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Quote: That's too small for 3 or 4. Possibly 1 or 2, but still not terrific. They are big birds.

My BR heritage turkeys can be quite noisy -- both babies at about 6 weeks up to adults. Much of the time they are quiet, but when they can't find each other, for example, they CHEEP CHEEP really loud!! I think BBW are quieter (too fat, too busy eating, legs hurt, etc).

I agree with Harp that a Broad Breasted White turkey would be good because they can be butchered in 5 months, and they are sluggish and rarely fly. A heritage turkey will easily fly away. If you trim one wing's flight feathers, they won't be able to fly over a 4.5 foot fence or higher, but you...

Quote: What aspect are you interested in? My friend had Blue Slates and another had Chocolates. They both did well. Steve (Sandspoultry) might have more info on size/meat, etc.

I drive an old Honda, and I just laugh when I get to work and see turkey tracks across the hood. I'm sure other people think it looks awful, but it doesn't bother me a bit! The cats climb on my car too at times. HOwever, if you like a shiny clean car that you wash frequently, you could just...

Quote: Based on your initial comment, I would definitely go with the BBWs or BBBs, not the heritage birds. The heritage birds need lots more space and you'll need a big run. For BBW if you start them in the beginning of July, you'll have from 18-25 pound turkeys by Thanksgiving. The taste...

They're not going to grow fat, but heritage turkeys are good foragers and in springtime there are starting to be bugs and worms available (later in summer, they eat a lot of weed and grass seeds "grain" but those aren't out yet). So they might manage ok, but it would still be better for them to...

Quote: Wow, that sounds amazing!

I would have 2 guesses: 1. A fox got them both. 2. More likely is that because this is nesting season, this is the perfect time for her to start sitting on her nest. I bet Miss Hen was laying a nest full of eggs hidden away somewhere that you didn't know about (they can be very very sneaky...

Quote: One main question to ask first is whether you want Heritage turkeys or Commercial turkeys (Broad-Breasted Whites). You can read this thread to find out the difference. BBWs don't breed, so if that's what you're looking for, pick one of the heritage types. The prices I've seen have...

Quote: How true!

me&thegals : Great thread!!! If I put turkeys in my fenced-in "free-ranging" area with the chickens and they flew over, how hard is it to catch them again? Would fast legs and a fishing net do the job? How good are the heritage breeds at hatching out their own broods and raising them? If I...

i'm getting a new BR tom this week for my 3 BR hens, and was wondering if I live on a farm, if I have to pen up the tom to make him stay or if he will be so enamored by the (free-range) hens that he'll stay around, rather than run away. My old tom NEVER went anywhere on his own -- he just...

Quote: I would say it's probably a space issue. When mine are penned up they fight more, but when they free-range or are out on pasture they get a long a lot better. That said, the bigger ones always pick on the littler ones, and the one darker colored one I had always got picked on by...

Quote: I'd double that: 8x6/20x12 (see page ten of thread - someone else from Ontario asked about this). Six ft. 1"x2" welded wire fencing around run is very good as well. They'll still fly out occasionally, but not as often. 2. Do hens make their nests or should I supply a nesting box? If...

Quote: This made me laugh! I know exactly what you're talking about.

Quote: I put one "flake" thickness of hay down on their floor, and it lasted for 4 weeks at a time. (Their poop is so tiny.) I did clean out their mom's poop, and that helped keep it clean that long. Their pen was 4 x 15 feet. A flake is one of those "sections" in a haybale. I let them out...

Quote: sounds like you have a great setup. The BRs are not that big -- after 7 months, my hens were 8-9 lbs and my toms were 12-14 lbs. I think you should get more poults than you want to end up with because they are fragile when young, and some can die. I got 10 chicks and ended up with 6...

Quote: Honestly, if you're just looking at feed efficiency and having turkeys seasonally, I would go with the Broad-Breasted Whites. They grow enormous in a short period of time. If you want them to live longer than 5 months, or lay eggs and nest and hatch more, then get one of the heritage...

Quote: Mine were more like February to November.