new to turkeys

[ramirezframing]

My DH has been wanting turkeys for a while now. He wants wild looking ones that aren't wild. What type(s) are these and can they eat reg chicken feed? Can turkey babies be housed with chicks? How about adult birds? If we do eggs can they be hatched under a hen and how long do the take? Whats the going price for turkay cicks in eastern NC? Thanks for all the help.

 

[Dogfish]

You want "bronze" turkeys. Probably not broad breasted, unless you only plan to raise and butcher in one year.

Feed your poults higher protien feed to start. 25+%. I have 28%. Turkey & pheasant starter is what I use.

Poults and chicks can be raised together. I have a buff orph in with some of mine, they get along fine.

Adult birds may have an issue with blackhead, check your local extension office (USDA) or farm services org and see what they say about blackhead in your area. I do fine here, but your area may be different.

28 days is the incubation, but I would suggest just buying poults. Less fuss, and you start out with live birds.

No idea on chicks where you are at, but in Washington I get $10 per poult, straight run.

 

[ramirezframing]

Thanks alot for the information. What is blackhead?

 

[BAMACK2]

Fayetteville here also what's your plans for your turkeys there are a few places that carry them here in fayetteville . I order some from porter that are due here in June Blackhead is a disease that chickens can give to turkeys

 

[Turkeyrangler]

Quote:
Here's a link that will help. http://www.millerhatcheries.com/Information/Diseases/blackhead_disease.htm I have chickens with my turkeys with no problem. Many here do the same, but blackhead is an issue in certain areas

 

[ramirezframing]

Well, we ( mom and I) have always talked about growing our own thanksgiving dinner. The DH wants some around the house. So I guess the extra boys will be dinner and hens and a boy or two for around the house. How many hens to a tom and what kind of space for them? Do these get mean and can we eat the eggs? My mom has geese and uses extra eggs for making cakes and all.
Thanks so much for the info.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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[ramirezframing]

Is there a way to sex them from a group of chicks just by looking at them?

 

[ChurkLover]

Quote:
We have the broad-breasted bronze and had, by luck of the draw, two toms and two hens when we purchased them a year ago. We lost one Tom to a coon at 6 months old and so only had the one Tom for both hens. We ended up losing a hen due to a hip injury we are not sure how she sustained so ended up just one Tom and a Hen during mating season. The mating does not work because the Tom is so huge. When he tried to mount the hen, he literally tore her skin off on both sides and it was left just hanging there and I had to nurse her back to health with neosporin and lots of attention to keeping her clean and keeping him away from her. These turkeys are extremely social with people and follow us all over our 12 acres of ground. They are even great with my 4 year old twins and 6 year old who pet them all of the time. I must caution you of this breed, I have noticed in my Tom now, the similar problem as with my hen who we had to put down due to her broken hip. He is hardly able to stand up (and nearly 40 lbs) and only 1 year old. Not sure this is a long-lasting breed for keeping around as pets but they are the gentlest of turkeys and so sweet. Some people do eat the turkey eggs, but the eggs my hen has laid had a very firm yolk inside, which I found so unappealing I couldn't even try to eat it. Good luck finding the right turkey for you.