A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Phill98]

Welcome to the journey to turkeydom! Once you get them, you'll never want to go without them!
I recommend heritage all the way! Turkeys are absolutely wonderful and amazing companions. Even if you plan to eat them, a heritage Tom is usually plenty big enough to feed an average family by about 7-8 months old

Thanks! I actually was leaning to heritage but just wanted to hear your opinion. I just can't wait to se those little poults strouting around!

I plan on getting a breed from where I live but it is very similar to bronze turkey.

 

[Phill98]

I wanted to ask do you free-range your turkeys all the time? Would they be all right for a few hours a day when nobody was home closed in run that is about 15x25 feet. I am talking about around three turkeys longterm plus anything that might hatch from them during spring and summer?

They would be freeranging all day for good part of the year, they would have to stay in run for maybe two or three months in a year when neighbours have gardens in summer and again, not whole day just like 3-4 hours a day.

 

[memphis]

Welcome Phil98....HERITAGE turkeys for sure!! Mine free range, but there are sometimes they stay in their pen all day.

 

[Molpet]

Hi everyone!
I have been interested in turkeys in a long time and I just decided I would like to get some maybe this spring or the one after.

And I need some advice! I would like to hear from you if you would suggest me getting heritage or commercial breed for first time owning. I do have some experience since my grandma had them for a long time, but I have never kept them myself.

Commercial are a meat variety and will break your heart if you try to keep them as pets
Heritage variety will live a long life and can breed naturally
All turkeys people have are one breed, just different varieties

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I wanted to ask do you free-range your turkeys all the time? Would they be all right for a few hours a day when nobody was home closed in run that is about 15x25 feet. I am talking about around three turkeys longterm plus anything that might hatch from them during spring and summer?

They would be freeranging all day for good part of the year, they would have to stay in run for maybe two or three months in a year when neighbours have gardens in summer and again, not whole day just like 3-4 hours a day.

Mine are kept penned up almost all the time but only because they tend to wander pretty far and I have fairly close neighbors who don't approve :/ Sometimes, if I'm going to be outside, I'll let them out to enjoy the freedom and to graze. Sometimes a couple girls will let themselves out lol

 

[OneMountainAcres]

MIL update. Hubby broke to me last night that she said she wants to come spend the last week of every month at our house..... Absolutely not! She's not a hard person to get along with but she has to see that our house is NOT big enough! I shared my room with my DD last night and hubby slept on the air mattress in DS room since both kids are teen/pre-teen and really shouldn't share a room. I'm putting my foot down on this. Maybe one weekend every other month or something but this is rediculous. We can go visit her and she's welcome to come visit from time to time but at BIL's house, she has her own room and they have space.
Rant over. I needed to vent

 

[Molpet]

I wanted to ask do you free-range your turkeys all the time? Would they be all right for a few hours a day when nobody was home closed in run that is about 15x25 feet. I am talking about around three turkeys longterm plus anything that might hatch from them during spring and summer?

They would be freeranging all day for good part of the year, they would have to stay in run for maybe two or three months in a year when neighbours have gardens in summer and again, not whole day just like 3-4 hours a day.

Mine are in a fenced poultry yard, no top... they jump on the wooden fence posts or gates with a top rail and go on walkabouts.. they don't go over the side that has 4' enet. They sometimes get in the trees and fly over. Then they get upset because they can't figure out how to get back in.

 

[Molpet]

MIL update. Hubby broke to me last night that she said she wants to come spend the last week of every month at our house..... Absolutely not! She's not a hard person to get along with but she has to see that our house is NOT big enough! I shared my room with my DD last night and hubby slept on the air mattress in DS room since both kids are teen/pre-teen and really shouldn't share a room. I'm putting my foot down on this. Maybe one weekend every other month or something but this is rediculous. We can go visit her and she's welcome to come visit from time to time but at BIL's house, she has her own room and they have space.
Rant over. I needed to vent

No way

 

[rjohns39]

No way

X2

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I just found out that her little dog pooped in DD's room on the floor this morning too I'm not happy.