Turkeys about breeding time

[CrealCritter]

My turkey Tom has started to display over the last few days. I think he's saying "come on ladies it's time to breed". I had my excess roosters and turkeys together. My wife and I separated them and I hay'ed them in. Now they are all alone in their own pen - let the egg laying begin

Turkeys, the hens started laying the middle of January last year. But this year it's a lot colder than last year.

A few excess roosters for eats - the others are in the coop up the ramp. Roosters play pretty nice together as long as there's no hens to fight over.

 

[CrealCritter]

I just checked miss BO she's none the wiser and sitting tight on the turkey eggs

 

[CrealCritter]

With all these zipped shells, I would think there has to be some baby turkeys. But I'll be doggone if I can find them. Probably hiding under the hens keeping warm. IDK... I put some food in where they are brooding, they already had water in there.

 

[CrealCritter]

mmmmmm turkey!


I want turkey but they are WAY too proud of them. $$$$$

When my hens start laying, I'll send you some eggs to hatch. They both laid big clutches last year i think between the two hens, I had almost 50 eggs. Both times at the end of winter and late spring.

I like this breed and would really like it if you would raise them and eat some (for the sake of the Bourbon Red breed). I honestly can say the Tom's bake into the best Thanksgiving turkey we've ever eat. They are delicious and the soup we make with the leftovers is also delicious.

Don't worry about the $, I'll hook you up.

 

[CrealCritter]

STILL no eggs yet - I know they don't lay on my time and all but geeze... I feel a little like I did when I was waiting for my wife to deliver my kids.

 

[CrealCritter]

Turkey egg update.. only1 egg today - so that makes a total of 6 so far...

Pic of turkey egg sitting chicken hen in action. Good thing she went broody, she is the most gentle hen i have. But unfortantly she's at the bottom of the pecking order. Hopefully she'll grow some back feathers being isolated from the rest of the flock over the time of the brood.

 

[CrealCritter]

Momma hen (me) is ready - all I need now is some baby turkeys.

Scrap lumber brooder in the nursery yard with 150 watt heat lamp ready to go.

Working hard at making baby turkeys. I'm expecting the first baby turkeys to hatch sometime this week.

 

[CrealCritter]

3 more makes 10. What I can see, still two drying out from the hatch but one hen is still holding tight on her clutch.

 

[CrealCritter]

Up to a bakers dozen now (13). Yesterday I took one of the still wet ones that was alive but was just laying the eyes closed and breathing. When I picked it up it was very weak and still had it's umbilical cord attached it was about 2" long. I laid it under the heat lamp to dry off. Later in the evening it was still laying there, it was a bit more lively but couldn't stand. So I decided to cut it's umbilical cord off as close as I could to it's body with a pair of sizzors. I then gave it some water, food, ACV mix with an eye dropper. This morning I couldn't tell which one it was that I treated, they are all very active. So I guess good ole momma hen (me) did what was right by cutting it's umbilical cord and feeding it with an eye dropper? I'm thinking it may have hatched a little to fast maybe? IDK...

Bakers dozen

 

[CrealCritter]

I'm up to 14 babies now and there are 7 eggs left that a hen is sitting on. I see 2 of the 7 eggs have pipped, so maybe more babbies tomorrow? Even if no more hatch - I'm really thankful for what has hatched.