JohnGalway 1,043 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 I was looking online at polytunnels for housing sheep the last day, one person or company mentioned that turkeys for the Christmas market could be raised in them - then the sheep would usually end up in them at some point after Christmas depending on when lambing was. Now I thought that was a good idea from the point of view of taking the time and expense to buy and have the tunnel erected. But I know SFA about turkeys! More importantly I know SFA about the possibility of profit or loss in such an enterprise. So I'd appreciate any input from people who've raised turkeys for the Christmas market Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leegreen 2,254 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 I finished my turkeys yesterday and they are hanging in the chiller . I raise mine on grass and lots of it. They are fed lots and lots of apples and fetch a premium. Rearing inside will have it's obvious disadvantages, like not having natural food to forage and the transfer of disease etc. Put it this way it wouldn't interest me to eat one but saying that many many people buy them, indoor raised that is. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnGalway 1,043 Posted December 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 Hi Lee, thanks for that. I wouldn't intend for them to be kept in the Polytunnel 24/7. They'd be out during the day. I would be after a tasty bird that could turn a profit (hmmm that sounds familiar lol) and not more of the same supermarket types. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
craigyboy 1,274 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 id forget that idea mate,the stench would be unbearable in a polytunnel,i keep mine in a large wooden shed with windows that open and they get let out everyday and it still fecking reeks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 dinno about rearing them,but the f*****g price of them.i though ill get a turkey crown this year.33 f*****g quid.robbing b*****ds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lab 10,979 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 dinno about rearing them,but the f*****g price of them.i though ill get a turkey crown this year.33 f*****g quid.robbing b*****ds You needing to stop shopping in Marks and Spencers...... Before you go rearing loads of Turkeys remember you have to pluck them........a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaastard of a job.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
craigyboy 1,274 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 dinno about rearing them,but the f*****g price of them.i though ill get a turkey crown this year.33 f*****g quid.robbing b*****ds You needing to stop shopping in Marks and Spencers...... Before you go rearing loads of Turkeys remember you have to pluck them........a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaastard of a job.... spot on mate,theres money to be made for sure,but plucking hell labs right, i did 50 last year and i was fooked,it looked like i'd been tar and feathered ive hired an electric plucker this year Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 dinno about rearing them,but the f*****g price of them.i though ill get a turkey crown this year.33 f*****g quid.robbing b*****ds You needing to stop shopping in Marks and Spencers...... Before you go rearing loads of Turkeys remember you have to pluck them........a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaastard of a job.... Farm down the road from me produces them for M&S. £50 a bird there apparently! Was talking to my pestie neighbour who does the vermin for them when we were out shooting last week and they were up to 90,000 birds culled at that point! They're got sheds and enclosures for miles around here. These are the guys: http://www.walesthetruetaste.co.uk/theawards/meetthewinners/capestoneorganicpoultry?lang=en Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 spot on mate,theres money to be made for sure,but plucking hell labs right, i did 50 last year and i was fooked,it looked like i'd been tar and feathered ive hired an electric plucker this year I used to go plucking turkeys/geese/chickens/ducks for Christmas. By the end of two weeks I was subconsciously plucking the hairs out my fecking arms and the feathers out my pillows in my sleep! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 do they get good money for plucking turkeys? id be the same craigy get an electric one.f**k that you be there for hours mate lol must make a fortune of the xmas period malt.used to get a fresh turkey every year from a mate who workds in the docks.everyne gets one and he sells me his every year.for a tenner,but this year they stopped it,so gotta buy one and couldnt believe what they charge,best of it is,it normally gets chucked out with half the meat on it.well does in my house lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 spot on mate,theres money to be made for sure,but plucking hell labs right, i did 50 last year and i was fooked,it looked like i'd been tar and feathered ive hired an electric plucker this year I used to go plucking turkeys/geese/chickens/ducks for Christmas. By the end of two weeks I was subconsciously plucking the hairs out my fecking arms and the feathers out my pillows in my sleep! :laugh: 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
the_stig 6,614 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 spot on mate,theres money to be made for sure,but plucking hell labs right, i did 50 last year and i was fooked,it looked like i'd been tar and feathered ive hired an electric plucker this year I used to go plucking turkeys/geese/chickens/ducks for Christmas. By the end of two weeks I was subconsciously plucking the hairs out my fecking arms and the feathers out my pillows in my sleep! i bet thr was feck all left of that duck down quilt ... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnGalway 1,043 Posted December 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 id forget that idea mate,the stench would be unbearable in a polytunnel,i keep mine in a large wooden shed with windows that open and they get let out everyday and it still fecking reeks I'm not sure if I've painted a misleading picture to you Craigyboy. The Polytunnels I speak of aren't the completely enclosed hot gardening types. They're for sheep, who do better in a cooler environment with good air circulation. From what I have seen online they have a type of plastic that doesn't heat up the inside, more lets light through and keeps the rain off the ewes backs. From the ground to a height of roughly one meter there is a mesh which stops rain but allows air through. So it's not a "greenhouse" type environment. As for smells, I've mucked out a sheep shed that's had two to four years worth of dung from up to 160 ewes, by hand with fork and sharpened spade. When you get down the layers it turns green and doesn't so much smell as emit a gas! So, smells? Stinks? Stenches? Bring it on dinno about rearing them,but the f*****g price of them.i though ill get a turkey crown this year.33 f*****g quid.robbing b*****ds You needing to stop shopping in Marks and Spencers...... Before you go rearing loads of Turkeys remember you have to pluck them........a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaastard of a job.... dinno about rearing them,but the f*****g price of them.i though ill get a turkey crown this year.33 f*****g quid.robbing b*****ds You needing to stop shopping in Marks and Spencers...... Before you go rearing loads of Turkeys remember you have to pluck them........a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaastard of a job.... spot on mate,theres money to be made for sure,but plucking hell labs right, i did 50 last year and i was fooked,it looked like i'd been tar and feathered ive hired an electric plucker this year Yeah, plucking looks like a considerable job. Same as the sheep with shearing in a way. Just a job that has to be done. I haven't looked into electric pluckers for turkeys though I did see some DIY types for chickens on YouTube which looked handy. Naturally there is an ever so slight weight difference between the two types of bird! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leegreen 2,254 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 I pay some one to pluck mine, I just do the quality control. Norfolk Bronzes leave a horrible stubble that look like black heads and at the moment my thumbs feel powerful. I don't see why you couldn't use a poly tunnel, I made a field shelter out of mainly scavenged timber and sheets. I must say they barely use them, they sit out in all weathers but like to roost, on top of the shelter I made them. And Craig they do stink, quite a bit more than chickens and believe it or not they are more stupid. I am pleased they are gone they are grief, every year I vow not to do them again but no one round ere does em like I do's em . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CO CHISE 357 Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 i reared 2 bronze last year for myself and a pal, when they were ready we set about dressing them, me like a greedy twat pick the biggest and when i started plucking mine it had a bent keel with only one decent breast and on the other was barely a mouth full i had to buy a joint of beef to go with it to feed family, nearly 5 month of rearing the smelly twats aswell to get nearly a sarnies worth of meat out of mine, 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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