Turkeys as pets

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Crazy goat lady

Crazy goat lady

Hatching
5 Years
Jul 14, 2014
3
0
9
I would like to raise a couple of turkeys as pets. What breed should I select that is friendly and is heat tolerant? We live on an acre with chickens, ducks and goats.
 
I think any of the heritage breeds will do nicely. Pick a breed that you think is pretty. I have Midget Whites and Black Mottleds, I have examples of both breeds that are ridiculously tame because I worked with them a lot as poults. There are also individuals that are not tame, because I largely ignored as poults (due to time constriants). The results are predictable, invest time with them as poults and you will be rewarded with a really great pet turkey.
 
I have found that bourbon reds seem to have an extra curiosity gene, they are bit more forward and like to know what you are doing. That being said all the varieties are equally capable of being friendly, it does depend how much time you spend interacting with them, I don't do too much but talk to mine, but they do come when I call them, and they will follow me everywhere. Mine do harass the chickens on occasion, so I keep them in their own shed. Turkeys are nothing like chickens as far as personality and the way they interact with you.
 
My bronze that we hatched from an egg has turned into a pet. He runs to greet us when we walk outside, and he likes to tug at my shorts. I'm not sure if he's hoping there are treats inside or just trying to get my attention. He also enjoys having his photo taken.

His girlfriend is a little more shy. Either that, or the guineas have made her not like people as much.

So I agree that the breeds might not be as important as how you handle them.
 
I got some turkeys this year and they were purchased with the intent of them being pets. My bronze is now 5 months old and he's super sweet and tame. I also have 4 bourbon reds that are about 5-6 weeks old and they are super interactive with us. I agree that lots of time spent with them as poults (starting when they are really little worked best for us) and interaction seems to make for good pet turkeys :) I love mine so far - they have much different personalities than our chickens!
 
I just got a bourbon red turkey hen and wanted to know what there range is if I make her a free range? What is the laying season for a Turkey and how often do they lay?
 
Their range will depend on what's around them.

I have 5 acres with my house in the river bottoms. Closest timber about a half mile. 90 percent of the time they don't stray far from the house. But then they take a walk a bout and have found them up to a mile away.

Depends on what they set their mind on.

My birds started laying late march this year and quit basically in August. Most laid at least an egg every other day. But I also let them set on nests so they didn't lay in that time frame.
 
Wing clipping on younger turkeys don't seem to really affect them, and they still can run pretty fast, they do seem to wander less as they get older.
 

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