Can you keep a broad breasted turkey as a pet?

[paigemn]

We were given two turkeys last year and never planned on butchering them. We weren't told they were broad breasted. Which is our fault for not doing the research and asking more questions. I wouldn't have taken them If I would have known. I had one of them die from a vent prolapse and being pecked by chickens so I've been doing a lot of research. I'm not 100% sure that they are broad breasted but I think we did. Can they be kept as pets? I weighed our girl that we have left and she's about 23 pounds right now and 10 months old. She's walking fine and doesn't seem to have any issues. Lays eggs every few days. But I was wondering if it's cruel to keep her as a pet? I don't think I have the heart to butcher her We were going to get more turkeys to keep her company and if we do that we definitely won't make this mistake again. I will be making sure they're heritage turkeys. Now if we do get more turkeys we'll have to get a few because I don't know how long this hen will live. Can broad breasted turkeys live a happy healthy life?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They often live shorter lives. Some have kept them going longer by restricting feed and exercising them. The worse problems are heart failure and legs giving out due to the weight. So keeping her lighter can help you keep her longer.

 

[Kessel23]

They can be kept as pets and will live shorter lives than heritage breeds on average. I have two hens that are 11 months old right now and they are doing fine. One of them has gotten bumblefoot for the second time and I am struggling a lot trying to treat it. The other seems very healthy. I had a jake too who was the healthiest of the 3 and very slim for a BBB but he was killed by dogs this fall. I think someone on here had a hen live for 9 years, I do not remember her username though. That is very long for BB. I do not know what the average is but I know it is a good bit lower than that.

 

[R2elk]

We were given two turkeys last year and never planned on butchering them. We weren't told they were broad breasted. Which is our fault for not doing the research and asking more questions. I wouldn't have taken them If I would have known. I had one of them die from a vent prolapse and being pecked by chickens so I've been doing a lot of research. I'm not 100% sure that they are broad breasted but I think we did. Can they be kept as pets? I weighed our girl that we have left and she's about 23 pounds right now and 10 months old. She's walking fine and doesn't seem to have any issues. Lays eggs every few days. But I was wondering if it's cruel to keep her as a pet? I don't think I have the heart to butcher her We were going to get more turkeys to keep her company and if we do that we definitely won't make this mistake again. I will be making sure they're heritage turkeys. Now if we do get more turkeys we'll have to get a few because I don't know how long this hen will live. Can broad breasted turkeys live a happy healthy life?

You can keep her as a pet but be prepared for your heart to ache when she does pass. Lots of free range time with plenty of walks for exercise will help maintain her health. Be very limiting of any treats, especially BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) and any other high fat foods. Keep mealworms to a minimum.

It may be beneficial to treat her water with a good vitamin B complex. The recipe is one half of a tablet or capsule dissolved in one gallon of water. Do not add anything else to the water and it must be made fresh daily.

BB turkeys have a tendency to get their owners very attached to them because of their calm and mild manners. Many others have been and will continue to be in the same position that you are in.

Good luck.

 

[Turkey parents]

Yes you can we have a BBB tom that's 3 years old, we do kind of think this is his last year but he's such a sweetheart. I have several stories of him that might make him seem like an a**hole but he's really just a sweet bird.

 

[uptown hens]

We have two females that will be 3 in a couple months. The do free range in the day, but have food readily in the coop.
They live with the chickens. I love them to death, but they are eating all the chicken eggs. I really don't have a way to seperate them, and I keep thinking any time now they are gonna pass on because they are so big and have breathing issues, but they seem happy to just hang in there for the long haul. Sweet girls, dumb as an ox, but come running like a puppy when I go outside.

So at three years old, they are still going strong. And they are regular egg layers.

 

[R2elk]

We have two females that will be 3 in a couple months. The do free range in the day, but have food readily in the coop.
They live with the chickens. I love them to death, but they are eating all the chicken eggs. I really don't have a way to separate them, and I keep thinking any time now they are gonna pass on because they are so big and have breathing issues, but they seem happy to just hang in there for the long haul. Sweet girls, dumb as an ox, but come running like a puppy when I go outside.

So at three years old, they are still going strong. And they are regular egg layers.

If yours are only 3 months old and already have breathing issues, they are not likely to make it to 3 years old unless you make drastic changes to their diet which includes no treats.

 

[FortCluck]

You can keep her as a pet but be prepared for your heart to ache when she does pass. Lots of free range time with plenty of walks for exercise will help maintain her health. Be very limiting of any treats, especially BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) and any other high fat foods. Keep mealworms to a minimum.

It may be beneficial to treat her water with a good vitamin B complex. The recipe is one half of a tablet or capsule dissolved in one gallon of water. Do not add anything else to the water and it must be made fresh daily.

BB turkeys have a tendency to get their owners very attached to them because of their calm and mild manners. Many others have been and will continue to be in the same position that you are in.

Good luck.

I just looked up BBW for pet on google and this popped up. I’m a hot mess. Swear we are keeping those 4. My husband already threatened to put them at Fort Cluck (my massive run) with 6 coops and aviary. He said he can’t kill them, but he had no problem butchering those 4 cockerels this weekend.

 

[FortCluck]

If yours are only 3 months old and already have breathing issues, they are not likely to make it to 3 years old unless you make drastic changes to their diet which includes no treats.

Can you do veggies and melons? Not like crazy, but sparingly...

 

[R2elk]

Can you do veggies and melons? Not like crazy, but sparingly...

Sparingly. Turkeys love watermelon.