| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Apr 22 2011 : 7:15:56 PM
I am excited...after planning it for a few years and not getting around to it....this year I have ordered both turkeys and ducklings (one of those barnyard combos) from Murray McMurray hatchery to be delivered May17th or 18th.  I have raised both before but I am excited for some new babies around here. Waiting on a ewe to lamb this spring some time (she has been in with the young ram since fall..so no telling when she will lamb) and hopefully Mona will calve in mid July. My hens are laying so well since the days got longer than I didn't order new "replacement" layers this year. Some of them are getting awfully old but heck....I am not going to mess with that!
I am excited to see which breeds I get of turkeys and ducks...I think it is fun to be surprized. I plan to keep two hen turkeys and a tom turkey to raise my own and may do that with ducks as well. Not doing meat hens this year. It has been a hectic busy winter and I am keeping it simple as I can this summer..lots of camping and fishing hopefully and not alot of butchering  There is always next year for that, right?
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jun 10 2011 : 8:20:16 PM
I am going to have to look up those turkeys. Someone else got some too. How big will they get at maturity? And how long does it take them to get there? I remember mine being funky looking at about a month old too.
Hi Sharon. Welcome to the forum. I hope someone can answer your question. I never had a problem keeping my ducks out of water. That's just strange. I wonder if they were frightened by something in the pond and don't want to go back in. Maybe they just think they are chickens and chickens do not swim.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 10 2011 : 8:03:09 PM
Yes Kristin...they are a month old now...and cute as heck...well, the ducks are..the turkeys are going through that "awkward stage". The turkeys are all white Midgets and the ducks are 1/2 white pekins and half Roens. I love them!!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| countrygirl66044 |
Posted - Jun 09 2011 : 5:52:21 PM
I purchased 12 chicks and 4 ducks on March 5. They are doing great except the ducks won't get in the pond. They are the leaders of the flock and the chickens follow them every where. When they were little, I put them in a bin to swim every day and they loved it. We moved them to the coop...even bought them a little pool they never swam in. I let them all out to free range during the day. The ducks go to the edge of the pond and drink, but won't get in. I've tried separating them from the chickens (they complain loudly and run back to the chickens), attempted to shoo them into the pond, and once, caught them all and physically put them into the pond. They immediately jumped out and ran back to the coop and chickens. Suggestions on how to get my ducks to swim?
Thanks! Sharon |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jun 05 2011 : 07:22:18 AM
Jenny, did you get your ducks and turkeys yet?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| naturemaiden |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 4:41:33 PM
Linda what a turkey story!
Connie
www.NatureMaiden.com- Handcrafted Bath & Body products
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/farmgirl-crafting-group/ - A group for all farmgirls wanting to share their craft.
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Apr 24 2011 : 11:32:30 PM
I am so glad to hear the little guy is okay!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| sissarge |
Posted - Apr 24 2011 : 7:43:24 PM
Thanks for all your input. The turkey is doing fine. I have checked on him several times. Was afraid the others might pick on him, but they have accepted him back in the flock ok. Yes I do know that its not good to mix them, thanks for the reminder, but I will be building a coop for them over in the main chicken yard this week. I got ahead of myself in obtaining animals (anyone ever done that?). The ducks will also go to the lake when they are larger, just like to keep them close while they are little. They are penned up and only let out for a little each day. The little pond is where my chickens drink, never had a problem with it before. Of course, its been awhile since I had turkeys. Hopefully it will not happen again! Linda |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 24 2011 : 5:39:24 PM
Linda, I am so glad you were there to rescue the little guy. I hope he'll be ok.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Apr 24 2011 : 2:46:42 PM
It's never a good idea to mix water fowl and poultry in the same pens, more than once I have heard of drowning of poultry in ponds.Linda, you were lucky to save your Turkey...plus there are diseases that will cross between them that are really bad...
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| sissarge |
Posted - Apr 24 2011 : 1:15:29 PM
Wanted to share my experience today. This morning before church went to the chicken yard and one of my Nagasetts turkey only about 2 months old was in the duck pond, I had to wade in (pajamas) and pick him up. He was stiff and shivering but keeping his head about water. i ran to the barn and got some old towels that I keep in there and massaged him and then took him to the house for the blow dryer. he just layed in my lap while I turned him over and over and blowed him and spread his wings to get him dry. he finally responded some but would not stand up on his own. so i took him to a cage and put a heat lamp on him and left him covered with the dry towel. When I got home from church he is up and eating and drinking. I let him out with the others and they all greeted him and fussed all over him. He seems fine. But will continue to keep my eye on him. So this was my Easter day! I know they are called stupid and will drown themselves. but he was keeping his head above, but don't know for how much longer. Just wanted to share! Thanks for reading! Farmgirl #946 Linda |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 23 2011 : 06:59:53 AM
good morning, i agree with the girls, you will love having them. they sound the alarm if something is different. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| windypines |
Posted - Apr 23 2011 : 04:46:56 AM
Hi Jenny good luck with your new babies. Yes there is always next year!
Take care and glad to hear you are doing well.
Michele |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 22 2011 : 8:58:40 PM
Hey Jenny. Looks ike a lot of babies on your farm soon. I have Bourbon Red turkeys. We ahve butchered 4 so far. I am keeping the 1 tom and 4 hens. I have 3 hens setting on nests now and hopefully the eggs will hatch on Mother's day. Then I put 2 turkey eggs under a broody Buff hen the other day. We shall see. I plan to take the poults from the hens as soon as they hatch and try to sell them as soon as possible. As soon as they started settin gon the eggs, they all stopped laying. Not good. But I do love the turkeys. I know you will too.
How exciting to be waiting on your ewe to lamb. I am getting some lambs soon too. I can hardly wait for them to come.
I hope you are doing well these days. Just a few more months and you will be milking Mona again!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
