Any and All Info Please

[Stacyoung13]

Hi everyone, I want to get a turkey to raise for thanksgiving dinner, but I know absolutely nothing about them. Any information would be appreciated. Like space, roosts, feed, nesting, etc.....thank you

 

[ChickNanny13]

Are you prepared to dressing out a turkey you raise?
We got 2 in March & dressed out in August ... Had a friend help me, didn't want to pluck so we skinned them. The Tom dressed out to 23# & the hen 20#, best gravy ever.
Raised in a dog kennel, allowed them to roam our fenced yard (residential). Fed commercial feed, water & that was it. Great bug control. They were easy and fun but that was a one time deal cause the culling was not easy nor fun

 

[Stacyoung13]

Are you prepared to dressing out a turkey you raise?
We got 2 in March & dressed out in August ... Had a friend help me, didn't want to pluck so we skinned them. The Tom dressed out to 23# & the hen 20#, best gravy ever.
Raised in a dog kennel, allowed them to roam our fenced yard (residential). Fed commercial feed, water & that was it. Great bug control. They were easy and fun but that was a one time deal cause the culling was not easy nor fun

Yeah, culling is hard. I raise chickens and cull myself. I also raise silkies as pets. And I have ducks. Thought I would try turkeys
The feed, is that special turkey feed or can they eat chicken feed, (layer 20% protein). That’s what my ducks eat. And dried mealworms, is that ok? So many questions. Lol

 

[R2elk]

Yeah, culling is hard. I raise chickens and cull myself. I also raise silkies as pets. And I have ducks. Thought I would try turkeys
The feed, is that special turkey feed or can they eat chicken feed, (layer 20% protein). That’s what my ducks eat. And dried mealworms, is that ok? So many questions. Lol

Turkey poults need a high quality turkey or gamebird starter that is around 28% protein to start. The proper starter has much higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin than can be found in any chick starter. They should get this starter for the first 6 weeks followed by another 6 weeks of a quality turkey or gamebird starter that is usually 24% protein.

Adult turkeys will do fine on a 20% protein all flock feed.

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[Stacyoung13]

Turkey poults need a high quality turkey or gamebird starter that is around 28% protein to start. The proper starter has much higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin than can be found in any chick starter. They should get this starter for the first 6 weeks followed by another 6 weeks of a quality turkey or gamebird starter that is usually 24% protein.

Adult turkeys will do fine on a 20% protein all flock feed.

Thank you
How about housing? I have a structure about 4 foot tall that I’m gonna make a coop out of for it. Can I do it like a chicken coop?

 

[R2elk]

Thank you
How about housing? I have a structure about 4 foot tall that I’m gonna make a coop out of for it. Can I do it like a chicken coop?

Housing depends on whether it is a heritage turkey or a broad breasted turkey. Heritage turkeys need a taller structure than do broad breasted turkeys.

A 4' tall coop is not appropriate for either variety. I consider 10 sq. ft.of clear floor space per adult turkey to be the minimum required area. The height for heritage turkeys should be at least 8' tall inside dimension while 6' tall should be okay for adult broad breasted turkeys. The coop space needs to be supplemented with run space of at least 50 sq. ft. per adult turkey.

Once they are big enough to not be endangered by the local predators, my turkeys roost outside in an area that is protected from the wind. Mine have at least 600 sq. ft. of run area per adult turkey plus they get to free range daily on a 2 acre area.

Adult broad breasted turkeys are best limited in how high they can roost to prevent injury from a bad or hard landing when getting down from their roosts. Broad Breasted turkeys can be supplied a bale of hay or straw to use as a roost.

 

[Stacyoung13]

Housing depends on whether it is a heritage turkey or a broad breasted turkey. Heritage turkeys need a taller structure than do broad breasted turkeys.

A 4' tall coop is not appropriate for either variety. I consider 10 sq. ft.of clear floor space per adult turkey to be the minimum required area. The height for heritage turkeys should be at least 8' tall inside dimension while 6' tall should be okay for adult broad breasted turkeys. The coop space needs to be supplemented with run space of at least 50 sq. ft. per adult turkey.

Once they are big enough to not be endangered by the local predators, my turkeys roost outside in an area that is protected from the wind. Mine have at least 600 sq. ft. of run area per adult turkey plus they get to free range daily on a 2 acre area.

Adult broad breasted turkeys are best limited in how high they can roost to prevent injury from a bad or hard landing when getting down from their roosts. Broad Breasted turkeys can be supplied a bale of hay or straw to use as a roost.

The structure is 10x10, 4 ft high with no roof. My plan was to add a roof, bringing the boards up to a point in the center, adding about 5-6 ft in height. The turkey will only be in at night, will that work?

 

[R2elk]

The structure is 10x10, 4 ft high with no roof. My plan was to add a roof, bringing the boards up to a point in the center, adding about 5-6 ft in height. The turkey will only be in at night, will that work?

It is not anything that I would house turkeys in. At night is the only time that my turkeys can't go in the chicken coop. If I was going to put mine in a coop at night, the walls of the building would be 8' tall so they could have roosts that are 6' off the ground.

 

[Stacyoung13]

It is not anything that I would house turkeys in. At night is the only time that my turkeys can't go in the chicken coop. If I was going to put mine in a coop at night, the walls of the building would be 8' tall so they could have roosts that are 6' off the ground.

OK, I’ll expand the walls up then do the roof. Any other info? How about nesting if it’s a female? I read somewhere about a sand floor instead of bedding or straw? I could sit here all day asking questions. Lol I do appreciate you taking the time to help.