Possible Turkey owner with little knowledge of turkeys! Help!

[ZachyWachy]

It sounds like we might be getting turkeys soon(idk really, but it sounds like it). The problem is that l don't know too much about raising and keeping turkeys. l am your humble padawan.


P.S. Most likely these will be thanksgiving turkeys, so we won't keep them for more than however many months it takes them to get big enough for a turkey dinner.

 

[R2elk]

Most likely these will be thanksgiving turkeys, so we won't keep them for more than however many months it takes them to get big enough for a turkey dinner.

You have no idea how many times we have heard this before only to be followed with "We have become so attached to our turkeys that we can't eat them."

 

[Kiki]

Hi there!

Check here for some starting info about turkeys.

 

[ZachyWachy]

Thanks KikisGirls

 

[lexi nichols]

It sounds like we might be getting turkeys soon(idk really, but it sounds like it). The problem is that l don't know too much about raising and keeping turkeys. l am your humble padawan.


P.S. Most likely these will be thanksgiving turkeys, so we won't keep them for more than however many months it takes them to get big enough for a turkey dinner.

i have 4 broad breasted white turkeys for 4-h and the best way to get them nice and fat for thanksgiving is. to let them eat as much as they want. also they need a feed that at least has 28% protein in it. then to really put the pounds on i let my turkeys have an extra hour of light in their house by having a simple light bulb in there this will give them more time to eat. and i walk them everyday to build muscle. i hope this helps

ps: DON'T put turkeys in with chicken because turkeys can get blackhead from chickens which is very deadly.

 

[R2elk]

So, is there a turkey breed that will be ready to butcher in 5 months? How am l supposed to take care of them(is there something different that l have to do)?

There is only one breed - Turkey. There are many different varieties most of which are just different color varieties. There are two basic groups - Broad Breasted and Heritage.

The Broad Breasted are the meat variety and will easily reach a processing size in 5 months. It is getting late in the year to find them locally so you may have to order them online or wait until next year.

If you learn to use the search function at the top of the page and use the advanced search feature to limit its search to the Turkeys forum, you will find all the answers to your questions since they have been asked and answered many times.

The other option is to actually read through the information under Turkeys that @KikisGirls already posted for you

Possible Turkey owner with little knowledge of turkeys! Help!

 

[ZachyWachy]

Ok, thanks, l did read it, but it seemed to be mainly about a heritage breed, let me reread it.

 

[ZachyWachy]

l believe it, however, l am a minor, so it's not really my choice.x1000

 

[lastco]

Nice! @lexi nichols Walk those turkeys!

Good advice. I didn't let ours mingle with chickens either. I don't like to invite trouble. There are too many good reasons not to.

We did eat ours for Thanksgiving last year. Best turkey I've ever had. I'm not wild about eating my birds, which is why I opted out of raising them this year, but it was a good experience for my homeschooled kids. We love some 4-H around here too. I've never walked turkeys, but I've walked my fair share of lambs! Lol..

 

[ZachyWachy]

Ha-ha. So how would you walk them? Just herd them around? or did you harness them and take them hiking?lol!