Turkey laying, now what?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

My turkey hen just started laying, I haven't fed her any calcium for the shells. The eggs have nice shells and she hasn't laid every day. What kind of feed does she need now? Does anyone know a formula for turkey laying feed? I am hoping to incubate some of these as soon as I get enough. Otherwise can you eat them like chicken eggs? Thanks for all input. She hasn't tried to set yet.

-- Jody Hatch (chitina@alaska.net), March 04, 2000

Answers

Yes, you can eat Turkey eggs just like chicken eggs. They usually equal 1 and1/2 eggs in baking though. They are really good. As far as feeding laying turkey hens, I have always fed regular chicken lay crumbles, and kitchen scraps. Also oyster shell free choice for the calcium. Turkeys are great. Its good that you plan to incubate the eggs, they are not the greatest moms. Good luck!!

-- Jenny Pipes (auntjenny6@aol.com), March 05, 2000.

Turkey eggs are delicious, and indistinguishable from chicken eggs, except for size. In my experience, they are dreadful mothers, and rarely even hatch any eggs, at least the domesticated varieties. Put the eggs in an incubator, and you should get some to hatch, and raise them as if you had bought poults - under a lamp or whatever you use. I, personally, have never seen a broody turkey hen or one that wanted to raise poults. I would love to hear from anyone who has had success with a hen turkey (domestic) actually raising poults. Good luck to all!

Brad

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), March 05, 2000.


When I drove a schoolbus there was a family on my route that had turkeys, and they had a few hens that set; enough to keep them in turkeys every year. They had bronze breasted turkeys, and I've read that they tend to be the broodiest. They are the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, so that's what we raised last year. They were delightful and delicious.

This year, I'm going to get whites, though, as they make plucking and overall appearance of the dressed bird nicer. (Bronze have black pinfeathers.)

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), March 05, 2000.


Hi, If you have the big white ones the commecial growers use your chances of haing them hatch are almost zero. They have been bred to have such huge breasts that they can not breed naturally. The breeders use A-I. Some of the smaller breeds would hatch.. Strombergs has a neat catalog with pictures.. Doris in Idaho

-- Doris Richards (dorisquilts@webtv.net), March 06, 2000.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