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Looking to Rear some Turkeys for my dinner on Christmas and was wondering does anyone know where I can get day old turkeys or a bit older either delivered or in the sheffield area. Any help would be appreciated thanks
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Here!!
Well if you want to drive to Stafford (about an hour - hour and half from Sheffield)
or alternatively I can post you some eggs to hatch - theres still plenty of time. (16wks to table weight) we have a lovely breeding pair of Slate Turkeys. Currently we have 9 week old bronzes and 3 week old Slates and more slates on the way in the incubator due next month and we are still getting an egg a day.
Alternatively go to Leek Poultry Auction (next one sat 18th July 9:30am) there are hundreds of birds for sale including lots of Turkeys of various colours and breeds, adults and poults. they also auction rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, hatching eggs, dead stock (coops etc) every breed of chicken you can imagine, ducks, geese and even peacocks. we will be there selling some chicks.
Also there is a poultry auction at Chelford and one at Hexham, they are the only ones I know of and they are around manchester - but I'm sure there are more. -
Thanks Bramble I'll have a word with t'other half and get right back to youComment
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Have you tried Storrs poultry? Don't know if they do turkeys, but they do chickens, ducks, geese, pea fowl.... so I suppose turkeys are possible.Into each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.
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I can't get hold of Storrs the line just rings off. May have a drive downComment
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You will also need to make a conscious decision on wether you want single or double breasted birds. If you are buying only to slaughter then it wont matter, but if you intend to keep a couple back to breed, you wont be able to do it with the double breasted as the breast is so large that the birds cant effectivly couple and secure a fertile mating. Most commercial turkeys are artificially inseminated for this reason.
This is why we bought in Bronze turkey eggs to hatch and grow on, yet produce our on Slates as the slate is a rare breed, single breasted bird from the Victorian era.
There are only 60 registered pairs in the UK at the moment, so each chick is very special. Having said that, i can only cope with so many stags.....Another reason for having the bronzes as we will guarantee a chirstmas dinner at least if we have to reserve the slates for breedingComment
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just had a drive down....a very long drive down to Storrs and they do do them so thanks allComment
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You can (occasionally) get 'normal' bronze turkeys, we had a trio for a couple of years. I like the Norfolk Blacks, they are slightly less inclined to die than most, and being a bit smaller, appeal to people who think a turkey will be too big for their small family.
Bluemoon, not a pair, a trio. Turkey stags are rough 'lovers' and he needs 2 wives so that they get a break from his attention!Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.Comment
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Hilary - I agree with the trio. Problem i have is the limited number of Slates available, hence i have got an unrelated pair so if i retain any hens, at least they will be slightly genetically different from parents.
I want to build up my flock so if anyone has an unrelated hen Slates, let me know as i would love them!
Hilary - whats your opinion about rotating the stags? I have been advised that i might wish to keep two stags, and rotate them in and out of the flock every other week to keep up the fertility - i must say i havent had a problem with them so far - 95% fertility. just seems like a lot of hassle and solitude for one bird?? Your thoughts?Comment
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Never kept more than 4 at any time (3 hens and a stag), so can't comment on the 'rotating' thing. I kept a few for quite a lot of years (on and off), Norfolk Blacks when I could get them, 'normal' whites initially, 'normal' bronze for a few years in between. Apart from the original white trio, I found them via RBST. I wasn't after massive numbers (they went to a one-day sale, and I had to be able to pluck them), but I don't recall any hatchability problem!Originally posted by Bramble-Poultry View Post
I can't see why a stag should need a break from 2 or 3 ladies!
I never used 'saddles', have you? Only time a hen got damaged, it was one due for New Year's dinner (couldn't separate as she would have been solo, all the others had gone, apart from the planned breeding trio).Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.Comment
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What have they got (and how much they charging), Waldanzig.Originally posted by walldanzig View PostInto each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.Comment
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currently - i have a slate stag with a slate hen, so just a pair and they are extremly good. He doesnt tread her too often (shows off a lot mind you) and she is showing no signs of damage at all, so no, i havent used a saddle.
I must admit i am amazed at how quickly the poults feather up when compared to chickens. the current batch of slat echicks i have are three weeks old, and have all their wing, back and 80% breast feathers already. the head and neck are downy but then they would be as they dont feather up much anyways.
i had to turn the heat of last week as they couldnt stand it and i havent had to put it back on as if i do they flake on the floor from heat! this hot spell, whilst being a nightmare to the hens outside has done the chicks (and my pocket) a favour but not having to run the brooder lamp!Comment
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