Beltsville Small White Turkeys

I think this whole raising my own small livestock is getting addicting. Started with rabbits and then with chickens. I pretty much thought that would be that. Granted, I kept keeping more and more of them so the original number of both have doubled at least. (Isn't that a sign of addiction, needing more and more?) Then came the Guineas. Then the worms. And now it looks like turkeys are on the horizon. Turkeys, how on earth did ever get to the point where I'd be considering turkeys? I think I need a 12 step program here.

Not just any old turkeys, of course, that wouldn't do. (Oh, lookit, I'm a snobby addict.) These little turkeys are heritage Beltsville Turkeys. I saw a local ad for the fertilized eggs. The name intrigued me, I'd never heard of them, so I googled them. Beltsville Turkeys are smaller than normal turkeys and they are reputed to be the perfect homestead bird, as far as turkeys go, anyhow. One of the advantages of the Beltsville is that they can breed naturally. I was absolutely amazed to learn that now a days, most turkeys need to be artificially inseminated. I don't know, that just seems wrong. Turkeys that can breed all on their own are the only kind that would work around here, thank you very much.

Then I did some research on the general care of turkeys and what it entailed. I think raising turkeys would fit right in here. I found out that turkeys are seasonal layers, I never knew that. I guess the geniuses-that-be haven't yet figured out how to breed/genetically modify that out of the poor things yet.

Yesterday I contacted the lady with the eggs and it looks like in mid-March or so, I'm going to be getting some Beltsville Turkey eggs to incubate. I'm hoping to get a dozen but it all depends on how many she can collect in a given time. Originally, I thought I'd raise these Beltsville turkeys mostly for our table but now I'm thinking may-be keeping a trio over winter. That way I could have the two females hatch their own eggs the next spring. So I can feed both the family and my own livestock addiction at the same time!

A Time of Waiting

The days are pretty much filled with the usual chores and general mucking about. Yet as I go about my day, I realize I am in 'waiting' mode. It's like having an old fashioned alarm clock, you know, the round ones with two bells on top with a striker in between them, following me around. I'm mentally waiting for it to sound off.

As I do my chicken chores, talking to the birds and making sure everybody is healthy and happy, I look for signs of a hen or two going broody. I'm waiting for the day to start putting eggs under hens for hatching. It's almost time.

As I work with my rabbits, feeding the last of the dried herbs and weeds to them, I look for signs of does building nests. I'm waiting for the kindlings to start. It's almost time.

Going about the house, taming dust bunnies and fighting a losing war against two shedding dogs, I keep peeking into my reserve of saved seeds. I gather my collected seed starter items and check out sunny window sills. I'm waiting to start my seedlings. It's almost time.

They say the waiting is the hardest part. Well, in this case I would have to disagree. The waiting brings a sense of excitement ~ It's almost here!!!!~ . The waiting hurries poky old February along, prod, prod, push, push. The February mantra of "Winter is never going to end" is unheeded. It's not even heard this year, the little old fashioned clock has silenced it with its subtle ticking. So while it's all still in the planning stage, preparation for Spring will be starting soon. The first hen on a clutch of eggs, the first bunnies in a furred nest, the first seedlings pushing through the earth. Then that little, old fashioned clock will go off. And I will hear its sound in the call of the returning Canadian Geese and the splash of the water over the DaM, freed from an icy grip. I'm waiting, it's almost time.