Narragansett Tom

[Rosechuk]

Hey Turkey people!

I am considering buying a Narragansett Tom from a guy I met who is moving away and selling all his animals. I was over there looking at his chickens but was just so impressed with how awesome this Turkey was. I looks around the forums for awhile and it seems that lots of people keep chickens and turkeys together, although that seems kinda crazy to me just because of his size. I dont really know anything about turkeys, but it looks like I can treat them pretty similar to the chickens, and I do have the space to keep them separate. I would look into getting some Narragansett Hens to breed with him in the future. Does anyone know of a reason why it would be a bad idea to bring in a single Tom to my barn?

Also, would anyone have a good Turkey book to recommend? The reviews of the Storeys Guide on Amazon look bad...

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I think the larger birds in the same area help the smaller ones. The flying predators seem to think twice before swooping down into a pen of turkeys.

Storey's book on turkeys is pretty general, if you have no experience with them it's a good start.

The best book I have ever read is,

http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi...te1restrict=book author;view=toc;idno=3317008

It was written in the 1930's when farmers raised them on pasture, much like we do now for our small flocks. There are hard copies still around but you have to search for them.

Steve in NC

 

[Rosechuk]

Thanks a lot for the info. I think I am gonna get him after all!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

"Everybody loves a turkey"

Steve

 

[Crazy Chicken Fever]

I have 4 turkeys 2 toms and 2 hens and they are wonderful! My toms follow me around all day when I am out doors, then hens kinds keep to their selfs but if the tom is friendlyy you will really enjoy him. My turkeys are free range, they come in the barn at night to roost.

My turkeys call the wild turkeys from the woods. On any given day I wake up to find 20-30 wild turkeys in my front yard. I cannot wait until spring so I can go nest hunting

 

[Rosechuk]

Nest hunting? Does that mean looking for wild turkey eggs?

The 2 Toms don't fight or get territorial?

 

[Crazy Chicken Fever]

No my toms get along well. I have seen them fight once because my royal palm tom was trying to take the slate toms hen. Other than that they hang out together and flash their feathers all day long.

Yes, nest hunting means looking for wild turkey eggs. I would like to snatch a couple to throw in the bator. Turkeys are easy to hatch but hard to keep alive once hatched.

 

[jenjscott]

Don't let game and fish catch you wild turkey egg hunting. Mine did fine with banties of all things until they started molting. Then the chickens would pick at the blood feathers in their tails and they would get blood all over them.

 

[Portia]

My wild turkey toms favorite girl is a white leghorn. They are so cute together, and he is huge next to her. Including my tom, I have 4 'males' in my free range flock (1 turkey, 3 roosters). They all get along famously and band together to protect all the girls. I've never seen them even spar, but the boys will all run at another that is trying to mount one of the hens; for the exception of the head rooster...he gets action without harassment by the other boys.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Our Beltsville Whites are the worst for fighting. I have seen them going at it from sun up to sun down. The next day one big happy flock again. Strange birds.


Steve in NC