The blue slates are wonderful, but they aren't particularly huge breasted and they can absolutely fly...in fact, ours can pretty much 'hop' right up on a 5ft fence without so much as a running start. They do make excellent 'pets' though if that's really what you're looking for - that's how we got ours in fact - the people who had originally raised them found that they just couldn't butcher them. Actually, the only turkey breed we've found without a wonderful personality has been the Royal Palms - yep, gorgeous, but flighty is putting it mildly...they wanted NOTHING to do with us and had even less instincts than other breeds. We haven't found turkeys to be dumb at all, btw and have found nearly all of the well-meaning advice that we've gotten about all of the ways they will manage to kill themselves to be ridiculously exaggerated - even with the commercial whites. What is different with these birds is that they are just not born with the instincts that other poultry are - they are made to be raised by their parents and they learn from watching. Not very conducive to being raised the same as chickens - but it can be done - it's just easier to do some modifications. For instance, we've had the best luck starting our poults with keets (baby guinea fowl) - we've also done it with chicks, but the keets worked better. These babies ARE born with instincts, and the turkeys will follow their lead. Also, the suggestion above about making things round is a good one if that's practical for you (it really hasn't been for us past when they are brand new and we keep them in a stock tank with a light) - they definitely seem more comfortable in a round space than an unnatural square one. Though even in a cornered pen, we have never lost them due to them piling up in a corner...the only time we've ever had a problem with piling up has been if we haven't made sure to keep it warm enough at night. That's when they start piling too tightly together - and that will happen with any kind of baby. Another quirk we've found unique to turkeys is that they really like to keep to a schedule - you don't have to be super strict about it, but it really helps to do things around the same time frame. If you get good about it everything will be easier. We raise them in tractors through the Spring and most of the summer - when it's time to move, they are almost pushing on it excited about the new grass they're going to get...if you use that to your advantage, it makes them MUCH easier than broiler chickens. If you want to see our little flock of Blue Slates that we kept for breeding, you can visit our page below. :) Here is a link that might be useful: Guthrie Gator Farm and Gardens

Our turkey eggs aren't that hard to crack but the guinea eggs sure are lol.

It seems as if blooded behinds are fairly common? This is my first year raising turkey. I lost one because he jumped out of the pen and froze during the night. All of a sudden they started pecking at 2 of the other birds pulling out their tail feathers. One died from the shock, the other I rescued, Now in my lounge under a heat lamp all by it;s self. Will I be able to put it back do you think? or shall I just go and buy another turkey from the store and keep the 2 together?

You're right Susan, I guess "shooting blanks" would be the wrong term, perhaps "misfiring" would be more appropriate :) It just seemed strange that I saw the butterfly curve its abdomen and carefully touch it to the leaf and hold it for a second, just like when they lay eggs. It did this at least 10 times while I was watching and nothing ever came out. I guess them laying eggs on asparagus is unusual but not unheard of. I only found it listed on two websites as a host plant, but one also stated it was in the carrot family. From what I read it is actually in the lily family...unless there is something else known as asparagus in the carrot family. It will be interesting the see if Christie's cats actually eat the asparagus they were found on or not. My asparagus was not in the same bed as any host plants or touching them in any way, but not too far from them. The monarchs have been strange too as far as the "misfiring" goes. The one had many misfires, but then did actually successfully lay a few eggs. Strange thing was it shoved several bees, wasps, and Japanese beetles out of the way to lay the eggs in the flower heads of common milkweed. The flower heads were also covered with ants. I snatched the eggs up right away before the ants got them. Why she chose to lay there instead of on the many stalks that had young fresh leaves and no predators on them is beyond me :) I raised them and just released them today. Their momma must be doing something right though because they were very big and beautiful!