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Post by katievt on May 28, 2015 16:24:04 GMT
So... I've been thinking I'd like to get some turkeys. With the bird flu probably going to raise turkey prices, plus just wanting to be more sustainable, it seems like a good idea to get a heritage breed that hopefully could brood their own poults. I've mentioned purchasing 15 poults (minimum order from most hatcheries) to my husband before. He has many projects on his list right now and we said not this year. However - someone has some adult Narragansett Turkeys for sale on Craigslist. They are in the next town over. And my mind is spinning on how we can make turkeys work THIS year. Here is the ad: "Seven adult Narragansett turkeys. Two toms, five laying hens. Will sell as breeding trios or possibly singles. Asking $ 90 as trios, individual hens $30, individual toms $40. Toms 20-22lbs." Does that seem like a good price? Is this a good heritage breed to have on a homestead? I am thinking about a trio. What type of questions should I ask the seller? I saw mentioned that some lines are aggressive, while others are docile; I'll want docile turkeys. Basically I am asking for reasons why or why not to get these turkeys before I tell my husband about them.  |
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Post by oldmania on May 28, 2015 16:30:05 GMT
Okay. You're crazy.  |
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Post by wally on May 28, 2015 17:42:59 GMT
If you have the facilites in place, buy the turkeys and then tell DH you got them for him as you thought he would enjoy them.
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Post by bergere on May 28, 2015 19:13:22 GMT
Pretty good prices.. they would be more spendy in this area.
And no, you are not crazy.... go get those birds! LOL
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Post by katievt on May 28, 2015 23:06:16 GMT
I called the guy and got more details.
They are 2 & 3 (just turned) years old. The 3 yr old hens are setting right now; the first time they have done so. One is close to hatching; the other just started. They have always just hatched them in an incubator.
The Toms are friendly; will eat out of your hand. No aggression to humans. Females are a bit shyer.
They are moving out of state, which is why they are selling. He would sell both trios together for $150.
Is that a good age or are they considered old? He said I could have the eggs - how probable is it that the hens would go back on them (it's about a 15 min drive)? We would have to frame in a coop, but it wouldn't take long or be difficult or expensive.
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Post by katievt on May 28, 2015 23:07:25 GMT
Oh and my husband is on board with the idea. He suggested getting both trios!
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Post by claytonpiano on May 29, 2015 0:41:22 GMT
Nothing really wrong with the age. This way maybe they won't break the eggs if you let the female raise new babies. We loved our turkeys. The problem was they loved DH so much that they followed him around like a dog. Their face was always next to him when he was working. Sure made it hard when Thanksgiving rolled around.
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Post by Muller's Lane Farm on May 29, 2015 1:01:38 GMT
Iove the Narri breed. Since they're heritage breeds they don't get to full growth until about a year.
We let our hens hatch the eggs but raise the poults in a brooder.
Our turkeys hang out with the chickens & other poultry.
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Post by barefootfarmer on May 29, 2015 1:02:30 GMT
I would jump all over that. I raise Bourbon Red and Spanish Black turkeys. It's the best when they hatch out their own young. I have 3 hens setting on nests right now, and 24 more eggs in my incubator. I don't have much info on your breed. But this link will help www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/narragansettOlder turkeys can always be pressure canned into soup and stock. That's what we do. You could sell poults to help off set cost as well. Go get them! |
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Post by Muller's Lane Farm on May 29, 2015 1:03:42 GMT
Try to transport the hen on her eggs in a dog crate, then keep her in the crate awhile to see if she settles ... or wair until they hatch before getting them or set up an incubator for them
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Post by katievt on May 29, 2015 1:58:38 GMT
Well - we are picking them up on Sunday! We will attempt to move the eggs; he says it is about a month, so maybe they'll hatch by then. We were planning on using dog crates to move them anyway, but keeping a nesting hen in one is a great idea.
Pretty excited! I may be crazy, but why not be completely crazy!
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Post by Muller's Lane Farm on May 29, 2015 2:46:26 GMT
Turkey hatch about 28 days so you may have poults by Sunday!
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Post by manygoatsnmore on May 29, 2015 5:51:13 GMT
I'm excited for you...hopefully, you'll have poults to bring home, and if not, if they are that close to hatching and the moms can hear them talking in the shells, I bet there's a good chance they'll stick with them. I think it goes without saying that we need pics!
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Post by katievt on May 29, 2015 14:14:13 GMT
Another question: I see poults need special turkey feed (28% protein). Do adults need special feed or do they eat normal layer crumbles/pellets?
We use Poulin Grain feed. Their layer feed is 15% protein, they also have an "Egg Production Plus" that is 18%. We are currently using their grower/finisher (15% protein) as our chickens & ducks are not yet laying. They have a turkey grower/finisher at 20% protein. It would be great to use the same feed for all poultry if possible, but I want to do what's best for them as well. What would you recommend?
Keep in mind, they will be free-ranging during the day eating insects.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2015 18:59:56 GMT
I am giving my turkey poults chick crumbles & so far so good. My aunt fed the free-ranging adult turkeys & chicks the same layer feed, with scratch & veggies & treats of course. I have same problem - once my great niece named them Thanksgiving looked tough. Keep us up to date please as you continue as I can use advice based on experience & mine are just a few weeks old.
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