Turkeys...Those Big Feathered Dogs

[babsbag]

I true BYH addict is going to join the turkey world. I have been raising chickens for a while and added ducks last year. I am even a member on BYC, met one of my closest friends on there about 8 years ago... I have about 50 chickens.

Turkey questions.

• So how do I know if my flock has Blackhead? Should I just assume that they do. They free range on about 1/4 acre.
  
• Is worming my chickens to rid them of the cecal worm enough to prevent a potential problem? I understand that I can use Fenbendazole in the water for this. That is doable.
  
• I only want to raise a few and hope to get one to butcher this fall...to start. It doesn't have to be broad breasted. I am looking for some poults locally as I waited to long to order from the feed store. Breed suggestions? Red Bourbon is on Craigslist right now if they still have some.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[Duckling and Spider]

I'm really liking this multi-quote thing. I mean, we could multi quote before, but the feature to highlight parts and then the quote button pops up is cool. Of course, I had to switch to the PC, because it's too hard to highlight stuff on my phone.

Thank you so much for telling me (us)!!

 

[Duckling and Spider]

I true BYH addict is going to join the turkey world. I have been raising chickens for a while and added ducks last year. I am even a member on BYC, met one of my closest friends on there about 8 years ago... I have about 50 chickens.

Turkey questions.

• So how do I know if my flock has Blackhead? Should I just assume that they do. They free range on about 1/4 acre.
  
• Is worming my chickens to rid them of the cecal worm enough to prevent a potential problem? I understand that I can use Fenbendazole in the water for this. That is doable.
  
• I only want to raise a few and hope to get one to butcher this fall...to start. It doesn't have to be broad breasted. I am looking for some poults locally as I waited to long to order from the feed store. Breed suggestions? Red Bourbon is on Craigslist right now if they still have some.

Thanks for any tips.

Blackhead is in the soil. Afraid I can't remember the symptoms right now. I wouldn't assume anything. Just consider it if something seems off (you can ask around to see if anyone has a problem with it).
BR are heritage, and will be ready for butcher as early as six months, but they will be small. A good time is more 18 mos. That is a matter of taste though. Some will say twelve.
Midget Whites are another good breed. Especially for a small family.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I true BYH addict is going to join the turkey world. I have been raising chickens for a while and added ducks last year. I am even a member on BYC, met one of my closest friends on there about 8 years ago... I have about 50 chickens.

Turkey questions.

• So how do I know if my flock has Blackhead? Should I just assume that they do. They free range on about 1/4 acre.
  
• Is worming my chickens to rid them of the cecal worm enough to prevent a potential problem? I understand that I can use Fenbendazole in the water for this. That is doable.
  
• I only want to raise a few and hope to get one to butcher this fall...to start. It doesn't have to be broad breasted. I am looking for some poults locally as I waited to long to order from the feed store. Breed suggestions? Red Bourbon is on Craigslist right now if they still have some.

Thanks for any tips.

Most times you won't know if blackheads is in your soil until you try turkeys out. I believe the head darkens than they become lethargic.

I don't know if working your chickens will help, I think long term it's not a sustainable way. You could just keep them on separate ground if you find you have a problem.

Heritage grow slow and as mentioned will be a small carcass. Broad breasted are best for butchering, heritage are best for keeping a sustainable flock.

Bourbon reds are friendly birds. I like mine.

There are basically 3 types of turkeys, midgets, broad breasted, and heritage, which come in many colors, varieties and breeds, but all share a similar body type and growth rate. They can reproduce, so can the midget white.

 

[Auroradream26]

Mr. T should be a dad any moment now!

YAY! pictures are required lol.

My last turkey hatch of the year is due on Friday (they'll hatch Thursday though, they always do). People are going to be fighting over them. I swear, at least 8 people are interested in them and they all want 6....there's only 8 eggs lol

Its also my first and only muscovy duck hatch too.I've never done ducks so we'll see how this goes

 

[Auroradream26]

I only want to raise a few and hope to get one to butcher this fall...to start. It doesn't have to be broad breasted. I am looking for some poults locally as I waited to long to order from the feed store. Breed suggestions? Red Bourbon is on Craigslist right now if they still have some.

It may be a bit late in the season to get a heritage type and still have time to grow him to a good size. You would be lucky to get 12 lbs dressed out. I know this one from experience. We did just butcher or 2 year old BR tom a couple weeks ago and he dressed out at 20 lbs. They still get big, they just take more time.

 

[Duckling and Spider]

The big dog is down to one duck egg.

 

[babsbag]

Thanks for the info on breeds. 12-14 lbs is about what I buy in the stores when I can find them that small. I will look at the BB ones, but haven't seen any locally for sale. I was going to order through my feed store but life seriously got in the way of my month of April so it never got done. Shipping for just a few poults is pretty cost prohibitive and I certainly don't need any more chickens. I have 27 home grown in the brooder now and probably close to 50 adults. I throw away a lot of eggs as it is.

As far as blackhead goes, I don't have another place for the turkeys to live that is predator proof and has water available and shelter. Maybe this just isn't meant to be.

 

[rjohns39]

Thanks for the info on breeds. 12-14 lbs is about what I buy in the stores when I can find them that small. I will look at the BB ones, but haven't seen any locally for sale. I was going to order through my feed store but life seriously got in the way of my month of April so it never got done. Shipping for just a few poults is pretty cost prohibitive and I certainly don't need any more chickens. I have 27 home grown in the brooder now and probably close to 50 adults. I throw away a lot of eggs as it is.

As far as blackhead goes, I don't have another place for the turkeys to live that is predator proof and has water available and shelter. Maybe this just isn't meant to be.

Not sure how far you are from woodland, but here's a URL to heritage breeders in CA.http://www.spnusa.com/certification.html#certified There may be more in training and they might be willing to sell older poults that won't make it as breeders.

 

[babsbag]

thank you. I am about 2 hours from Woodland so that is totally doable. I will check them out.