Turkeys about breeding time

[baymule]

Is their run/yard covered to prevent them from flying out or predators getting in?

 

[Mini Horses]

2 are noticably smaller than the rest (center front and far right) I'm not sure why this is?

May just et pushed away from feeder by larger. Kids don't always play fair.

They are absolutely horrible mother's.

Well -- I can see that 10-12 of those rascals messing with me all day might make me bad, too Some just don't invest in the raising. I have some hens who stay with them a couple months Have one that walks away when they roost but, she does find and check on them during the day. Some are like pitbulls & others -- " hey, take them and give me a break!"

 

[CrealCritter]

Is their run/yard covered to prevent them from flying out or predators getting in?

Yes ma'am - poultry netting over the entire yard. Closed it with 2x4 welded wire and 2' high chicken wire around the bottom. And if that's not enough there is 3 runs of electric wire @ 6" 1' and 3' off the ground. The 2x4 fence is ground and the wires are hot. I've lost count of the number of wild animals that we're taught a lesson about electricity. Earlier this week a watched a young fox nosing around the yard after I closed the chickens up and cut the electric fence on. The fox hit the lower wire jumped about 3' high all while yelping. Then it took off into the woods behind the house. There's not enough amperage to seriously hurt any animal but the voltage is 10,000 so it gets their attention.

I'm going to move the babies tomorrow. I just picked up a tarp to throw over top on the poulty netting in a 8' x 10' section of the yard where their roost, food and water is. I also stood up some galvanized sheets on the west side of the same section so they will have shade if they want some.

 

[CrealCritter]

May just et pushed away from feeder by larger. Kids don't always play fair.



Well -- I can see that 10-12 of those rascals messing with me all day might make me bad, too Some just don't invest in the raising. I have some hens who stay with them a couple months Have one that walks away when they roost but, she does find and check on them during the day. Some are like pitbulls & others -- " hey, take them and give me a break!"

Well I turned the smaller ones over on their back while holding in my hand. They pulled both legs up tight to their chest after they simmered down, so I'm calling them hens. I did the same to a few of the large ones and they pushed their legs straight out so I believe they are Tom's. This sexing technique works great for me with chicken chicks, I hope it works the same with turkey chicks.

They have not run out of feed yet. I've had 21% meat bird crumbles in front of them since they hatched.

 

[baymule]

Well I turned the smaller ones over on their back while holding in my hand. They pulled both legs up tight to their chest after they simmered down, so I'm calling them hens. I did the same to a few of the large ones and they pushed their legs straight out so I believe they are Tom's. This sexing technique works great for me with chicken chicks, I hope it works the same with turkey chicks.

.

This works with chicken chicks? At what age?

 

[CrealCritter]

This works with chicken chicks? At what age?

From a couple of days old up until they get to big to hold in your hand. The key is to get them to relax while flipped over on their back might take about 30 seconds or so. This is how I picked out my buff orpengton chicks out of the tub at the farm store. I picked out 15 hens and 1 rooster out of the tub and thats what they grew up to be. I also picked out all the roosters out of 2 hatches and I ended up with all roosters and 1 hen. So darn close to 100% accurate. Even if a chick extends 1 leg when it relaxes it's a male. Hens are the ones that pull both legs up tight to their chest once relaxed.

 

[CrealCritter]

They like their 10' x 30' yard and 4' x 8' coop. I had a bunch of buff orpengton roosters in this yard but they went into the freezer a couple of weeks ago

 

[sumi]

From a couple of days old up until they get to big to hold in your hand. The key is to get them to relax while flipped over on their back might take about 30 seconds or so. This is how I picked out my buff orpengton chicks out of the tub at the farm store. I picked out 15 hens and 1 rooster out of the tub and thats what they grew up to be. I also picked out all the roosters out of 2 hatches and I ended up with all roosters and 1 hen. So darn close to 100% accurate. Even if a chick extends 1 leg when it relaxes it's a male. Hens are the ones that pull both legs up tight to their chest once relaxed.

This is interesting! I'll give it a try when I have chicks again.

 

[CrealCritter]

My burbon red turkeys have gone plum loco!

So late last week I seen the Tom mounting both of my hens. Ok this is weird, since the hens have already laid two clutches this year. One clutch late winter and the other clutch mid summer - but a third clutch this year?

Today I seen the two hens out but I didn't see the tom. He pretty big so it's not like he can hide easy. Well I checked the little shelter I built for them and sure enough there old Tom stitting down the the shelter. Odd I thought he's rarely sitting anywhere unless on a the perch. So I poked at him to try and get him to move but nothing doing... Then I picked him up which was not easy and underneath the Tom is 2 turkey eggs. That's right the TOM is sitting on eggs NOT THE HENS. What in the world is going on here? It's the weirdest thing I ever seen... 3 clutches in one year and a bloody TOM.

Pic of Tom after I picked him up off two eggs. Looks like 3 eggs we're laid but one broke. This is the weirdest thing, A BROODY TOM??? Dude you got a big ole long black beard why you sitting on eggs?

 

[NH Homesteader]

Heritage turkey toms often do that. Weird eh?