Meat vs pet

[realtorterri]

I have a young broad breasted white turkey (approx. 2 months). Original intent was a meat bird. She's a sweety and I'd like to keep as part of our pet flock. Has she been bred to get huge? Will that make her unhealthy later? Is it practical to keep this type of bird as a pet? She gets along great with the silkies. She's been with them since tiny chicks.

 

[Sydnee Fisher]

First off if you don't know how to get around this might help!

Get settled in and share some pics of your flock!

 

[Sydnee Fisher]

 

[Sydnee Fisher]

And I think you could keep you bird as a pet as long as she is on a very strict diet and gets lots of exercise!

 

[BantyChooks]

I have a young broad breasted white turkey (approx. 2 months). Original intent was a meat bird. She's a sweety and I'd like to keep as part of our pet flock. Has she been bred to get huge? Will that make her unhealthy later? Is it practical to keep this type of bird as a pet? She gets along great with the silkies. She's been with them since tiny chicks.

Unfortunately, yes, those birds die quickly. Even if you restricted her food by a lot (which may be too late to do) I'd still be shocked if she lived past a year. The meat genetics are hard to impossible to overcome. I know CX chickens have made it to a year with proper diet, but I do not recall anyone trying that on a turkey.

 

[Sydnee Fisher]

Mine are huge but I have heard of people keeping them as pets and them doing fine!

 

[GreatBreeder]

Unfortunately, yes, those birds die quickly. Even if you restricted her food by a lot (which may be too late to do) I'd still be shocked if she lived past a year. The meat genetics are hard to impossible to overcome. I know CX chickens have made it to a year with proper diet, but I do not recall anyone trying that on a turkey.

Cx go much more than a year, it's misinformation to keep them like people think they should.

 

[BantyChooks]

Cx go much more than a year, it's misinformation to keep them like people think they should.

It's not misinformation. I know people that raise them with limited food and exercise.... They still die. Do they live long enough to breed? Yes. Can they? Yes. Will they live long lives? No.

 

[GreatBreeder]

I've heard plenty of long life reports.

 

[BantyChooks]

I've heard plenty of long life reports.

Where? I would quite like to see proof of an 8 year old Cornish cross.