Well we weren't really planning on adding more birds to our yardstead just yet, but K couldn't resist picking up 3 baby turkeys at our local feed store. She says we can keep them in with the chickens so I don't have to build another pen, so I guess they can stay. We can keep them for a few months, just to make sure they are a good fit here at the yardstead. We can give them until lets say.......late November, then re-evaluate. Just kidding, K would never let me eat one that she raised.
She did however spend Sunday afternoon killing chickens at a friend's house. A neighbor of ours who split our last order from Mcmurray Hatchery was kind enough to keep 10 birds for us along with his 40 birds which were bought for slaughter. The meat birds we ordered are called "x-rocks" and were bred to grow to good eatin' size in just a few weeks. The chickens they slaugtered this weekend were about 7 weeks old. Kathleen, our neighbor, and his dad set up in assembly line fashion with each person assigned to a certain task. K was responsible for gutting and cleaning the birds. They were able to process about 16 chickens in a couple of hours without too much trouble.
Now I am a chicken hugger myself .......
but I have been know to take one to the chopping block in the name of a good meal. I'm sure I will help next weekend when we get together for slaughtering the remaining birds. We also plan to raise a few birds for meat here in the future. When we have a mature rooster I plan to set up for brooding chickens and raise our own birds.
I really don't know anything about raising baby turkeys except the basics that apply to ducks and chickens as well. I didn't even know what baby turkeys are called but it only took a few a seconds online to find out they are called "poults". K did most of the reasearch to find out about caring for poults and so far we have taken care of them the same way as baby chicks. They are a lot more fussy though. Turkey mamas must spoil their little poults because unlike chicks who usually quiet down in just a few moments after you walk away, these baby turkeys continue to peep loudly. Our poults would quiet down if they could still see us in the room or hear our voice. The first couple of nights we had to keep them in the room with us to get any peace. Kathleen will probably write an article soon with all the details she's learned about caring for poults.
I have had my hands full lately but I should have the article about metal roofing posted by next weekend. I will also post some baby turkey pictures in the Gallery tomorrow. As always, if you would like more details about turkeys, poults or anything else here at the yardstead, you are welcome to post your questions or comments in the forum.