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Barnyard Buddies:  Turkey For Thanksgiving, Anyone??  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 23 2010 : 7:42:45 PM
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I am so ready to butcher every single one of my turkeys tomorrow. They are driving me crazy. Maybe it's the full moon? I don't know. But they used to be so darn sweet and now I hate them all. They will not do what I want them to do. They are all over the place. Tonight they were scattered all over. Some went in to eat and others would not go in. So I gave up and went inside figuring they would go in when I left. Well, no. There were 4 that stayed out. One was where I could catch it but the other 3 are on the roof. I am not letting them back out. I will catch them tomorrow and they are staying in til I get ready to put them in the freezer. Ok, I am done now. I will probably love them again in the morning but right now I am mad at them.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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kathyjane
True Blue Farmgirl
66 Posts
Kathy
Doniphan
MO
USA
66 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2010 : 10:41:46 PM
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| Oh frustration!!!!! |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 03:21:01 AM
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| Guess I won't get turkeys next spring then if they like rooftops. Same reason why I'm still not as gung ho about getting a few peacocks |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 05:17:17 AM
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Sometimes I do get a little frustrated with all this. Some days things just don't work out. The animals go one way when I want them to go another way. Sometimes I have to do so much. And it's very discouraging. Sometimes I just want to drink a cup of tea in the morning before I have to go out there and feed everyone. But most of the time I have to jump up out of bed and hit the floor running! ( I need to get up earlier, I know.) Like the time I looked out the front window and there's a cow on the driveway. Or a goat in the yard. Or a pig. And I have to run outside first thing and get them back where they are supposed to be and fix fences.
I guess I am just a little tired of the "same ole, same ole" stuff every day. Sometimes it seems like it's all about the animals. I am just needing to vent I guess. I need a "poor baby" sometimes. But this is what I want to do. Which makes it worse. I love it here. I love my animals. But they are just right here all the time. Where they can see me if I go out the door.
But I really do love these guys. They can see me when I get up through the front window. I just saw the 3 bad turkeys and they saw me and came to the fence. I am going to wait awhile before I go out this morning. I need prayer. I need to do devotions and pray before I do anything. I have missed doing that lately. It really helps.
Anna, they are really not that much trouble. If you had a nice enclosed place to keep turkeys, it would be much better. Mine are free ranging right now. I am going to have to wait til I can get the cow girls back next door and the goats bred before I can put up a big area for the turkeys. I will like them a lot more then. The goats and cows would just knock a chicken wire fence down in no time. But that is my plan soon. I have the space to do it I just need time. And money helps! I really do love these turkeys. They are Bourbon Red. They are beautiful birds.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 06:43:52 AM
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I caught the 3 rebel turkeys and they are back in with their buddies. I had bought some pine shavings for the floor in the pen because we are supposed to be getting some rain. And it always gets wet in there. I do not want them to get sick now. SO I hope that helps. I might need a few more bags. We'll see. I guess it's a good thing they are going to be staying in. I don't want them wet. And this way they will gain some weight.
I feel much better. I just feel sorry for me sometimes and need a shoulder. I am so glad I can come here and vent.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 06:48:59 AM
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turkeys turkeys turkeys,lol well they can be such a handful. they taste so good though. it only takes a few for us to have turkey meat for the year. i cut them up when i butcher. i cut some for stir fry, one half breast for roasting and so on. lots of meat on a turkey. i also c;ip there wings.
