I would like to add some turkey's to my farm

[mamas farm]

I would like to start raising turkeys does anyone have any advise for me ? I have only raised chickens . Is raising turkeys the same as raising chickens are is there more to it? would you share some pictures too ?And I would love to hear some stories about them .

 

[lynn1961]

This has been my first year with heritage turkeys. I have noticed that when the turkeys and chickens free range together that the turkeys bully the chickens, the rooster and tom have issues, turkey breeding season caused a lot more issues when all are free ranged together. Our solution was to separate them into their own free range areas. my turkey hens would not use a nest box, tried several different types of nest, finally fixed them a slightly elevated area with some shade and rain protection and provided hay, they made their own nest, left them no other options as to where to build nest at. Trimmed their wing feathers so they could not fly over the fencing, have electric fencing in addition to the standard fence to keep the critters out (top and bottom strand) the electric fence has stopped bird losses. Planted a green area last fall for the birds, they are still grazing on it. The turkeys eat cracked corn, oats and lay pellets fairly well, they did not eat just lay pellets very well at all. The turkeys would not roost in the shed at all, they roost on an old short table, had to fix them a box to get on to get on the table since they had their wing feathers trimmed. Right now none of them are roosting, they are setting on eggs, the tom included. Don't know if that is normal for a tom or not. Put a hanging feeder and water out for them this week so that when their poults hatch they won't drown in the big water container. Turkey hens are mean when setting on eggs. I love to watch the tom display and strut, he is a standard bronze, the girls are golden phoenix, The poults that I hatched in a incubator have turned out looking like calico"s, royal palms and standard bronze. Porters rare turkeys has a lot of good information and pictures. Now incubating turkey eggs is a whole other post.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Here's another opinion: I simply ADORE my turks. I just have a pair at the moment, and they do very well with my chickens (they were both raised with them, though). My hen roosts in the coop with the chickens, my tom usually prefers to sleep outside in a big tree near the coop. He slept in the coop on top of his hens brooding cage last night, his babies hatched yesterday, so I'm guessing that's why he went in. My turkeys eat gamebird crumbles (24 or 26% protein, can't remember which and can't check the bag as I'm at work), occasionally I catch them eating the layer food, but not often. They also get a 2 grain scratch as a treat, and free range when I can be there to keep an eye out for trouble. A good place to start if you're considering turkeys is to call your local Ag department and ask if there have been any cases of blackhead disease in you're area. If its there, you'll be in for alot of heartbreak when your turks hit the ground. My turkeys are alot friendlier than my chickens. My hen likes to be pet, and both will come when I whistle for them (simply achieved by whistling everytime I threw out scratch, visitors think its the craziest thing). They're a hoot for sure, good luck!

 

[mamas farm]

thank you that gives me some ideas of how to make them fit in .

 

[frank53061]

I am new to Heritage Turkeys myself I just got 5 weeks ago 17 red Bourbon Poults and it is defiantly a learning experience.
I have had Chickens for the last two years Turkeys so far are Like feathered puppies kinda.
I Incubated some chics so that when I got my Poults in the mail they would be the same age and this has worked out very well the chics remind the Poults to eat and drink.
I hope to get these Turkeys up in size to Sell some eat some and keep some for breeding.

 

[mamas farm]

I just cant wait to get some .