Good ideas

[DuckLoverJake]

Okay so I know turkeys are meat birds but I really want a Tom and two hens that I can have as pets that I can pet and enjoy watching in the yard free ranging and put them up at night. So what would be a good long living breed?

 

[15shenyl]

We have family who has a tom and two hens. Tom(that's the males name) is the sweetest thing in the world. He comes over and puffs up to show off to us, he has a fit when we leave. All three follow us around and think there people. I don't know what breed they are, but turkeys can be very sweet birds.

 

[DuckLoverJake]

Oh that's exactly the kinda bird I want haha. You just gave me a bit of hope. Also do they do well with ducks or geese

 

[Nicholie Olie]

Ever think about "Royal Palms" they're stunning!

http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/royalpalm.html

 

[15shenyl]

I really don't know how they do. Tom has a goat he follows around, there best buds. I think like with any animal you just have to get them around people, animals, and other things so they will be fine around it. Our cat, chickens, and dogs all get along. Even the neighbors hunting dog is now good with my chickens. Just hand raise it and introduce it to things a little at a time. My pullets are not scared of really anything. When they were chicks, they grew up in the garage in a apple bin. There was loud noises, smells, and different things they had been around. JoJo, one of my pullets sits on my shoulder while I mow the back yard. Just be sure the ducks and geese are ok with the newt addition.

 

[DuckLoverJake]

I have thought of them but are they a small turkey? But as long as they are sweet hearts it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[Celie]

If you look at different posts under the turkey threads there a lot of pictures. Turkeys imprint on people and other animals, especially if there is FOOD involved. They love to eat, so offer them a treat and they will be your best BUD for life. Royal Palms are real "EYE CANDY", but if you want something a little bigger, look at the Bourbon Reds and the Nergarsetts. I'm not sure I spelled it right, but the Toms of both breeds mature about 33 #. The only ones with color, bigger, that I know of are Standard Bronze. I think the personalities don't come with the breed, but the way they are raised!

 

[LukensFarms]

We have a broad breasted bronze turkey, that we call turkeylurkey. We have had him almost 5 years. He is wonderful with our three little girls. We did this year add a couple of hens to the mix and he is doing just fine and still just as tame as ever. He likes to follow us as we go on a walk from our house down to our field of cattle. He sits outside the house where ever our girls go inside, you can always bet he will be outside that window in the house.

 

[Celie]

That's amazing for a BB verity, they do not usually live nearly as long as a Standard Bronze will!

 

[gryeyes]

Midget Whites. If you want more color, then go for the beautiful patterns of other breeds. I have two BB bronze hens and a MW Tom. They're all sweet, but the MWs eat a whole lot less than the larger breeds. (Turkeys are real Hoovers.)

I have the turkeys in my very mixed flock of chickens, ducks, and 2 geese. No significant problems.