1st time post, saying hello--1st time turkey owner

[dbone]

Hi, thanks for a great site...i am really glad i found it! i have 3 turkey's, just got them a few weeks ago, 2 whites and a bronze. they are thanksgiving birds, growing nicely. raised them in my mud room, now i built an out door pen and run for them...they seem to be loving life. feeding them starter, switching to growth soon, in 3 weeks i think. any thing i should now? advice? pitfalls?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Sounds like you are doing ok so far. How big old are they now? The most important thing when you first put them outside is make sure they don't get wet until they are fully feathered out - they can chill easy if they get wet.

Steve in NC

 

[ozark hen]

Welcome to BYC!! You never stop learning on this site

 

[chickenannie]

Make sure they get grit. Also give them plenty of protein for the first months. I think the best turkey is raised on pasture, so if you can keep them in a pasture pen that's best, or else feed them lots of grass -- they love it.

 

[Chickie Mamma]

from CT

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida. You find lots of answers from everyone! Glad you joined.

 

[shortcake1806]

Welcome I'm incubating turkey eggs for the first time myself.

 

[WriterofWords]

from NM!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

hello!!!

ohboy are you going to be hooked on this site! dont ever be afraid to ask questions- there is tons of knowledge out here!

my best advice it to free range them (fenced in of course, bring them in a SECURE coop at nite) .. but you cant put them out until they are 8 weeks then only for a little at a time. when they get used to it they will love being outside - and it saves $$ on feed.

good luck!!

 

[dbone]

Thanks for your advice...I live on a 300 acre ranch and my yard is about an acre. I built a 4x4x4 box for them and a 8'x16' fenced in run. I let them out when iget home from work during the week, they love it. they were out all weekend long with me in the yard running around eating grass. they grow so fast. they are almost fully feathered, just the head isnt really. they get lost in my yard, but they follow me every where...every once in a while i would put them in their run and they would eat their feed and drink water, and then scream till i let them graze again. they love to roll around in my BBQ ash and dirt. is that ok?
Also, is my 4x4x4 box big enough for three birds?
I plan on letting them graze and giving them feed their whole lives. I think happy turkeys will taste better, so i really want their needs to be met and then some!