and protection from predators. Two of our turkey hens got away from Foxy Brown... but we think she got a third. Also a roosting hen wont move off her nest even if the coons try to get her. So we always lock everyone up tight just before dusk.
We love the turks b/c they are a better food value than chickens, are fun, are mostly easy keepers, love to free range, and reproduce naturally.
Definitely get turks - especially the heritage breeds! We started our herd/flock with 4 Bourbon Reds and they did great.
-----
also, Free said that she checked with her local extension agency as blackhead tends to be regional (is that right?) and you either have it or you dont.
we kept our birds away from the chickens.. but then you know, Runner and Turkey Bob ended up in the hen house and now everyone is kinda in a big heap. the majority of the flocks are separated in different houses and in different yards. sometimes the turkeys beat up on the chickens (heck one of the turkey hens chased our barncat, Shine, every day for a week until he realized he should stay out of that yard).
our biggest problem has been cocci in the poults - but since ours naturally produce we are building a flock where the strongest, and most resistant, survive -- and also predators.
the raccoons have raided outdoor nests (and reached thru and grabbed eggs from under one setter) but have not killed any of the hens (again, why we lock everyone up at nite). and that stupid Foxy Brown has grabbed and injured 2 of our gals (but they got away) and we think we lost one altogether.
the poults tend to be more tender than chickens or ducks - which just requires more attention, a warmer brooder if you dont have a momma, and more babying. but once they reach a certain size, they really are very self sufficient. ours like to free range better than bagged food, which makes them cheap keepers.
you can dress the heritage breeds older - up to 2 years i want to say... we did some at 18 months and honestly, they were huge and um.. that is.. er... "put up a fight." so we wont let them get that big again.
but if you end up with a huge BBW - just ask Buster how he took that monster down! wow!
and yep they like to roost. even if its on a straw bale for the heavier males.
we tend to scoot ours in at least 30 mins before sunset - otherwise they start flying up into the trees and that is just a problem for everyone. but they are easy to 'drive'.
and they are mostly easy to keep in the fence - as long as they have everything they need they will stay put.
the only draw back - is their poop is like tar. good heavens its a misery.
Gina - if they have them at the feed store, get in your car and run right down there! get at least 3 so they can huddle together - 5 would be best.
happy turkey-ing!!!
the storey's guide to turkey raising is really good. but if you wanna learn from the master.. well you gotta go to Turkey Steve. did everyone see their articles this past spring including this one:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/The-Happy-Homesteader/Raising-Turkey-Poults.aspx
the only thing we do differently is that we like the heritage ones much better than the BBW's (FF is so much better at her meat birds than we are!)....and we always lock our turks up at nite. i think Turkey Steve lets some of his roost outside at nite.
someone else asked me for a turkey primer and maybe i'll work on that this week. this was my short answer to them:
------
The short answer is that most folks do not think turkeys and chickens should be house or run together. Blackhead is a disease that chickens dont really get - but it kills turkeys.
We don't house or run our turks with the waterfowl b/c we tend to have cocci in our soil (doesnt bother the ducks, kills the poults).
Heritage breed turks are VERY cold hardy. They really just need shelter out of the wind - even as cold as you are there. An enclosed shelter is best, tho, as it provides optimal shelter and protection from predators. Two of our turkey hens got away from Foxy Brown... but we think she got a third. Also a roosting hen wont move off her nest even if the coons try to get her. So we always lock everyone up tight just before dusk.
We love the turks b/c they are a better food value than chickens, are fun, are mostly easy keepers, love to free range, and reproduce naturally.
Definitely get turks - especially the heritage breeds! We started our herd/flock with 4 Bourbon Reds and they did great.
-----
also, Free said that she checked with her local extension agency as blackhead tends to be regional (is that right?) and you either have it or you dont.
we kept our birds away from the chickens.. but then you know, Runner and Turkey Bob ended up in the hen house and now everyone is kinda in a big heap. the majority of the flocks are separated in different houses and in different yards. sometimes the turkeys beat up on the chickens (heck one of the turkey hens chased our barncat, Shine, every day for a week until he realized he should stay out of that yard).
our biggest problem has been cocci in the poults - but since ours naturally produce we are building a flock where the strongest, and most resistant, survive -- and also predators.
the raccoons have raided outdoor nests (and reached thru and grabbed eggs from under one setter) but have not killed any of the hens (again, why we lock everyone up at nite). and that stupid Foxy Brown has grabbed and injured 2 of our gals (but they got away) and we think we lost one altogether.
the poults tend to be more tender than chickens or ducks - which just requires more attention, a warmer brooder if you dont have a momma, and more babying. but once they reach a certain size, they really are very self sufficient. ours like to free range better than bagged food, which makes them cheap keepers.
you can dress the heritage breeds older - up to 2 years i want to say... we did some at 18 months and honestly, they were huge and um.. that is.. er... "put up a fight." so we wont let them get that big again.
but if you end up with a huge BBW - just ask Buster how he took that monster down! wow!
and yep they like to roost. even if its on a straw bale for the heavier males.
we tend to scoot ours in at least 30 mins before sunset - otherwise they start flying up into the trees and that is just a problem for everyone. but they are easy to 'drive'.
and they are mostly easy to keep in the fence - as long as they have everything they need they will stay put.
the only draw back - is their poop is like tar. good heavens its a misery.
Gina - if they have them at the feed store, get in your car and run right down there! get at least 3 so they can huddle together - 5 would be best.
happy turkey-ing!!!
Farmfresh
City Biddy
If you get tiny babies I DO like starting a couple of chicks with them. The chicks seem to figure out where the food is and how do go about eating it A LOT better than the turkey poults do. If you have chicks with them they just follow along.
If they are already 3 weeks old that should not be a problem at all.
If they are already 3 weeks old that should not be a problem at all.
