pics of my turkeys and incubator question

[freemotion]

These two had better get their act together this year! Just in case, I'll be getting an incubator and putting some eggs in. Anybody know if I can incubate turkey eggs with chicken eggs by starting the turkeys a week earlier?

I got an egg turner while in TSC the other day, and plan on getting the incubator it goes into the next time I have $45 to burn. I plan on raising some chicks to sell and some to keep (with that brilliant rooster return policy...whose idea was that? Sorry, I forgot!), along with whoever volunteers to go broody. Hopefully, stuff some day-old chicks under a broody at night!

 

[miss_thenorth]

Yes, you can do a staggered hatch. I have even done it where I put all the eggs in on the same day, and after the quail hatched, I let it go to finish the chicken eggs. Your way would be better though, so they all hatch together. That way you don't have to worry about humidity loss etc.

 

[Ohioann]

I too have hatched turkeys and chickens in the same incubator at the same time. I have also brooded the two together for the first week or so with success.

 

[TanksHill]

Pretty bird. One of my hens is setting a clutch of eggs right now. I don't have an incubator but would love one some day.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

g

 

[freemotion]

Thanks everyone, I was hoping you all would say that! I hope to pick up a rooster today so will have fertile eggs again. Turkey hasn't started laying yet, but should within the month.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

g

You know I will!

 

[Henrietta23]

Yay!! Your birds are beautiful!
If you keep any of the chicks until you can sex them, I'm probably going to be looking for a couple of pullets this year. I'd much rather buy them from you than a stranger on CL!

 

[freemotion]

I will be keeping many chicks, some as replacement laying hens, and roos for the freezer. Unless we lose too many from hawks again (using the tractor this year!) we'll have something for ya!

 

[Henrietta23]

I will be keeping many chicks, some as replacement laying hens, and roos for the freezer. Unless we lose too many from hawks again (using the tractor this year!) we'll have something for ya!

Sweeeet! I've still got 15 hens, but only about half of them are laying. We lost 3 this fall to "natural causes". The ones that are laying aren't laying every day. So we're getting less than two dozen eggs a week and I'm having to buy them at the co-op. And DS is missing selling his extras at church to make his monthly donation to Haiti and his personal Lego fund. We need new pullets!
And yes, the old hens stay at Kristin's Retirement Village for Old Biddies.....

 

[TanksHill]

So I wanted to share a picture. I hope that's ok. This is the turkey egg I got yesterday. I am happy to see how big they are getting. I am just not sure if my tom is doing his job.

The one in the background is about the size of a normal large chicken egg. The one in front is obviously much bigger.

The one in the back middle is the big one.

g

 

[patandchickens]

Anybody know if I can incubate turkey eggs with chicken eggs by starting the turkeys a week earlier?

Absolutely, it's worked for me and I'm really not any great shakes at incubating eggs so if I can do it ANYONE can

Pat