Narragansett doing his thing

The Sumo-Turkeys (formerly Turkzillas, but they really look more like sumo wrestlers now) got out of their back pasture and came up to the house to check things out this morning. By the time I got out there, they were eyeing the Narragansett girls and in full strut. I hearded them (They walk very slowly and stop to rest a lot) to their pen out back (the Narries stay loose in the yard) and when I came back the Narry Tom was strutting for all he was worth. I guess he was trying to show his girls that he was better than the bronzes. I noticed though, that he wasn't anywhere around when the big boys were here. The biggest bronze weighs about 30 pounds and we have almost three months till Thanksgiving. I can't butcher him before then, he won't fit in my freezer! My Narry Tom only goes about 12 pounds, but he is almost two months younger.

Great pic !!

I butchered my two giant whites last weekend. They were heavy and cumbersome and it seemed wrong to try to wait it out till fall. I carved them up to make 8 family dinner size portions between the two and they packed so much easier into the freezer that way...lol. I split the breasts right down the middle as they were so big. I did some legs and thighs on the grill already.... yummy.

I will save the others (bourbon reds, Narragansett, and royal palms for the fall butchering) as they grow at a normal rate. Although I am toying with the idea of keeping the narragansett and the royal palms to breed my own chicks for the next year. I can probably slip a few under the silkies and get a good hatch if the turkeys don't sit.

Julie

I'm going to Traverse City on Sunday could probably drop off some silkies "if" you twisted my arm.....lol

This message was edited Aug 31, 2007 10:15 AM

Oh, Oh, Oh, How can I twist your arm? I'll promise you coffee and homemade toast with jam. I'll offer you homemade soap and garden fairies!

More than the silkies, I just want to meet someone with similar intrests, I'm a bit of an oddity around here.

We figure that we will have to process turkies in sections too, but in December, I have to feed 100 people at a dinner when my husband becomes the High Holy Weejun at the Moronic Lodge. I'm looking for a nice big fresh ham I can smoke and with the sumo turkey, that should do it, I think If I cut him in half, he will fit in two roasters.

I'll see you sunday. Oh, I'm so excited!

Maybe you could trade someone a giant turkey for a giant ham. I read about one woman who had a 38lb turkey and ended up putting together a giant roasting pan made of several of the big foil pans.

I wonder if you could do a turkey like ppl do pigs, luau style. I think it would be delicious. I may have to google that and find out.

Oddity... lol, I stick out like a sore thumb!!! Got the d-mail will print out and take with in case I get lost. I am severely directionally disabled, but thankfully I won't be driving !!!

I'll be in an old van with 3-5 teenagers. I'll be the short fat one that looks like she's ready to rip out her hair...lol. Don't worry the kids will be hot to get to Traverse (we don't get to the big city often...lol) so I won't be staying but a moment or two. We're celebrating a birthday and going to Traverse was part of the b'day request.

Will try to take some pics of the silkies beforehand so you can see what they look like. Wouldn't want you to be disappointed. I think I can work up 2-trios, how does that sound??

~Julie (I've got to get back to work or I'll never make it out of here tonight...lol)

Your turkeys are beautiful!! You're not an oddity. Folks who don't enjoy animals don't know what they're missing out on....

The poet Robert Frost said, "two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

:) Glenda

oooooooooooH. I wish I could get to Michigan!!! I would love to get a hold of one of those B-e-a-u-ti-ful White Palm Girlies!!! I need a hen so bad and your s are gorgeous, to pretty to eat!!!!
You know I guess it just depends on where you live but a full grown Hen here in Georgia is bringing anywhere from $30 T0 $60 each at auction! Who 'd a Thunk it!!!!

We use the beautiful feathers in our art work and native regalia, so our Turkeys actually give us art supplies and are more valuable on the hoof than in the freezer! Now if I could get some of our native Wild turkeys to raise......oooh Yuuummmmm!!!!

I like my Royal Palms much better temperment wise than I do the Bourbon reds I have. My BR tend to be bullies. The Narragansett is mild mannered as well. So I definitely see the BR's going to freezer camp in the fall. Which is why I am toying with keeping the Palms and Narragansett for future turkeys.

Have you seen pics of calico's.... they are very pretty !!! I toyed with buying eggs this season but decided to wait. I have enough on my plate...lol

~Julie

Ready or not the silkies and I will be leaving soon (we have a couple stops along the way...lol)

*ignore the numbers, jyl knows what they mean*

~Julie

You two behave yourselves now!

oooOOoooOOooooh Calico Turkeys!!!! I didnt know about them! Where do you think I can go to get a photo? sounds Beautiful!

Hey JYL,
Check your D-mail!! :)

Glenda

Jyl

Here is a website I think you might enjoy. It's the tale of a woman butchering her first turkey. There are some pics which might be helpful.

http://a-homesteading-neophyte.blogspot.com/2006/11/butchering-your-turkey.html

How are the silkies doing ??

~Julie

Oh Dear God. What am I in for?

The silkies are fine, I let them out into the yard with the ducks today. They chased bugs and scratched up flowers all day.

Thank you again for the wonderful birds. It was so kind of you to not only provide them, but to deliver as well! It probably saved us a fortune in speeding tickets!

I hope we can get together again when we have time to chat. Thanks again, jyl

LOL.... I thought after our conversation you would appreciate the trials and tribulations of her story !!

Glad to hear the silkies are happy. I will say atleast when they are out scratching they don't seem to make near as much "impact" on my plants as the ducks/turkeys/standard chickens do.

Happy to drop them off as you were right on the way !!!!

~Julie =0)