a few questions about turkeys

[JayneMae]

i'd like to know about how much run and coop room a turkey requires as well. my husband and i have been talking about getting a couple turkeys next year and it would be nice to just be able to use the current chicken coop and run we already have.

 

[TammyP]

Quote:
Could you post a pic of your Tom with the angel wing? I'm curious to see what it looks like.

Thanks so much!

~Tammy

 

[Lagerdogger]

I haven't found turkeys to be diffucult to start at all. If you read the books, raising a turkey sounds impossible. I have had only a few problems. I raise mine on unmedicated gamebird starter for the first six weeks in a 4X8 brooder. I start with the feed on a paper towel for the first few days. After six weeks, I throw them out in a fenced range (about 1/3 acre) and let 'em rip. I give them meat maker out there. They don't have a coop, but have a small shelter that they roost on top of rather than inside where all the roosts are. Sometimes they go into the trees when it is hot. Sometimes they use the shelter when it rains. Sometimes they fly over the fence, especially on windy days.

I don't believe that turkeys need a chick to find food and water. It probably doesn't hurt, so people that do it have success, but it certainly is not necessary. Just like bright marbles in the water doesn't hurt, but again, not required. Don't let people convince you that its harder than it is. Its really no harder than raising chickens. It just takes more time becasue the turkeys are so fun that you won't be able to walk away from them.

As to the yummy factor, I give all my customers evaluation forms, and one of the questions is "do you think your turkey tasted better than a store-bought turkey?" Almost everyone says yes, and I have never had anyone say no.

Get some turkeys and have fun!!

 

[ivan3]

JayneMae wrote: i'd like to know about how much run and coop room a turkey requires as well. my husband and i have been talking about getting a couple turkeys next year and it would be nice to just be able to use the current chicken coop and run we already have.

Go with at least 1.5 sq.ft. per poult, up to 8 weeks, and then 8 sq. ft. per turk. Pretty minimal, but it will do. For run I'd shoot for 10-16 sq. ft. per bird (providing low roosts in corners of fencing/straw/hay bales stacked to partially divide the run will give them a way to minimize conflict and give them something to do.

This is a pretty good source of info (focus on pastured turks, but useful): http://www.albc-usa.org/downloads.html​