New to raising turkeys and need some help and advice. Thanks

[Deedee]

Bought our very first BBB poult Sunday at our local feed store, it's 10 days old and already has stolen our hearts.

Been raising chicken for about 4 years now, but this lil' poult is something else. lol... My question is, from the research I have already done, there is a lot of mixed information.

Can this breed fly at all? even at a young age, I know when they get older they'll be to heavy, but just wondering.

Do they do ok being the only turkey or should we get another one?


My first intention were to introduce Gobbles (poult) to the chicken in a few weeks, but after reading the past day or or so on here, I don't think I'm going to put him with the chickens. I have a 10x12x8 dog keenel that I'm going to use for the turkey. So I need to get busy.


Thanks in advance

 

[ivan3]

Turkeys are very social. You might want to consider a couple of heritage variety poults to join your BBB. Sad to say, if Gobbles isn't on the menu for Thanksgiving, then it would be a good idea to start limiting feed after the first 12 weeks (standard portion once daily and a lot of free range). Some members have kept BBB hens for 5 yrs and only a few for longer than that (toms much less). They are the Cornish X of the turkey world.

Heritage turks, well cared for, can live over a decade.

Yes, the BBB's can fly when young - it is the landing that can sometimes be a problem (very fast growing legs can fail at the `heads' of the bones at the joints).

 

[Deedee]

Turkeys are very social. You might want to consider a couple of heritage variety poults to join your BBB. Sad to say, if Gobbles isn't on the menu for Thanksgiving, then it would be a good idea to start limiting feed after the first 12 weeks (standard portion once daily and a lot of free range). Some members have kept BBB hens for 5 yrs and only a few for longer than that (toms much less). They are the Cornish X of the turkey world.

Heritage turks, well cared for, can live over a decade.

Yes, the BBB's can fly when young - it is the landing that can sometimes be a problem (very fast growing legs can fail at the `heads' of the bones at the joints).

Thank you so much for you reply, I have been reading so much the past couple of days. I'm really considering on getting another turkey for a companion. Not knowing if it's a tom or hen. I guess it doesn't matter on what sex I get then does it?

 

[chooks4life]

My turkeys have been mix breeds and have flown no matter what age they are, toms and hens alike. It won't matter what gender turkey you get as company, to start with. I usually leave mine free-ranging with the chooks, but have had one male turkey get bent on trying to mate with chook hans, and have had one rooster bent on mating with the male turkey... But in my experience, which is limited to mix breeds when it comes to turkeys, they have a love/hate relationship with each other.

As in, they'll "weep" (weep-weep-weep-weep, wop-wop-wop-wop, lol....) when separated but put them together and they can be chronic bullies. It can become their obsession to bully one particular animal. And females at brooding time can be chronically stressed out for no reason, but I think that's because the hens I got had come from unhappy management practices at their original home.

 

[Deedee]

My turkeys have been mix breeds and have flown no matter what age they are, toms and hens alike. It won't matter what gender turkey you get as company, to start with. I usually leave mine free-ranging with the chooks, but have had one male turkey get bent on trying to mate with chook hans, and have had one rooster bent on mating with the male turkey... But in my experience, which is limited to mix breeds when it comes to turkeys, they have a love/hate relationship with each other.

As in, they'll "weep" (weep-weep-weep-weep, wop-wop-wop-wop, lol....) when separated but put them together and they can be chronic bullies. It can become their obsession to bully one particular animal. And females at brooding time can be chronically stressed out for no reason, but I think that's because the hens I got had come from unhappy management practices at their original home.

Thanks... I'll keep that in mind. I'm headed outside getting started on redoing the old kennel that'll be housing the poult. it's 12x16x8. Do you think this will be enough room? He won't be in here all the time, will be roaming for part of the day with the chooks.

I'll be putting up poultry netting acrossing the top and putting tin along the back and one side to help with shade. Also putting tin over the top. Thanks again

 

[chooks4life]

Sounds great, certainly big enough, and what with the freeranging with the chooks he should be really happy. In my experience with turkeys though everything wants to eat them, so I'd be extra careful about making it foxproof.

 

[Deedee]

Sounds great, certainly big enough, and what with the freeranging with the chooks he should be really happy. In my experience with turkeys though everything wants to eat them, so I'd be extra careful about making it foxproof.

That's what I've been working on this afternoon. Been pricing and looking for new poultry netting or chicken wire to go over the top of the pen he's going in.
We already have electric fence, but fixing to extend it before he goes out.
The last thing I want is anything to get him.