Seeking advice on a gobbler

[Featheredfan]

Hello,
I am a duck and chicken gal. But, I want to get a turkey to raise as a pet. I live in WA state and can have livestock in my neighborhood. I am looking for a female. Is there a breed that if handled from young age that can be a little docile and gentle(as well as a turkey can be). Thank you, I am not going into this on a whim, I am starting my research like I did with my chickens and ducks.

Thank You ,
Jenn

 

[ivan3]

Get a pair of hens, they are very flock oriented/sociable birds. Any heritage variety will do - some color variations might appear more `intimidating' than others, but behavior across varieties is consistent (Royals tend to fly more - light weight). Other than being insufferably curious about what one is up to (lock up while working in garden), our hens have always been very easy going (except when broody - hiss&nip).

check out Porter's site for `catalog' of varieties: http://www.porterturkeys.com/

 

[Lagerdogger]

Pretty much all the turkeys will be friendly if you spend enough time with then when they are young. You probably want to get a couple so they have friends. Turkeys can be kind of hard to sex when young. If you can find someone who has crossed a chocolate tom with a non-chocolate hen or a Narragansett or palm tom with a hen that lacks Narragansett genes (like a st bronze or a bourbon red), then you can identify females at much younger ages because chocolate and Narragansett genes are sex linked. Chocolate hens should be evident at birth, and the Narragansett hens can be identified at about three weeks.