A
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 06:57:37 AM
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kris, Wanted to ask how your arm owie is? is it red or did it heal right up. i got sick of the turkeys running around pooping so i ate them. i am turkey sitting right now for a pair. one bourbon and one black guy. i sell all our meat for around 4 dollars a pound. i am going to do the bucks next week. i just did 18 fryers day before yesterday. yum happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 07:53:10 AM
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Sherry, the arm is good. I was a little worried but it's ok now. I am more careful now. I have so many animals scars it's not even funny. But I guess that's just part of it, right? You are still working hard. Do you ever get a vacation?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 08:08:22 AM
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Kris- I know what you mean! I just went and met my Thanksgiving dinner at a friend's house and I can't imagine having them getting into all sorts of trouble at my place. This lady has a large "yard" just for the turkeys. They have their own pen. But they will be around 30lbs (heritage breeds too!) dressed out so they are currently about as big as Sky-Dog. That's pretty hefty!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 11:34:06 AM
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Alee, I know these guys will be good. They are not a fat bird at all though. SO I hope if they are kept in the pen that they will fill out some. I will make a bigger area for them in a few weeks so they can get out and eat grass and bugs. They are healthier when they can do that. But I guess if we are going to eat them they don't need to be running and flying around too much. They will be tougher then. You have a few months til yours is ready. Are you ready to do it?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 5:05:09 PM
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papa tells me we can rest when we get old. lol so i will be 60 next year. so still young at heart. we have another saying here. we dont work we play hard doing what we love. i am tired today. just getting started on pulling cream for butter. probably simple dinner tonight. i want to make mozz too. not sure i have time now i milk at 7. anyway so glad your turkey wound is good. alee we put our birds upside down in a cone and cut their throat. they stay clean inside the cone instead of flopping all over. we love turkey. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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magnoliakathy
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Kathryn
Magnolia
Texas
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2010 : 07:01:18 AM
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Hey girls, I have a cow bell, that I ring the heck out of right before I feed in the evening. I start ringing that baby and every body comes runnin' cuz mama's gonna feed. I do not leave feed in the bird's feeders during the day, they only get some at night to reward them for coming home. Since I rotate my goats, buck out one day, does out the next, I do put some grain in their feed pans in the morning right after milking, a small amount they eat right away, and plenty of hay all of the time. By the way, that bell brings the guineas home too.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2010 : 2:04:26 PM
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Good idea, Kathryn. They know who I am and they come running ehrnever they see me. Any animal is that way. I can't walk out the door without chickens all under my feet. I think it was still a little early that day I was trying to put the turkeys up. Plus the 2 heifers are in the pasture with them too and they were in the way and would not move. So that was throwing them off. Then I was getting mad and I know they can sense that. So it just wasn't a good time for me or them.
Alee, once you do it one time you can do it again. It took me about 10 minutes to finally swing that ax the first time. After that I felt like a pro. No problems.
Sherry, I hear ya!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1152 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1152 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2010 : 6:54:27 PM
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I have found that the #1 thing to have BEFORE you have the animals is a good pre-planned well-thought out place to put them. Don't get me wrong, I've brought many an animal home that I wasn't adequately prepared for and had to do with temporary/makeshift housing. BUT, now that we have our orchard fenced in for the ducks/chickens, OMG, it is so great. I mean, I don't have to worry about a thing anymore. Everyone puts themselves up and they are fenced in, so virtually no escapees. I also clip their wings so they can't clear the fence, with the only exception being my Old English bantam hens, and of course, the heavy ducks and geese.
