Pet turkey questions

[R2elk]

The suggestions for high protein diets are for meat birds and not meant for longevity of life, but for building muscle fast.

This is fine for adult turkeys. All turkeys whether broad breasted or heritage need a proper high protein turkey or game bird starter to start with for proper development. It isn't all about the protein. A quality turkey or gamebird starter will also provide the higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin that poults need for proper growth and development.

 

[Devils Flower]

There are a lot of great resources on having turkeys as a pet, as opposed to breeding or raising for food. The suggestions for high protein diets are for meat birds and not meant for longevity of life, but for building muscle fast. This is info from great turkey person on this site. Use an 18-20% all flock feed for longevity. Get a small breed, heritage like a royal palm. Do not great a broad breasted, it is sad, they can’t move around well, don’t live as long. I have a 12 ft by 14 ft stall with attached 10 ft by 10 ft run , it works great for a pet. Since yours will only sleep in run it is fine. They will perch, make perches with two by fours for them high up. They like them to be at least 3-4 ft high. Things you will struggle with- they do not come in at night like chickens. So free ranging is great for them but it is a pain to round them up at night to bring them in. I ended up with mine because his hens got eaten because the owner couldn’t get them in at night and a fox ate them. They were in fenced enclosure with trees. They aren’t fast. They will stay out in pouring rain, sleet and snow. previous owner used to spend all kinds of time trying to get them in and decided turkeys weren’t for her. I am already struggling with decision to take him because I don’t want aggression towards my hens, but he needs flock mates. I’m worried adding turkey hens who don’t know chickens or him will disrupt my chickens. Right now he seems happy and calm, but will have to watch for mating attempts and aggression. I’ve read horror stories. I made sure to add a lot of chicken hiding places.

I like the way you think and I agree 100% on what you said. My turkeys are pets. They are 3.5 months old and are happy go lucky. No sickness no bullying. My chickens and ducks and turkeys coexist side by side until bed time. I'm all about keeping them healthy happy for as long as possible.
P.S I think I have read the same thing on a turkey sanctuary on Google.

 

[Devils Flower]

just curious - you are saying 12 foot by 12 foot is too small for two turkeys to sleep in? This is quite a bit larger than many turkey breeders I know have. If they are free ranged during the day how much space do suggest for per turkey? I am new to turkeys asking for education. I have a12 foot by 14 ish foot horse stall and mine perch up high on 4 ft two by four inside and seem happy, then go out in the daytime

My turkeys 6 of them sleep in a dog kennel and it's just 10x10 and they have plenty of room to sleep and get a drink if they get thirsty before morning. I do have to make them a new perch. The one they have they are to heavy for for now.