How much land? Chicken/Turkey to acre ratio...

[Maeschak]

All-

Love the conversation! Yeah, I had the feeling that the "standard" would be loose, at best. I get that, just wasn't sure if there would be any opinions on what might "work best". I do want to maximize the foraging for sure, I understand that I would need to still supplement their diet, which I intend on. My goals are to own an organic free range chicken and turkey farm, but I wouldn't have a ridiculously large number of poultry. Was thinking of 20 dual purpose (orpington) chickens to start off with, would sell the eggs, and eventually meat when they aren't laying anymore, and maybe expand from there. Then about 50 turkeys per season, with room for expansion.
My ideas are to look at around 10 acres, with the chickens and turkeys on various runs in the 5 (protected in the barn at night), and use the other 5 as living space and small organic farm space (veggies). I would fence off separate runs on the 5 acre, maybe an acre a run, and have them on an acre for a month (or so...depending on how well the grass does), then rotate to the next acre next month, so on and so forth. I have a dog who is used to being around chickens who I plan on using as a livestock protection dog (shes loud) and she has NO prey drive whatsoever, so I have confidence she would not attack the poultry. They would not be left outside after dark, and I have a lot of predator defense measures I plan on implementing . Hmmm, I think that pretty much covers it.
My overall intent, I think, is that if I plan on expanding my chicken and turkey numbers at any point, I do want the ability to do so, without having to purchase another property.....
thanks all!

~M

I guess I could add that my three dozen chickens rarely (if ever) travel more than 100 yards from their coop... Usually, they don't travel more than 20 yards. That may be due to the fact that I feed them all they need, however, so foraging is more like their 'hobby.'
I tried for a few days delaying feeding them until the afternoon and they were very actively foraging in the morning (and going much further much earlier than usual) but that led to a severely reduced egg count Bc they didn't want to travel all the way back to the coop to lay!

 

[centrarchid]

I do close to what you are looking into now. My property has about 18 acres that during the winter are less productive than what you might have. When the birds are truly free-range where there are a dozen or so adult-sized chickens, they forage what looks to be about 3 acres of the available ground. This is where I supplement with whole grains. Without the grains, the area they would forage would at least triple. I have good predator management over only about 6 acres using a combination of electrified chickens and poultry guardian dogs where latter take a lot of time and money to get into place. The free-range and predator exclusion zones need to overlap otherwise chickens start disappearing.

There are many ways you can promote more effective free-range dispersal and still keeping the birds centered on a protected roost and location for egg deposition.

Turkeys are a different ball game with most domestic breeds likely to cluster around feeders rather that foraging a larger area. I may try turkeys myself this year to get a better handle on their habits. I am very much interested in how they might treat Red-tailed Hawks.

 

[The Moonshiner]

. I have good predator management over only about 6 acres using a combination of electrified chickens and poultry guardian dogs where latter take a lot of time and money to get into place. The free-range and predator exclusion zones need to overlap otherwise chickens start disappearing.
.

Electrified chickens...LOL....
Imagine they would be quite "shocking" for a predator to try and snatch.

 

[PirateGirl]

Your county zoning will have something to say about this too... here is an example that comes from my local zoning (fowl count as small livestock). These numbers have to do with what is considered viable for the land, what it can support in terms of water, vegetation, and managing sanitation. Some land may not even be zoned to allow for chickens at all. Do your homework on the legal end and work to find a lot that fits your chicken goals. Do not buy the land first and hope that you can just do what you want with it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We don't have any restrictions here, but that's definitely a good thing to look into before buying.

 

[centrarchid]

No restrictions imposed here either,

 

[PirateGirl]

We don't have any restrictions here, but that's definitely a good thing to look into before buying.

Hmm... most states I've looked at land in are zoned in some way or another. Also in regards to if your ag use can be commercial or personal consumption only. I would just say partner with a local realtor and be clear about your intentions from the start. Best of luck!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

All-

Love the conversation! Yeah, I had the feeling that the "standard" would be loose, at best. I get that, just wasn't sure if there would be any opinions on what might "work best". I do want to maximize the foraging for sure, I understand that I would need to still supplement their diet, which I intend on. My goals are to own an organic free range chicken and turkey farm, but I wouldn't have a ridiculously large number of poultry. Was thinking of 20 dual purpose (orpington) chickens to start off with, would sell the eggs, and eventually meat when they aren't laying anymore, and maybe expand from there. Then about 50 turkeys per season, with room for expansion.
My ideas are to look at around 10 acres, with the chickens and turkeys on various runs in the 5 (protected in the barn at night), and use the other 5 as living space and small organic farm space (veggies). I would fence off separate runs on the 5 acre, maybe an acre a run, and have them on an acre for a month (or so...depending on how well the grass does), then rotate to the next acre next month, so on and so forth. I have a dog who is used to being around chickens who I plan on using as a livestock protection dog (shes loud) and she has NO prey drive whatsoever, so I have confidence she would not attack the poultry. They would not be left outside after dark, and I have a lot of predator defense measures I plan on implementing . Hmmm, I think that pretty much covers it.
My overall intent, I think, is that if I plan on expanding my chicken and turkey numbers at any point, I do want the ability to do so, without having to purchase another property.....
thanks all!

~M

With wanting to raise 50 turkeys a year for processing you may want to look into movable range shelters as turkeys put out a lot of waste daily any you shed or pasture would quickly become a stinky mess.

I currently have 17 turkeys, and I can get a 5 gallon bucket full from under the roosts within 3-5 days. That's not counting the outside poop.

I recommend you get a copy of Storeys guide to raising turkeys as it covers meat turkeys and their needs fairly well.

 

[centrarchid]

The restrictions I have seen in Missouri are associated with urban areas and not imposed by state, and often not even at the county level. Rather it is the township or neighborhood association that involved.

In most instances where I am concerned about free-range carrying capacity, the number or animals I can support with well below what the restrictions are imposed by regulations as those situations are feedlots / runs / coops.

 

[Mrs. K]

My advice, is work into it a bit slowly. There is a learning curve, and advice only goes so far. A lot will depend on your climate, your predators, and the birds you get. I have several friends who have had chickens for years, not have real good luck with turkeys.

I would be leery of buying all those birds at once, trying to raise them all up and figuring everything out. Start smaller, and add every 6 months till you get to the number you want. This gives you a multi-generational flock, if a predator nearly wipes you out, you have not lost everything, and you can find and deal with the weak spots in your set up.

Mrs K