How to keep my Broad Breasted White Warm in very cold climate

[FunClucks]

Thanks for your response. As I mentioned above, it's not just AI. Opensanctuary.org and other websites also indicated that broad breasted turkeys and meat birds in general are not as cold tolerant because they are not bred to be around very long. I know for example, that the local animal sanctuary near me, which is quite well respected and works with a well-known local farm vet clinic, doesn't even let their meat birds outside the barn when it falls below 20°F. They have beautiful Cornish Cross birds over 6 years old, so it seems like they're doing something right.

We have a large community of folks here, who raise birds in a wide variety of ways. I find that when a number of folks have years of personal experience doing something a certain way and have been successful at it, that gives me confidence to try the same thing myself. Does that mean it's the best way to ever raise a turkey? Maybe, maybe not. But if a method was successful for a number of folks, that is generally good enough for me. I pick the method I like best that folks have had success with and go for it.

 

[arazla]

To be clear, in this thread we're not talking about turkeys in general, but MEAT turkeys specifically that are not raised to be hardy.

True, there are many people with lots of experience here, and there are a million different ways of doing things. Everyone has to find things that work for them. I have learned a lot on BYC. I have noticed though, that despite the name "backyard chickens," most of the advice here seems geared towards raising poultry as livestock. Also, just because something has been done for 100s of years, or even 1000s, or someone's grandma raised 10,000 chickens, doesn't necessarily mean it was the BEST way or that there isn't new information out there. If there is research on animal welfare that shows animals might thrive better in certain conditions I do think we need to be open minded about that. Even if it goes against prevailing assumptions. The meat industry itself is starting to present articles such as this: https://modernpoultry.media/cold-te...-poultry-health-and-welfare/?mp=1763697781063

When people say the animals are "fine," I really want to know more. Like fine, as in surviving or as in thriving? Are they huddled, or running around and having adventures? Droopy or perky? Shiny or dull feathered? Poopy butts or clean, fluffy butts? Do they live a couple years or 10+? Some people here are raising dinner, some just want eggs and some people think of their chickens as pets. But ultimately chickens are sentient beings that do feel pain and discomfort, although as prey animals they will do their best to hide issues from you. So we do have a responsibility to consider all the information we can.