keeping turkeys compared to keeping chickens?

[ziggywiggy]

My Tom is as gentle and friendly with me as can be but, for some reason he always wants to chase the neighbor kids and my Blue Tick Heeler(He likes my bulldog and Boston terrior).
When I was a kid we had a Tom that did the same to me. Not real sure but, maybe Toms have this thing about children or maybe they can sense the fear.
Other than that, I agree with everybody else-turkeys have great personalities.

 

[the Old Rebel]

I love them both very, very much, but in different ways. It may sound trite, but I don't mean for it to - Chickens are chickens. Turkeys are turkeys. They are very different birds and each bird inside each category has a very different personality.

Some domestic turkeys apparently are not the sharpest tools in the box, but my heritage bronzes are very intelligent birds. They are quiet and gentle. My bronze turkey tom actually raised two orphan guineas by himself. I have pictures of them under his wings on the roost at night.

Contrary to popular belief, turkey poults are not so dumb that they turn their heads up in the rain and drown themselves. It is simply that they get chilled very easily and die. So the warmth factor is something to consider.

My chickens often make me laugh out loud. My turkeys command my respect. My heritage bronze hen is the best mother I have on this property.

What more can I say that hasn't already been said? I stand in awe of the turkey - most especially the wild turkey.

As far as turkeys with little ones.... I had a turkey tom that threw his feet at my young grandson (they were about the same height). But my grandson got right in front of him in a challenging position, so it wasn't the turkey's fault. As with any creature on the farm, when little people are around, it's a good idea to keep an eye on what is going on.

FYI, a raccoon will bite the head off of a roosting turkey. So I put mine up in pens at night. That may be something to think about. They will roost high up in the trees if they can, but just because they're big doesn't mean they aren't vulnerable to predators. A friend's rottweiler hung out with him and his turkey boy all the time. They were all friends. Until one day when John went to town and accidentally left the turkey out. He was a pile of feathers when John got home and the dog was covered with blood and feathers. Just a thought to think on. Things are not always what they seem. I have to keep my tom away from Australian Shepherd. They don't like each other at all!

Good luck to you if you decide turkeys are a thing you want to try. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Brodes]

I am planning on starting a small flock of heritage turkeys next spring for food, eggs and breeeding. I am wondering now if I to will fall into the 'I can't eat them' phenomena and I will be keepinp a dozen turkeys year round.

So who here keeps turkeys year round in the colder regions? I am in Maine though not the -20 for weeks part of Maine. They must need to stay inside a coop at night. We do have large flocks of wild turkeys around here that obviously stay out year round but I do not know what the winter kill rate is with them.

Luckily I have the winter to think about it.

M

 

[longranger]

Anyone who loves the heritage turkeys can sympathize with how attached we get to these birds. I don't look forward to butchering my "babies" but 2 things besides the good life argument make it easier. First accumulate way too many turkeys to feed(about 30+). Second have plans to breed two or more varieties next year and that will take all available pen space.

I butchered my first 2 turkeys yesterday. That actually made me feel better about keeping and breeding heritage birds. They did not suffer and dressing them was much easier than anticipated. Neither one was going to be a breeder. The trauma for both me and the birds was minimized by having a good turkey cone(thanks Jason) and both a very sharp cleaver and knife. Don,t forget a really big!!! pot and heat source or getting a good scald will be near impossible. One is cooking right now and the other is going in the smoker in a couple of days. Yumm.

 

[pdpatch]

If you have wild turkeys around, you must confine yours as most states have laws about Domestic animals being released into the wild, whether it's accidental or intentional.

Although turkeys can adapt to cold temperatures, you should give them some help in sub zero temperatures. The biggest thing it to keep wind off of them when cold. Also if you don't have several so they can huddle together for warmth, you may need to help by adding some heat.

A good insulated coop, that is not drafty is a requirement for keeping domesticated turkeys in colder climates. Yes some don't but it's a matter of how must risk you are willing to take. a good 10 x 10 coop for 6 turkeys can provide there own heat most of the winter.

You should also consider heated waterer's unless you want to go out and break ice a couple of times a day.

You also don't want to have to much heat, or light in the winter or you will trigger the hens to start laying.

You also need to consider if you get to much snow and can't get to the coop right way. How to make sure they get food and water.

Tom

 

[chickenannie]

Read here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=92240