B&B Happy Goats....journal

Baymule

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He's so big, that you will have to part him out to get him to fit in a bag. I buy the quart (width) and gallon (width) on rolls, cut, seal on end and make my own bag. I bagged up a whole 7 pound, 7 ounce CCX hen and like to not got her in the bag. There was a whole lot of easing going on. Maybe cut the breast in half and bag each half. You will figure it out.

Sorry about the pet thing, if you want a pet turkey, get a Royal Palm, they are strikingly beautiful and they STOP growing.

https://www.cacklehatchery.com/royal-palm-turkey.html
 

CntryBoy777

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I remember her....oft times I have thought to say something, but get distracted and then don't remember to ask....:)

Now, @Baymule I don't plan on being up there Plucking to wee hrs of the nite, nor do I plan on "packing a bag"....:lol:....she has enough already "lined up", but now she'll be "adding to the line"......:gig......:)
 

SA Farm

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Ha ha! now you see why birds scare me?
Every time I've rehabilitated a baby bird it ended up hating me but loving everyone else it met o_O
Birds don't like me, i'm telling you :lol:
They sense your fear. Most animals don’t trust people who exhibit emotions that signal danger...If you’re feeling fear around a bird you’re going to put it on edge looking for a threat - easy enough for them to assume it’s you ;)
 

Senile_Texas_Aggie

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Will do that for sure, i just got the guy, dang...sure feel bad sending him to camp !

Miss @B&B Happy goats,

I say if you like the turkey as a pet, then keep him. Even if he continues to get big and then dies, you will have enjoyed his company for a while. Each one of us has had pets like dogs and cats, but we don't feel the need to kill and eat them just because they get old and die. It's YOUR decision, not mine or Miss @Baymule's or anyone else. If you decide to kill him or give him away, that's your decision as well. You don't owe any of us an explanation. My (Senile Texas Aggie's) two cents worth.
 

SA Farm

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Miss @B&B Happy goats,

I say if you like the turkey as a pet, then keep him. Even if he continues to get big and then dies, you will have enjoyed his company for a while. Each one of us has had pets like dogs and cats, but we don't feel the need to kill and eat them just because they get old and die. It's YOUR decision, not mine or Miss @Baymule's or anyone else. If you decide to kill him or give him away, that's your decision as well. You don't owe any of us an explanation. My (Senile Texas Aggie's) two cents worth.
I believe it was a suggestion based on useful and factual information, not a decision made on B&B’s behalf ;)
Everyone on the forum has as much right to offer opinions and suggestions as the person receiving them has to do their own thing :thumbsup
 

Baymule

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I'm sorry that he didn't work out for you. It is just the nature of the beast. The Broad Breasted White and Cornish Cross both have done wonders for making available good meat at good prices. They just don't have a long life. Sorry for popping your bubble, but you needed to know so you could make an informed decision. Now about those black heritage...….pictures? LOL
 

Bruce

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They sense your fear. Most animals don’t trust people who exhibit emotions that signal danger...If you’re feeling fear around a bird you’re going to put it on edge looking for a threat - easy enough for them to assume it’s you ;)
Yep they smell fear. DD1's cat has feline hyperesthesia and sometimes strikes out if something spooks him. If he is in a twitchy mood we know to be cautious. 3 of us will talk to him and pass by, DD2 is afraid he will get her and is clearly exuding fear. There are 2 staircases in the house, if he is on one, she'll go to the other one.
 

farmerjan

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Just my 2 cents..... the heritage turkeys will be more active, will chase down more bugs and scratch more in the lots looking for bugs, grubs, worms etc. Their manure will also be much firmer. The BB white and BB bronze "improved " turkeys seem to have a little different physiology as far as utilization of the feed they eat. Besides eating alot more, they just seem to be much looser when they poop. It also may have to do with them not being as active. One other thing to think about, they could be a potential source of some extra income selling their fertile eggs and maybe even young poults. You might want to check into some of the purebred poultry shows and if there are any close, you could take the eggs and sell as hatching eggs. You would be better off getting both rather than one. Turkeys are flock birds, and the heritage breeds are more like "wild" in as much as things like running in flocks etc. is more developed. They will be happier with one of their own kind for company. You don't have to go crazy with the hatching eggs or even raising tons of baby turkeys, but it might add a little back into the kitty for feed costs.
Keeping mr.turkey for a pet wouldn't have been the end of the world, but they do eat alot, and do have a shorter life so not the most economical. I kept one hen one time, she laid about 20 eggs her whole life, and died before she was 2. Oh well. Of the breeds that are considered heritage, royal palms are probably the smallest, and they do a good job of sitting & raising their own. All the other breeds are on average in the 25 lb size at maturity for the tom, some a little bigger some a little smaller, in the standard of perfection. But the size is more evenly distributed and balanced whereas the BB white commercial ones just keep getting larger and more breast meat and get out of proportion. Nature of the beast and what they were bred for.
If you have an opportunity to get the pair, I think you should try them. They will fly too, and will probably prefer roosting in a tree. Again, that "heritage wild" type thing. You can clip one wing to prevent them from flying, but they are less prone to predators if they can tree roost. Most owls and hawks will not tackle a mature turkey.
 
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