showing your turkeys

The Turkey Man · **Joined:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:48 pm **Posts:** 3

I have seen a few on show last year but not in big numbers is there a reason why I have 11 mixed Turkeys but I have never shown them at this point because I dread the thought of handling them too much but would like to hear about others experiences and if they are as hard to show as I think?

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

They are easy to show – that hard part is getting them into the cage in the car then into the pen at the show if you just pick them up = wrap them in a beach towel – head out one end legs out the other

The Turkey Man · **Joined:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:48 pm **Posts:** 3

Do you wrap them in a towel to stop them loosing feathers?

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Yes – you have to remember they are very strong birds and they can accidentally hurt someone with their wings = so they don’t get upset due to the number of people and other birds/noise etc and flap while being carried and unintentionally scratch someone with their wings. [it is rare that a turkey will walk calmly on lead any and everywhere]
Once penned they settle again but it is the carrying that is the problem.
I have come close to requiring a fresh scar [8 days after surgery] to be restitched thru my own stupidity! [smilie=a_doh.gif]

had to be taped for another 14 days tho!
Yes I always use a towel but this once I didn’t! = stupid me!
It was a scar on my face btw = OUCH [smilie=a_holyshit.gif]

Hartman · **Joined:** Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:42 pm **Posts:** 2

This maybe a stupid question but do gobblers need to fan their tail when being judged?

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Hartman wrote:

This maybe a stupid question but do gobblers need to fan their tail when being judged?

no - also they rarely do this when the judge turns up :roll:

but it helps if and when they do - it impresses the judge to see a gobbler that comfortable in his pen :-D

Hartman · **Joined:** Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:42 pm **Posts:** 2

Ok thank you. Do judges remove and handle turkeys like chickens?

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

I have seen judges quickly feel the bird in the pen then often they let them out into a fenced off area so the birds can walk around helping to judge see them better - then the judge and steward walk them back into their pen - but it does depend on the judge = I have heard of one actually picking up each bird with the steward then restraining the bird and holding the wings = much noise much violent flapping and many stressed turkeys

me = if I was to judge turkeys - I'd feel them in the pen then get them into a fenced off area

moon · **Joined:** Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:03 pm **Posts:** 2

They would want to handle my big boy you need two people to pick him up heheheheh

moon · **Joined:** Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:03 pm **Posts:** 2

They would'NT want to handle my big boy you need two people to pick him up heheheheh

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