friendliest turkeys??

[Ryan521]

Check out this link for a list of varieties and basic care.

http://www.albc-usa.org/downloads.html#turkey

 

[Bush Chickens]

im not too sure about turkeys now...ive read some of the things they will do to chickens if they dont turn out friendly...

 

[txrobnla]

I think the trick is raising the turkeys with chickens. Most of the birds in our little flock grew up together and we have never had any issues. We have never had an issue with turkey's beating up on the chickens other than putting the roosters in their place.

We held our Blue Slate turkey's every day from the day they came home and they used to fall asleep in our arms. Our hen is much more aloof and really would rather not be held, but she is still friendly. Jasper is a lap bird and just loves anyone that will pay attention to him. Great personality and very friendly birds.

 

[pawtraitart]

I've never met a Midget White turkey that wasn't puppy dog friendly. I've had other breeds that would chase people, though. I think it's partly the breed and partly how they are raised.

 

[Celie]

They may be friendly to you once they get used to you, but usually they will get very defensive towards strangers. Hard to say as to what specfic breed will be friendliest, it just depends on the personality of the bird itself and how often they ar handled as young. And just FYI, some Turkey breeds that are meant for production usually only last about 2 years before they die or have a heart attack. They are bread to grow as big as possible as quickly as possible to meet industry demand. Royal Palms are not like that as far as I know, they will usually last a few more years.

All Heritage breeds can live 7 years or more and can and will reproduce, naturally, no AI. Royal Palms are considered the "eye candy of the turkey world'', I AM TOLD, but not as good tasting as the other heritage birds. I have never raised them myself.

i could NEVER bring myself to eat something i raised!!!& also they will get plenty of cuddles as chicks

I've heard toms will try to "mate" a chicken,killing them in the process,is that true??and would my tom do it???

It's the other way around, with my Holland Whites, the roosters try to mate with my turkey hens and with large turkeys it looks like a person trying to ride an Oustrage, LOL, the hen just stands up and the silly roo falls off and runs away embarrassed ! If the roo continues, she will chase him and put the bugger in his place! I have had turkeys that dressed out at 35# and they have NEVER once hurt a chicken, duck, or goose they live with! Roosters, on the other hand will try to mate with ANYTHING, including plastic bags, rocks, other roosters, turkeys or ducks, so if you choose a very small turkeys, be on the watch, because Roosters will jump up and try to spur any other male while the flock is establishing pecking order or anytime he feels threatened.

i mostly just want them as a pet,and to keep my neighbors chiweenies&pomeranian

AWAY from my house & chickens,but we have wild turks near my house,so we would have to have a girl turk too. I will NEVER eat my chickens or turkeys unless it was the end of the world. I love them like family, & i didnt even raise the 1's i have!

Remember tom turkeys are very pretty, but also very loud, like geese and giennies .

im not too sure about turkeys now...ive read some of the things they will do to chickens if they dont turn out friendly...

If you hand raise a turkey from a young poult, any breed will be as friendly as a dog and follow you around, if their Mama raises them, not as much, but they are all individuals, like any animals and there are exceptions to every animal, regardless of breed! It is more conditioned on how they are raised and treated, than breed, just like chickens. I have over 200 chickens, about 80 ducks, 3 geese and 26 turkeys and we enjoy the turkeys the most ! Most people who raise them will tell you the same!!!

 

[guineafowlguy]

My experience says it all depends on the turkey.

I have had a blue slate tom that was so friendly he would come up and ask to get petted.

Then i have some toms that are not so nice to my chickens. Mostly the roos.

Like everyone has been saying. There is nothing a turkey hates more than a stupid rooo. Except for maybe the dog. All my turkeys chase him.

If they are free range than i would say the turkeys would be fine with the chickens. It is when they are cramped in a small coop with too many chickens.

Then they might get mean.

I tend to make my turkeys sleep outside not with the chickens.

Main reason is they poop a mountain and mucking the coop would be a daily job.

I also keep them out for the reason that i don't want turkeys bullying chickens.




