Cost to raise turkeys

[bee_wrangler]

I am getting 4 Royal Palm turkeys and wonder if anyone could tell me the approx cost per month per bird for feed. I am thinking of getting more, but I don't have any idea what they cost to keep and I don't want to be in the poor house lol.

 

[My Little Sister's Farm]

I actually have some math for meat turkeys I did. This isn't for breeders but for getting meat birds in 4 months.

I figured out that it takes about 4 lbs of feed to get 1 lb of live bird. I don't know if that's right or not but it's a safe guess. Your bird will dress out at 80-87% according to some websites I found.

So if you want/will get a 15 lb bird it will dress out about 12lbs of meat (including gibs I think).

4 x lbs of live bird = lbs feed needed. (15lb bird will run you 60lbs of feed if this is right - if it takes 16 weeks maybe 18, not if it takes you 5-6 months to get to that weight, it could be more like 6:1 or 10:1 in some of the slower/heritage breeds, you should be ok I think around 5:1 or 6:1 with palms.)

that number x price of feed (per lb) x .8(dress weight) is how much it will cost per lb of meat you get.

Good luck!!!

 

[longranger]

For 4 adult Rp figure about two 50 pound bags of good quality feed per month, maybe a little less if they can free range.

 

[bee_wrangler]

Thanks for the replies! I am going to get 7 now that I know they wont be eating me out of house and home

 

[HappyHatch'en]

I don't figure feed as a cost, it's a necessity to maintain my yard art...we aren't supposed to eat a turkey...just enjoy their company.