Anyone have experience with these turkeys? I've seen hatching eggs for sale on eggbay, and was wondering how hardy they are.

-- Paula (chipp89@bellsouth.net), July 25, 2001

Answers

I don't consider myself as any sort of authority on turkey raising but from what I've been reading in the pastured poultry lists it seems that turkey eggs for incubating don't ship worth a damn so far as success in hatchibility is concerned.

There is a rare & heritage turkey list that could probably answer all your questions about these midgets. It's located at:

http://groups. yahoo.com/group/RareHeritageTurkey

Hope this helps.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), July 25, 2001.

Hi Paula, I just received a copy of the "Snood News" (Summer 2001) put out by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. The Beltsville is a featured turkey in an article. In this article you have to apply for the birds from the breeder(there are so few of them). The Beltsville Small White is on the Critical list with the ALBC. They are a lighter turkey with the Males weighing 21 lbs at 34 wks, and the females 11.5 lbs. (USDA) Good if you want your birds to breed on their own and have no serious leg problems. They are also mentioned as being early maturing. This is a very worthwhile bird to raise, however, as mentioned turkey eggs do not ship well. It is said that hatch increases if you let the eggs sit large end up for 24 hours and do not turn them, to let them settle. Considering that it has been hot.. here at least.. and it is the end of the turkey laying season... fertility may be a problem with eggs. Knowing all of this, if you did get the eggs, I would hope they all hatched! Be sure to look at the seller info on eggbay :-) Some do not send any extras in case of breaking, and some do not pack the eggs correctly. Definately check out Rare Heritage Turkey in the yahoo groups, and search the archives there. Or do a search on heritage turkeys and see if the SPPA turkey site comes up(can not recall the address right now). They list all the breeds of heritage turkeys there. ~Brenda~

-- Brenda (brenclark@alltel.net), July 25, 2001.

Heya Paula, Just noticed the eggbay said Poults. They would do much better than eggs as far as shipping. Brenda

-- Brenda (brenclark@alltel.net), July 26, 2001.