Raising turkeys

[BrandonM]

Hey, i am getting turkeys in a 2 weeks and was wondering what is the best way to do it. Chicken tractor, run and coop or free range?
Also can i keep any other farmyard animals with them?
-Thanks

 

[kuntrygirl]

How old will they be when you get them?

 

[BrandonM]

Kuntrygirl, them will any where from hatchling to poults of a couple months old.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I would keep them in a pen but I would keep the poults in a brooder separate from the poults that are a couple months old. The age difference is too far apart. Keep them away from any other animals at this time.

 

[focusonfarming]

BrandonM,

I recently ventured into the Turkey raising territory and I can hopefully offer some suggestions that will help. I purchased mine as chicks and kept them in a brooder until they were about a month old. Probably too long, but I didn't have proper housing ready at the time. Instead of building them a coop or tractor, I put them in a large stall I have in the barn. I kept them inside for the first couple weeks, so they could get used to their new environment and then recently began to allow the birds to free range in our pasture. I am not using any electrical fencing of any kind, we just have the standard 4ft hog wire fencing around the pasture. Turkeys are not the brightest birds out there and they tend to stay close to the barn, until I come around and then they will follow me out into the pasture.

I can say that when you free range your birds you will find many benefits. One big one for me was that fact that their waste began to get solid vs. the liquid waste they were producing from just getting the pellet feed. Once they have an opportunity to forage the ground for more nutrients and other such food, their waste became solid. Why is this important? Well until then when a bird would poop the other turkeys would eat it veraciously and it was concerning to me. Its not that big of a deal, however, it was much more messy and plain gross. I think now that they have more room to forage for food and also get more solid nutrients they are not interested in eating each others waste.

Another benefit is they will get more food from the ground and you can save a little bit on pellets or crumble. Not only that, but the birds don't get so bored and will be less likely to peck each other and fight if they are allowed to free range.

 

[BrandonM]

Thanks, i have tons of woods around me and was wondering if that will be a problem. They will most likely roost up in the trees at night, canni just leave them there or do i need to bring them in? I dont have many predatora around here raccoons, never saw a coyote and domestic cats and dogs shouldn't bother them as the get along with the other fowl. I do however have eastern wild turkeys in the area, will that be a problem?

 

[focusonfarming]

I have yet to see my turkeys roost in the trees. I think it depends on the breed of turkey. I have ten total birds, 5 broad breasted white and 5 broad breasted bronze. None of them roost in the trees. We do have a lot of oak trees around they could go into, but I don't think they can fly up high enough into them.

Yes I would be careful, raccoons are nasty animals and even though the turkeys might be bigger than what a racoon is used to, I still think they might pose a threat.

I DEFINITELY bring them in at night. There are many predators that you may not be aware of that come out at night. Make sure they are safe and secure at night from those animals that are not out during the day. I don't know about the wild turkeys and how that might affect your flock. We too have wild turkeys around here, but I have not seen any interaction or issues thus far. However, I am still learning every day.

Bottom line, make sure they have sufficient food, water and predator proof housing. No matter what you decided to do, those are necessities for you birds.

 

[BrandonM]

I am most likely getting bourbon red or narragansett. How many square foot would each one need? Also are they animals that will stay close to my house because i know my ducks to venture too far from home.