Do I want turkeys..?

[SarahFair]

There are some black spanish turkeys eggs for sale at $4 on craigslist.
I have been thinking...turkey turkey turkey turkey...every since Ive gotten into chickens.
Id want them for Thanksgiving. I think it would be neat to give family memebers (and friends) turkeys for thanksgiving or christmas that I raised.

What would I need for turkeys?
What kind of temperment do they have?
How fast do they mature?

I would be getting black spanish turkeys..

 

[chickorama]

I say you should take them. $4.00 sounds like a pretty good deal.

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

Here is a mother earth news article about raising them. Good luck. A friend had one as a pet roaming her backyard. It was more like a guard dog than a bird but it had been raised with great dane's. If I was on your Christmas list I would think that was a wonderful gift.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/1973-05-01/Homestead-Turkey-Production.aspx

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Turkeys can be touchy to raise the first week or so. you have to make sure they are eating and drinking (we add a few chicks in with ours to show them the ropes)

Turkey poults need a higher protien feed than chicks - we use a 28% protien game bird starter.

In all the years we have had turkeys we have only had 1 agressive tom, the rest have been very friendly and curious.

Steve in NC

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

What would I need for turkeys?

All the same as chickens,except as they get older more space. They will need a high protein diet for their entire life - 24% or better, We use 28% from hatch to harvest/breeding

What kind of temperment do they have?

Most of the time they are very docile. I have noticed in the Spanish's that they have more of the attitude then the others,but not attack style.

How fast do they mature?

If you feed them 24% feed or higher their entire life you will be able to harvest them in 24-28 weeks and get a good bird. Our Black Spanish's that we harvested for easter where 6 months old they were around 20+ live and they dressed out at 15 +lbs, so they are on the smaller size of the heritages,but that is also growing them out through the winter,on a very late hatch last year. You can expect them to big a few lbs bigger with better weather.

There are some black spanish turkeys eggs for sale at $4 on craigslist.

Is that a dozen or each ??

We have Molted Black Spanish that we are asking $35.00 a dozen including shipping.​

 

[SarahFair]

Thanks for the reply!
They are $4 each..

How many should I get? I was going to start with 2-3

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

They are $4 each..

Yeah that is pretty expensive.

But you can try out 2-3, just depends on what you want to have for the holidays ??

Remember not all will hatch or survive so plan according. Figure in a 10% loss from eggs to harvest.​

 

[bkvail]

I bought 4 turkey poults a month or so ago for $10 ea. I don't think $4 for eggs is a GREAT deal really..... I'd get at least one more than you planned on though if you only wanted 3. You could always sell extras and they will do better if you have more than one or two IMO

My 4 stick together like glue

 

[SarahFair]

well some lady told me she had some hatching tomorrow for $5 each. Im going to stick with them I guess

 

[bkvail]

that's not a bad deal! I'd go with the live poults over hatching since you know how many you are getting for sure that way