New to me Turkey - A few questions

[happymom99]

I use a covered chain link reinforced with hardware cloth dog run for my turkeys. The back one fourth has a wind break where their roosts are. Its 16x16 and they free range most of the day. I mount box fans inside the enclosure during our hot summers. I worry more about the heat than the cold. My combo coop run is covered and the shade in the summer is welcome. And it keeps them dry in the winter. I use fence boards in the back by the roosts to provide three sides of wind break. They stay cozy in the winter & cool in the summer. Works for me.

That sounds great. I’m glad to hear this. It is similar to what I’m thinking we will need to do for my turkeys with this run. Good to hear it is a good solution.

With mine, I think I will also need to attach hardware cloth to the bottom and bury it in the ground around the perimeter to keep it safe from coyotes that could dig.

 

[R2elk]

Wow. That is amazing.

Regarding his breed, Does this mean he is not a heritage bird and I need to worry about his weight? Or is this still a heritage breed?

Barred Blacks are a heritage variety of the breed Turkey. All domestic turkeys are the breed Turkey whether they are broad breasted or heritage varieties.

 

[happymom99]

Barred Blacks are a heritage variety of the breed Turkey. All domestic turkeys are the breed Turkey whether they are broad breasted or heritage varieties.

If I get female turkeys that are a different heritage variety can they still breed or do they have to be the same variety?

 

[R2elk]

If I get female turkeys that are a different heritage variety can they still breed or do they have to be the same variety?

All turkeys being the same breed can propagate with each other. Even the the broad breasted varieties can breed with the heritage varieties although not as successfully through natural breeding due to their sizes.

You can use Porter's Turkey Color Calculator to try to determine which varieties might be produced from mating different varieties.

 

[memphis]

That Porters Calculator is addictive! And I can spen hours on his site looking at the different varieties! Too many turkeys....too little time!!