I bought 6 Bourbon red turkeys do i raise them like chickens ?

[onthespot]

bourbon reds can fly, so keep that in mind. I have read that turkeys are less likely to try to go over a fence if there is not a top rail, so they don't feel like they can fly up, perch on the top of the fence, then go over. I have not tested this theory in real life though, and keep mine in pens with tops on them. My bourbon reds seem to be a lot more active, and look like they would be quicker to fly off than my midget whites, for what it is worth. The bourbon reds just seem more restless, pace more, occasionally walk out the door when I open it to feed. They go right back in when I walk them back to their pens, gently, but I just get the feeling if I turned them loose, even with my six foot fence they would take off one of these days, one day sooner, not later.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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My experience with Narraganset was a New England beer by the same name that we used to buy cheap when I was going to Submarine School in Groton, Ct. And don't ask me how long ago that was.

Most of our turkeys prefer to roost outside. I just went back into the woods and cut down a pine tree about 6 inches in diameter and put it about 3 feet off the ground. We have 2 range roosts now that work very well. This was the first one

There are 4 nest boxes in the back with a hanging feeder under. They can get under it when it rains and it keeps the feed dry. We had no problems for about 2 years and then an owl was grabbing the Cochins one by one off it at night. Since then we closed in both sides and 1/2 the front, there have been no losses since. That one is 10 feet square for the roost. We built another one for the Bronze and Java's and that is twice the size with porch roof on the front.

Steve

 

[biomistake]

Very nice basic covers Steve. BTW did you ever hear of the SSN Bluefish?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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Not the Bluefish, but did get a chance to spend some time on the USS Blueback SS-581 and the USS Grayback SSG-574, I did like the diesel boats. Finished on the USS Los Angeles SSN688......good times but just wasn't the same type of boat.

Steve