Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

Millpond Hatchery and Frey's are advertising Mini Classic turkeys. They say they are smaller and slower growing. Does anyone have any experience raising them. What weight did they finish? Were they ready for Thanksgiving? Just wondering if they are worth it or if I just raise the large whites for a shorter time frame.

No experience with the Mini Classics, I raise Beltsville Small Whites for Thanks Giving.

Did you check the Frey's website, they give info on growth comparisons for their different turkeys, those are probably ideal growth rates, but at least an idea.

My Beltsvilles do not grow as fast as the published rates for the mini classics, but no big deal, we just cook two 10-12 pound Beltsvilles.

JimW

Jim, I just bought some Beltsville poults at the beginning of June. I am having trouble getting them to go inside at night.
Do yours sleep out side or inside? They do seem a little short on intelligence. Any suggestions would be welcome.

dutch lady.

D L,

Mine live in covered pens, so they sleep under the roof part on the roost bars, so they don't actually have an inside and outside. If they are old enough they will be fine sleeping outside as long as they are in something predator proof.

If you want them inside you could try putting "treats", like black oil sunflower seeds, inside to draw them inside.

JimW

Thanks for the help Jim.