I have also discovered that I am NOT a goat person. Oh, they are cute animals...I just don't want to own any ever again. As they say, if your fence won't hold water, it ain't gonna hold a goat. I have worked way too hard on my gardens to let some dadgum goat eat up my work! Plus, they screamed at me all day. No thanks. I am, by FAR, the 'Poultry Lady'. :0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2010 : 7:13:42 PM
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Well, today the turkeys got to go out again. I got the heifers moved over to the other oasture yesterday. So this morning I went in and clipped some wing feathers and let them out. I only had to put 1 back in a little later. So not too bad. They did good. And they ALL went right back in for dinner! No problems at all. I am so glad because I was not ready to go chasing turkeys again. And they have gotten big too!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2010 : 06:59:39 AM
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kris have you decided if your keeping them or eating them.? glad the cows are staying in. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2010 : 5:24:49 PM
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I am going to keep 1 tom and at least 4 hens. I will butcher the rest. They were so good today. Only a few got out. And again they went right back in for dinner. I guess the trick is to keep them hungry for the feed at the end of the day. I am not feeding them in the morning when I let them out. So I guess they are hungry. I think the 1st of Nov. I will put the ones I will butcher in the other coop to fatten up. They really are quite big but not very meaty yet. Probably because they are out free ranging all day. It seems like they grew alot though while they were kapt in those few weeks.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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hwright95
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Heather
Murfreesboro
TN
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2010 : 2:42:03 PM
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Hi, glad I came across your post. This has been my first year raising turkeys, we started out with 15 and have 6 left. They free range. I am very nervous about butchering them as I have never done it, and have only youtube videos and books to guide me. So any prayers and advice you could offer would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Heather |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2010 : 7:08:10 PM
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Hey Heather. You aren't too far away. I am right outside Chatt. So what kind do you have? And I hope you did not lose 11 turkeys. That's alot. I have some turkeys a few years ago that I got when they were about 5 or 6 months old. I butchered 2 of them. It was just like doing chickens only much bigger so it took way longer to do. If you have a cone it is supposed to make it easier. Also if you have a husband to help. They are good for something!! How old are yours? I have so much fun with mine most of the time. I love to sit out in the pasture with them. They will eat bread from my hand. They stay right with me when I am out there. Yesterday all 5 of the toms were strutting around showing off at the same time. I still don't know why. The girls were not even paying attention to them.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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hwright95
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Heather
Murfreesboro
TN
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2010 : 06:03:35 AM
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Hi, yeah we are almost in the same state. I have the broadbreasted white kind. We got them as one day old chicks in march. We lost 4 when they were tiny, and the rest to dogs. We pen them up at night, but they free range during the day. We have chickens, but they are layers, and I have never done them either, My friend is doing this with me, and she has done chicken before. And I have a willing husband, I should be ok, I'm just nervous. I hope I don't vomit or anything like that lol. I didn't name them, so that should make it easier. Yes I love to feed ours too. They LOVE cantalope and watermelon rinds ( well the juicy stuff that is left)Do your turkeys have beards? 3 of ours have them and at first I thought it was a cockleburr or something, so I pulled at it and, it would not come off! LOL, those turkeys just cocked their heads at me like I was nuts.
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2010 : 06:56:07 AM
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are you girls going to dip and pluck your birds? i skin mine. my hands just will not pluck anymore. they are too stiff. let us know how it goes alee. sounds like you will be first. i have 2 to butcher. going to start after fly season is over. we have had a few freezes but not enough yet. i have 2 goats to do also and 25 fryers. i use a cone for killing like kris said. they are easy to make if you have tin snips and a way to rivet it into a cone. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2010 : 09:12:05 AM
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Heather, thanks for the picture. Those were the kind I had before. Mine are 4 months old. I can't tell what you mean by a beard. My 5 toms have the nose thing and the longer neck thing. Mine are not liking scratch at all. They still want the starter feed. It's a lot more expensive so they need to eat scratch. I have very picky animals here. Or maybe spoiled.
Alee, you can do this, girl. Just think of you great grandmothers and what they had to do just to have dinner. And think of how GOOD that turkey will be and how many dinners you will get from it.
Sherry, you still have lots of work ahead of you. Are you buthchering the goats yourself?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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hwright95
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Heather
Murfreesboro
TN
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2010 : 1:09:02 PM
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Good luck Alee let us know how it goes. I wasn't planning on dipping, I don't think I have a big enough pot. I was just going to try to yank the feathers out. I thought about a cone that sounds like the best way. Here is a pic. of the beard it's that black spot in the middle of the chest, It has grown longer, but it looks very funny
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Barnyard Buddies: Turkey For Thanksgiving, Anyone?? |
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Turkey For Thanksgiving, Anyone??
