Picking A Breed?

[c0dywhite]

I'm going to order turkeys from Meyer Hatchery & I was wondering what would be the best kind of turkey to order? I would like a calm turkey that makes a good pet. Any ideas or experiences?
Thanks!!

 

[retlaw]

Every breed has calm ones and aggressive ones.
Every breed has loud ones and quit ones.

Hand picking one as a pet might be best once they get full feathered and then you can see the traits each possess.

 

[tndalexander]

Every breed has calm ones and aggressive ones.
Every breed has loud ones and quit ones.

Hand picking one as a pet might be best once they get full feathered and then you can see the traits each possess.

Thank you for this advice. Can I ask as I also want turkeys is there a type that is best for a starter or introduction to turkeys breed?

 

[Ryan521]

I've never had any turkeys though Ive heard that the Broad Breasted Whites are calm and friendly birds but have health issues due to rapid weight gain. If you would rather have a heritage breed Bourbon Reds are very popular for their personality.

 

[Arielle]

I have several different breeds of turkeys and I have not had a problem with any of them. None have attacked. I have heard stories even from my grain delivery driver--- he was concerned about my turkeys during delivery. Now he know he is safe with my birds.

Like any creature, you cannot guarantee temperament; if often depends on the person selecting the birds for breeding. No bad boys allowed at my house.


Most domestic animals have good temperaments or else we would not have kept them around.

Have you looked at Porters? My birds from them have been nice.

 

[sandspoultry]

They are all pretty much the same except for size and color. One thing I have always noticed is the ligher weight/smaller types tended to be more fence jumpers than the heavier types.

Arielle is 100% correct in this
" Like any creature, you cannot guarantee temperament; if often depends on the person selecting the birds for breeding".

The more you work with them the calmer they will be.

 

[donrae]

We've had bronze hens as pets a few times over the years and they're great. Calm, not aggressive at all, but very personable and love to "talk" to us! I'll tell you, it's so funny to see a big, hairy grown man going "gobble gobble gobble" to a turkey, just talking back and forth!

My only caveat is watch them around water. We lost two pet hens to drowning, one in an ornametal pond and one in a horse water trough.

 

[c0dywhite]

Before I got rid of my turkey & before he attacked my drake, I caught the turkey in the pool with the ducks. The ducks were swimming & the turkey was waiding in the water!

 

[Jesz]

Arielle, I am with you, I have few different breeds. My red bronze (cross between bronze and bourbon reds) are very vocal and curious. My chocolates are so very sweet., almost like cats they stay in my feet. I purchased older br's the hen is more vocal then the tom, she rules the roost....lol. My turkeys do not free range because of the pedators in our area.

On a good note we have alot of eggs in the bator......

Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decide to get.

 

[Celie]

Before I got rid of my turkey & before he attacked my drake, I caught the turkey in the pool with the ducks. The ducks were swimming & the turkey was waiding in the water!

Turkeys like other birds will waid in the shallow water to cool off when it gets hot, outside. They act a lot like kids and enjoy running under the hose, too!