Turkey update

We have had some fantastic weather over the past few weeks with wall to wall sunshine and not a drop of rain in site. One day our underfloor heating thermometer recorded the outside temp as 32 degrees celsius, pretty impressive for Ireland.

So with all this lovely warm weather we have been able to get the young turkeys off heat and outside to free range. There is two weeks difference between the two groups of Turkey poults that we have. The Bourbon Reds were four weeks and the Wirral Black were two weeks. Still a bit early for the blacks but the reds could go out as they were nearly fully feathered.

They are still very pale, but will grow darker red feathers as they get bigger. They loved their new found freedom, enjoying a big open space for them to spread their wings.

It wasn't long before they were exploring their new surroundings and eating grass. We will try to keep them shut in their pen until the sheep have gone and they are a bit bigger to defend themselves against the geese. I say 'try to keep them shut in' because within two days of them being in their new pen some had learnt to fly up onto the gate and drop down the other side. Some had miss calculated their training flights and had gone over the fence to where the grass is greener. They then spend the rest of the day trying to get back into their house.

By the end of the week and with the glorious weather continuing we decided to chance our luck and put the blacks out as well. Wasn't a problem at all and they all instantly got along.
I love watching these little creatures, they make me laugh and cry. Even at a couple of days old the stags started to strut their stuff and display their feather (well they would have done if they had any, not quite as impressive with 'fluff'). Now they are out and about the displays are getting better.
They are now 6 & 4 weeks old , so we moved the little trouble makers this morning to a pen with more grass, but they have no respect for fencing, its just a challenge. It's there more for their safety than trying to keep them in. We know that doesn't work. They have already flown onto the top of their tin house and have been eyeing up the branches in the conifer trees above, it's only a matter of time.
We have fourteen turkeys this year for the Christmas market, I already have 5 orders which we had from the beginning of the year. In August I will text our previous customers to see if anyone is interested in a bird this year, but for now we are happy for them to keep us entertained.

Cheers
Stell & Diz