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Post by Granny Smith on Jun 8, 2014 21:39:49 GMT -5
Belinda's boyfriend decided he doesn't want to fool with chickens and turkeys anymore, so he gave them to me! Ben and Tim fixed up the henhouse and run for me. So, I now have about 30 chickens, mostly hens.
Ben has been working on building a cute little A-frame for the turkeys. He still needs to put the tin on the roof and make a run, then we can go get the turkeys.
I am sure I had 5 or 6 big bags of feed left from when my chickens got killed, but we have looked everywhere and can't find them. I guess I'll need to order some more tomorrow. I'm feeding them cracked corn for now.
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Post by michelle on Jun 9, 2014 6:33:37 GMT -5
Congrats on the chickens and turkeys
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Post by upnorthlady2 on Jun 9, 2014 8:20:08 GMT -5
Thirty chickens should give you plenty of eggs! I see angel food cakes in your future.................
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Post by Granny Smith on Jun 10, 2014 10:25:05 GMT -5
You know, moving those chickens must have been traumatic for them. They have not laid a single egg since I got them! (4 days ago) I'm starting to wonder if they're ok. It can't be good for them to not lay eggs.
Ben finished the turkey house (it's adorable!) and run, so he went and got the turkeys last night. The tote I gave him to bring them home in broke, so he put the hen in a cage and let the tom ride in the front seat with him. He pooped on the seat. He posted a picture of him and the turkey in his truck on FB. I'll post it on my page later.
The tom has no idea how to woo the hen. He tries, bless his heart, but he's just no good at it. She was trying to accommodate him, but he fell off and stepped on her wing. I laughed till I cried!
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Post by Valerie on Jun 13, 2014 8:59:47 GMT -5
LOL!!! That's funny. Both of my roosters stand on the hens' wings, though. It's much easier on their back feathers, and I think it makes it harder for the hen to jump up and dump them off. So glad you have birds again, Gayle. They'll probably start laying once they settle in. Chickens are so fussy about change!
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Post by Granny Smith on Jun 13, 2014 14:01:51 GMT -5
I got a chicken egg this morning! Poor dumb thing didn't know to lay it in the nesting box, but at least nobody stepped on it and broke it. Got another turkey egg, too.
I was on the porch, talking to Sheila, this morning and one of the neighbors stopped and asked me if I wanted to buy his turkeys. I said I did, so he went home and got them. Now I have 2 toms and 4 hens.
The toms are fighting for supremacy. I've never seen turkeys fight before. It's the funniest thing ever! They're wrapping their necks around each others neck and biting the top of the head. When they get winded, they go to neutral corners to rest, then go at it again. They tried to jump at each other, like roosters do, but they're both too fat for that.
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Fla Gal
Prep Cook
Bunny Poo Monger
Posts: 213
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Post by Fla Gal on Jun 14, 2014 19:44:27 GMT -5
It sounds like you're having fun watching turkey TV. Congratulations on the chickens and turkeys. Before too long they'll adjust and you'll get more eggs than you can use. Good for you!
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Post by Granny Smith on Jun 14, 2014 20:47:36 GMT -5
Found out a new funny turkey thing today - when I laugh, they gobble! That makes me laugh more. It's a vicious circle. LOL
Got 5 chicken eggs and 1 turkey egg today. That's almost enough for breakfast. The kids are already hinting at pickled eggs.
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Jun 15, 2014 15:24:19 GMT -5
Gayle what breed of turkeys? If they are broad breasted, you need to go ahead and eat the toms as they cannot breed. If they are heritage breeds, you need to separate the toms before they injure each other. Give each a chance to breed the hens and watch them. Some never get the hang of it and will injure the hens trying to breed. Keep the one who does it right. If neither does it, eat both and look for a heritage breed tom who can actually do it without hurting the hens.
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Post by Granny Smith on Jun 15, 2014 18:56:51 GMT -5
The big white turkey is a broad-breasted. I plan on butchering him. I don't know what kind the others are. The toms seem to have reached a truce.
I noticed one of the 'hens' has a beard. I was thinking, 'Great, now I'll have another problem'. Then I saw her lay an egg (and eat it!) UGH! I reckon I won't be getting any turkey eggs if I don't butcher that one.
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Jun 15, 2014 19:54:20 GMT -5
It is not unusual for older hens to have beards, but you do not need an egg eater.
Post some pix, might be able to tell from that.
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Post by Granny Smith on Jun 15, 2014 20:34:09 GMT -5
This is the only picture I have right now~
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Jun 15, 2014 21:26:39 GMT -5
The red tom is a Bourbon Red, the hen in front of him is probably a standard (not BB) bronze, can't see the white one on the left too well, but looks like BB white (dinner), hard to see the hen on the right, may be a bourbon red, but looks a little light, can't tell much about the one behind her. The bourbon tom should be able to breed if he isn't too clumsy.
They need a much bigger pen with a roost that is about 4 ft off the ground and a higher fence. The hens need a private place to lay with a roof that is about 2 ft above the level of the nest area to keep the tom from trying to breed her while she is laying or setting.
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Post by Granny Smith on Jun 16, 2014 10:22:22 GMT -5
I thought a couple of them might be Bourbon Reds, but I wasn't positive.
I'm not surprised that the housing isn't up to par. We didn't build it for this many turkeys. I was only getting 2 when we made it - and I hadn't seen them yet. We're planning on building either a bigger coop or a small barn. I'd prefer the barn so I can get a couple of goats and a few sheep.
I wasn't sure if the fence was high enough, but none of them have challenged it. They can't fly because I clipped their wings and I haven't noticed any of them trying to climb.
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Post by Valerie on Jun 16, 2014 12:25:05 GMT -5
Nice! I like turkeys. Mine will probably be just like a big dog until she dies of old age.
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