NH Homesteader- turkeys!

[babsbag]

@NH homesteader How old is your buckling and what kind is he? Mine can successfully breed at about 5 months. (ask me how I know...doe is due in 4 days) As long as they can reach the doe they can usually do the deed.

 

[NH homesteader]

He's a 7 month old Nigie. He's lacking in the sophistication department. Lol we will see what happens, the doe I need bred ASAP is so not noticeable when she goes into heat so I'm keeping an eye out anyway. Maybe I'm not putting enough faith in him!

 

[babsbag]

A seven month old Nigi should be able to get the job done no problem, if he can reach her. My nigi buck bred does at 4 months but I had to build him a mound to stand on.

 

[NH homesteader]

Well we just went and got 5 free NH Red hens. They're a year and a half old and currently laying. I wanted to try this breed and someone just down the road posted them this morning. We now have 4 NH Red hens and have have helped a coyote get through the winter. The other one escaped when we were unloading them and took off into the woods. Never to be seen again, I'm sure. My neighbors may be confused.

These birds are psycho. They may not make it into the general population if they don't chill out! They certainly won't be free ranging!

I found a chocolate heritage tom for sale nearby and am waiting to hear back when I can go get him. This is going to be a surprise for my husband. He puts up with my goat obsession, so even though I am not a fan of the turkeys, I am going to help him get his breeding program going again since our tom died.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Good luck with your new chickens.....aren't they fun sometimes

Hope you can add the turkey!!

 

[Latestarter]

If they are New Hampshires, there's no "Red" at the end... they're properly named simply "New Hampshires" That breed was my best all around bird out of the 5 breeds I had. Sorry you lost one but I'm sure the local meat eaters (one) will thank you for her. Good luck with the turkey!

 

[NH homesteader]

They are definitely not RIR. The guy called them NH Reds but he also didn't know how to spell barred rock so he's probably wrong. They look like the pics I've seen of NH hens.

 

[farmerjan]

@Latestarter is right. The proper name is simply New Hampshires but many of the hatcheries call them NH reds. Like people saying that Easter Egger chickens are the ones that lay blue and green eggs when all they are is crossbreds since the blue/green egg laying gene tends to be dominant. That is why you get all colors of eggs as it will sometimes partially "over-ride" the brown gene and other times will nearly completely override it. And the brown color is "put on" the egg after it is formed where the blue/green is a part of the shell. The true blue egg chicken is the Araucana, which is tufted, rumpless bird with a lethal gene. Then there is the Ameraucana that is bearded, muffed and tailed. Both have pea combs, but I can't tell you how many easter egger chickens have single combs and rosecombs and everything inbetween. I realize that there are alot of people who only want some pretty chickens for laying, and I am all for encouraging small farm flocks, but in the case of the person you got the NH's from, it is aggravating that people don't know much of anything about them. NORMALLY NH's are fairly calm but active foraging breed. If they are "bonkers" they may not have seen much of people, they may have been chased , they may not have ever seen other type of farm animals and they may be pertrified of dogs. Give them some time, maybe housed separate for a bit, and if they lay for a year, you can soup them after that.

 

[NH homesteader]

Yes we are keeping them separate, my doms are so calm and quiet. Of course we had to go in and steal them so I don't blame them for being upset! And they did not seem particularly used to people. So I'm not expecting much than some eggs, maybe breed them to a roo for some interesting layer offspring and dog food. But maybe they'll surprise me!

 

[CntryBoy777]

They should settle down for ya...Mom had some and they were really good girls. They are a dual purpose bird so could be better than dog food for ya. They do like to talk to ya if ya talk to them.