[pottsie]

Hi i know this has been asked before but having read through a few subjects still struggling to know what exactly to do. I have been asked by friends and family to do turkeys for xmas. I have a spare stable and land to put them on which hasn't had chickens on before.

1 - Is now about the right time to buy chicks. If so where from?
2 - What breed (thinking about Norfolk Blacks)
3 - Feed, i know i as to be turkey crumb to pellets to finisher, but when do you change from one to another?
4 - Killing, plucking and getting ready, is there a best way with turkeys that is different to chickens?

Anyway thats enough for now, going to try and find a local supplier and hopefully someone local who i can offer to do work for so i can gain some experience with, always find it easier that way. Thanks.

Rob. 

[shetlandpaul]

if your planning on growing some on for friends you must know they love there food they are not cheap to raise. try and get them at 6-8 weeks. make a run for them for the first few weeks. they are still a bit soft. if your planning on feeding larger families the bronze is good the black produces a smaller bird. when it comes to plucking and hanging get those that wanted one to help. now the gutting is something that takes a little practice. you must fast them to insure that there croop is empty or you risk a right mess. i take that out first. then i tie off the bowel with a bit of string to prevent the pooh leaking. the liver is at one side stuck to the side loosen that an you should be able toget the guts out intact. there may be bits of lung left scape them out. wear gloves