But like i said it all depends on the turkey.

 

[R2elk]

i mostly just want them as a pet,and to keep my neighbors chiweenies&pomeranian

AWAY from my house & chickens,but we have wild turks near my house,so we would have to have a girl turk too. I will NEVER eat my chickens or turkeys unless it was the end of the world. I love them like family, & i didnt even raise the 1's i have!

In my experience geese will do a better job of keeping the little dogs away than turkeys will. My turkeys pretty much just watch cats and small dog sized animals and leave them alone where the geese I used to raise didn't tolerate them. My geese were the best watch animals I ever had and they can live a very long time.

 

[frank53061]

Quote:
R2elk

I think you have hit it on the head Geese would be perfect for cat and small dog patrol they would be just as loud as Rooster or a Tom I would think.

 

[little feather]

Hi , Turkeys make great pets! You would be better off with the smaller breeds for pets. It depends alot on the type of chickens you have as to whether they will mix well or not. I have found chicks and poults dont mix well, different growth rates ,food requirements, and temperments. Chicks pick on the turkey poults unmercifully, even chicks smaller than the poults! They seem to think turkey toes are treats! I tried unsuccesfully several times through their growth stages to integrate the chicks and poults.
I recommend visiting people who have or raise turkeys, different breeds have different known temperaments, bronzes are laid back, palms tend to be shy, midget whites are busy bodies, Narragansett, gentle elegance, red boubons, very curious, a bit aloof, and so on...
Turkey poults have this laid back personality, whereas the chicks were constantly going, almost hyper drive in comparison. I love them both! But even as adults there are frequent altercations, started by the chickens, but finished by the turkeys. My barred rock rooster insists on fighting with my bronze tom, who just calmly struts around, till rocky boy decides to get in his face, then fbert just beats the tailfeathers out of him! So i have to lead the turks off to another part of the farm and chase down rocky boy and give him a lecture!
I would recommend royal palms, midget bronzes, or narragansetts. But within each breed you will find individuals that are exceptionally aggressive, or exceptionally passive. The more you handle them, pet, hug cuddle, let them nap on your lap, the closer the bond will be, and the gentler the bird will be as an adult. However, toms in breeding season can be unpredictable when they have a hen to impress and defend. Trios are the best way to go, or the one hen will get all her back feathers worn off by her tom. One tom two hens minimum.
It is hard to get sexed poults, most turkeys are sold straight run, day old poults are fragile and sexing can be pretty hard on them. That said some experienced breeders can look at the poults and tell what they are by body shape and temperaments, but even experienced breeders get it wrong. You would be better off getting mature birds from someone who raised them, know them to be gentle, easy to handle, and proven breeders, have them raise some poults for you to pick from. With mature birds you know how big they will get, and can visit the folks you would get them from to get to know them and they you, after all, turkeys can live up to 12 years, a two year old tom and hens would the way to go, still young enough to interest another person should you change your mind, and also mature enough to raise poults for you , should you decide you want to bond with poults. Domestic turkeys bond tighter to humans than chickens, they are needier, when it comes to attention. Kind of like chickens are cats, turkeys are dogs!
Just ask yourself why do i want turkeys, then ask yourself what you expect from the birds as pets. They are very social birds, and usually like to interact with people. That said they are very big powerful birds, they are territorial, and that can and will attack strangers and children. Not all of them, but you never know how they will act until the situation arises. My bronze tom is mr odie doe, laid back, gentle easy going, has never acted aggressive to any one, but that doesnt mean they can all be that way. Turkeys learn very quickly that they can intimidate and do so during breeding season. A tom without hens will pick aperson or another animal to fixate on and it gets interesting after that. Hen turkeys without a tom get attached too, or go into breeding postures,and oh boy that can be fun too. Well thats the condensed version of poults 101, but hopefully this info helps! little feather

 

[birdsss]

my jersey buff turkeys are nicer than some of my chickens. ever had a 20lb hen turkey hop up on your shoulder from behind? it'll startle ya