My family is trying to start raising/growing the majority of our own food, and we'd like turkeys to be our next step. We aren't talking about keeping them full time, but ordering a few each year to raise for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some of our extended family (well, immediate family, too. Who am I kidding?) are very picky eaters, so we'd like to choose a breed that will taste most like what you buy at the store. We are looking at the BB whites. I don't know if I've so much as seen a turkey in person before, so I have next to know idea what breed would be best, how to feed it, how to house it, what diseases they are prone to, anything. I need all the advice and information I can get. We will be ordering from Ideal in the spring and getting some broilers, laying pullets, and ducks. When should we order the turkeys? How long do they take to grow out? I know to feed them high protein feed. I plan on feeding them game bird starter as babies. Will just high protein laying pellets work when they are older? Help me, oh wise ones. I have so many questions, I don't want to overload you.
