New Broad Breasted Turkey Hen - Tips?

DuckDuckSook

Crowing
5 Years
Jan 20, 2020
500
893
261
Southeastern PA
My Coop
My Coop
Hello Friends! I've added a white broad breasted turkey hen to our flock (Boo) so now we have 4 turkeys: 1 Bourbon Red hen, 1 Royal Palm hen, 1 Royal Palm Tom and Boo. They are past the quarantine stage at this point and are still doing the next to each other but separated lifestyle. The aggression at the barrier has significantly decreased. I plan on keeping this situation going on for at least a few more weeks just to make it as peaceable as possible.

My question is: Any tips about broad breasted turkeys? I've had heritage and I know this girl is a different bird altogether. I read that I shouldn't be giving her any treats and trying to give her some exercise free-ranging as much as she's willing to do. I know they don't live as long as heritage breeds and can have health issues related to their fast weight gain and body size. Should I clip one of her wings or will she most likely not jump a 4 ft. fence? Any information you can pass along will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

PXL_20250709_113343175 (1).jpg
 
Hello Friends! I've added a white broad breasted turkey hen to our flock (Boo) so now we have 4 turkeys: 1 Bourbon Red hen, 1 Royal Palm hen, 1 Royal Palm Tom and Boo. They are past the quarantine stage at this point and are still doing the next to each other but separated lifestyle. The aggression at the barrier has significantly decreased. I plan on keeping this situation going on for at least a few more weeks just to make it as peaceable as possible.

My question is: Any tips about broad breasted turkeys? I've had heritage and I know this girl is a different bird altogether. I read that I shouldn't be giving her any treats and trying to give her some exercise free-ranging as much as she's willing to do. I know they don't live as long as heritage breeds and can have health issues related to their fast weight gain and body size. Should I clip one of her wings or will she most likely not jump a 4 ft. fence? Any information you can pass along will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

pxl_20250709_113343175-1-jpg.4180244
To keep your BBW healthier and longer lived, it is recommended that her feed be Purina® Game Bird Maintenance that is 12.5% protein.

There is no need to clip an adult BBW's wing. They can still jump higher than you might think but are not a danger to fly.

Provide a bale of hay or straw as a roost.

Make fences unattractive as roost sites by not having a top rail on your fences.
 
To keep your BBW healthier and longer lived, it is recommended that her feed be Purina® Game Bird Maintenance that is 12.5% protein.

There is no need to clip an adult BBW's wing. They can still jump higher than you might think but are not a danger to fly.

Provide a bale of hay or straw as a roost.

Make fences unattractive as roost sites by not having a top rail on your fences.
Thanks for your response. I'll get that Game Bird feed. I've been giving my turkeys Flockraiser Crumbles, but I can switch them all over to Game Bird feed.
She has some branches for roosts currently. Once I add them all together in the run, I will put a hay bale in the run as an additional roost. It's tight for space in our current situation.
 
Thanks for your response. I'll get that Game Bird feed. I've been giving my turkeys Flockraiser Crumbles, but I can switch them all over to Game Bird feed.
She has some branches for roosts currently. Once I add them all together in the run, I will put a hay bale in the run as an additional roost. It's tight for space in our current situation.

Turkeys do best with a lot more room than you think they need. What you have been feeding is good for heritage turkeys but not for keeping BB turkeys healthy.
 
What do you mean? Since they don't live long?
Broke my heart watching her struggle. I got attached and had to have my brother do the deed on his annual visit.

I got 2 for the freezer but they are so sweet. I had a friend do the deed on the jake at 6 months. He was getting aggressive , breaking chickens backs.
 

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