Just a quick reminder that early eggs are an indication of early breeding. So, make sure that your birds are paired up before breeding starts. Most important to remember is that a hen visited by a fertile stag can remain fertile with his ‘deposit’ for the rest of that season. The fertility from the initial deposit will diminish as the season progresses,…
Last year Dennis Harding took a group of Buff turkeys and we are delighted to say he had a successful year with them. Our visit today was to help him sort his 2018 breeding groups. As many will know the Buffs have suffered from inappropriate breeding over the years, and they often present with white in the tail, black in…
As we usually do at the end of the season we give the hens the opportunity to rear a brood naturally. Importantly it shows us that they still retain the capability, and it is always such a delight to see these family groups as they develop. Of particular interest has been a Slate hen who along with another started sitting in…
Laying Well: It has been a hectic few days sorting eggs, putting orders together and generally trying to keep up with the turkeys who are laying very well at the moment. I say ‘at the moment because as every poultry keeper knows it can all change in an instant. Something as simple as a strange dog wandering past the pens can put…
It is great to say that the Harvey Speckled turkey has just been ratified by the Poultry Club of Great Britain. The Harvey Speckled history is complex and controversial, and it has been a long journey getting these delightful turkeys to this stage. However, with an agreed standard to work to it is now that the hard work really begins if…
We are often asked what we look for when breeding our turkeys. Although essentially a simple question there is an element that we consider which is often forgotten. It goes without saying that only fit and healthy birds should be selected for breeding, anything other than that and you are heading for trouble. Of course, we breed to the ‘show…
‘Line 1 Buffs’ are breeding well and we currently have about 20 young poults from them. They are still laying so we will put more in the incubator and see how they progress. Interestingly one hen has laid a clutch outside and is sitting tight. She has persistently laid outside and we have now ‘fox proofed’ her as best we can…