I need some Turkey help!!

[mandymcg05]

He will need a buddy when you separate him. And they need a higher protein starter, they do well with (22% to 26%). I personally feed them 28%. But this is my first year with them.

He’ll be fine with them for now but do work toward separating them. The turkeys will need their own place, preferably away from the chickens to prevent disease.

Best of luck with your poult (or soon to be poults!)

Looks like soon to be. Since he isn't the best breed for pet turkeys, we've decided to get 2 more as "pets" and have this little guy for thanksgiving! ... Maybe, if I can do it lol.

 

[hysop]

Looks like soon to be. Since he isn't the best breed for pet turkeys, we've decided to get 2 more as "pets" and have this little guy for thanksgiving! ... Maybe, if I can do it lol.

We got turkeys for food but I’m hoping 3 are females and 1 male so I can keep a breeding stock for years to come. But we will be eating one for sure. I got 6 total to up my chances on getting both genders.

Ohh you got broad breasted. Yeah he/she needs to be eaten. Mine are heritage and can breed on their own but will be smaller than BB turkeys.

 

[peltierk]

I had a duckling push a turkey poult in the corner Of the brooder and peck it to death. The turkey was also never really dry because the ducklings partied hard in the water. So keep theM separate for sure, even if it’s just by a partition in the brooder. Also, turkeys need 28% protein, especially BB so they grow quickly for butchering. I’ve never found heritage breeds anywhere but a hatchery, so impulse buyers (like me!) who see the cutie patooties at Rural King end up with BB turkeys that have to be harvested.

 

[mandymcg05]

I had a duckling push a turkey poult in the corner Of the brooder and peck it to death. The turkey was also never really dry because the ducklings partied hard in the water. So keep theM separate for sure, even if it’s just by a partition in the brooder. Also, turkeys need 28% protein, especially BB so they grow quickly for butchering. I’ve never found heritage breeds anywhere but a hatchery, so impulse buyers (like me!) who see the cutie patooties at Rural King end up with BB turkeys that have to be harvested. ☹

I've already decided to move the ducks. I just hope that those two ducks are good with being just two of them... And they'll have to share a heat lamp with the chicks and turkey. Also, Rural King had another breed I can’t remember something black. But it was a more expensive turkey so I’m sure it wasn’t a meat bird. I’m sorry to hear that happened! This turkey is actually just a tad bit bigger than the chicks and duck. I’ll be moving them all in the morning light!

 

[CindyinSD]

I've already decided to move the ducks. I just hope that those two ducks are good with being just two of them... And they'll have to share a heat lamp with the chicks and turkey. Also, Rural King had another breed I can’t remember something black. But it was a more expensive turkey so I’m sure it wasn’t a meat bird. I’m sorry to hear that happened! This turkey is actually just a tad bit bigger than the chicks and duck. I’ll be moving them all in the morning light!

Turkeys are all primarily meat birds though they do lay delicious eggs. The one you saw was a Black (probably with a marketing name). The heritage varieties can reproduce naturally and can live much longer. My Runnings carried heritage turkeys last year, but they've hardly any poultry available this year. There's "unprecedented demand" this season, the sign says.

 

[mandymcg05]

Turkeys are all primarily meat birds though they do lay delicious eggs. The one you saw was a Black (probably with a marketing name). The heritage varieties can reproduce naturally and can live much longer. My Runnings carried heritage turkeys last year, but they've hardly any poultry available this year. There's "unprecedented demand" this season, the sign says.

Ok so I have two royal palm poults coming in 3 days. Should I move the poult I have now out alone before imprinting? Or is it too late for that?

 

[R2elk]

Ok so I have two royal palm poults coming in 3 days. Should I move the poult I have now out alone before imprinting? Or is it too late for that?

It's probably too late but I don't think it is as big a deal with a broad breasted turkey since it isn't going to be around that long. The imprinted poult will not pass the imprinting on to the new poults.

 

[mandymcg05]

It's probably too late but I don't think it is as big a deal with a broad breasted turkey since it isn't going to be around that long. The imprinted poult will not pass the imprinting on to the new poults.

Ok. So moral of the story, chicks brood with chicks, poults brood with poults, and ducks brood with ducks lol. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[CindyinSD]

You can get away with brooding turkeys and chicks together, but ideally they'd each have their own brooder. As long as they're the same age, they should be okay until the size discrepancies become too much. I found that the larger turkey poults were sometimes bullying the chicks, so I separated out the males and a couple of the females, too. I have one turkey hen who loves the chickens. The rest get along but don't hang out together. So long as there's plenty of room, they mostly ignore each other.