Keeping meat birds alive

[Mrs. K]

They tend not to move fast, so a predator can pick them off easily. Beware.

 

[18awesomechickens]

They tend not to move fast, so a predator can pick them off easily. Beware.

I've heard that they are slow. I already have a rooster but dunno if that will help or not.

 

[Geena]

Just so you know, if you let that BBW turkey keep growing out it's likely to end up being 40+ pounds!

 

[aart]

Maybe give them to someone who wants them for their intended use?

 

[eulogos]

Give them quickly to someone who will kill them for the purpose they were bred for. Don’t wait until they are uncomfortable and not so good for meat either-and then have them killed. Is it really better to have them killed, which is what “put down” means, and then buried or cremated, rather than to have them be of some use as food? They are not people with rights or human feelings, and they are not even natural animals- they are more like living meat factories. You will be miserable seeing them be miserable. Again, if you cannot process them or have someone process them for you, just give them quickly to someone who will.

 

[Kellow1]

My first question to you is do you eat chicken meat? If so, and you don't want to kill your birds, have someone else process them for you so that you can eat them. IF you don't eat chicken meat then find them another home.
As for the turkey, I had a white turkey that lived to be almost three years and I believe she would have lived longer but was killed by a predator. The reason I kept her that long was because of her personality! She was so sweet and looked after the hens but I also had a rooster that tried to mount her all the time. My daughter refused to have the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner that first year so we ate the rooster instead!
Good luck with your birds, and please don't let them suffer from getting so big!

 

[18awesomechickens]

He does seem to be doing well same with the turkeys. He and his sisters all free ranged today. They might free range tomorrow as well.