Do turkeys make good pets?

[rebecca10782]

Can they be sweet like chickens? Do the females make much noise?

 

[lurky]

I know a guy that is a big time hunter....he got a turkey to raise for thanksgiving dinner. But when the time came, he could not kill it because he considered it a pet. I think it must have been a pretty cool bird for this guy to keep it for a pet. I think there are some breeds that just get too fat like some type of chicken. Maybe someone here can tell you what breeds are better for keeping.

 

[MissPrissy]

Most turkeys I have had have been aloof and not interested in human interaction. I have babies I am hand raising now and they aren't too interested in being held either.

 

[bangor777]

Can they be kept/housed with chickens? or are they too rough? I'd love to grow a thanksgiving day dinner!

 

[pdpatch]

Having any animal as a pet is always a yes and no answer.

Having any animal as a pet depends on if they except you as "There Pet". Just about any non preaditor animal can become a pet. Most of the time you have to start the relation ship early in there life. The animal has to except you as their Pet before you can call the animal a pet.

You have to learn what the Pet likes and does not like. For instance our two Cats hate tummy rubs, but our dog loves them. We live in the middle of a Prairie Dog town. I had one of them sit in my lap, take treats from my hand, but it was just one of nearly 2,000 that are here over a 20 year span. She disliked tummy rubs also, but loved back rubs. so I didn't give here any tummy rubs. So If you do have a turkey as a pet don't do things they don't like or that pet relation ship will be lost.

Most animals don't like to be picked up, if the Turkey does not mind that when it's a chick then it could be a good candidate for a pet.

In reality I was her pet.

So basicly yes a turkey can be a pet as long as the Turkey excepts you as it's pet first, and you treat the Turkey as a pet and keep up on your obligations as the Turkeys pet.

You also have to watch what you allow to happen when they are chicks. It might be cool for a Bourben Red to fly up to your should when it's a chick, But when It's a 25 pounds bird it's not so cool.

As far as housing with chickens. Most of the time it's no recommended, because some poultry diseases that are not always aparent in Chickens may kill turkeys. But these Diseases are usually from the ground the poultry are on. so if where your poultry live does not have a history of these diseases the it should be ok.