talk turkey

[eggcetra_farms]

Quote:
Great questions. I'd love to get answers on these.

 

[jab91864]

We have been discussing some of this on the other thread Turkey Time.... in case you want to take a peek.

Julie

 

[Hotwings]

I don't remember at the feed store are poults straightline or sexed? I would think a hen would suit me better as a tom would be to big. Exactly what would a BB hen dress out ? I think all the turkey info has be very helpful.

 

[patandchickens]

So, do turkeys "have to" be freeranged, or would a couple of them be adequately happy and healthy in a net-topped pen, and if so, what size? I ask because we have a lot of raccoons, coyotes etcetera (pretty much out in open farmland, too).

Pat

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:
They would be fine in a net-topped pen. If you get the broad breasted kind, you don't have to worry about them flying very high once they start gaining weight.

As to how big does the pen need to be, it depends on how many birds you are planning on raising. Broad-breasted turkeys get big, nearly comparable to a medium sized dog! I think the recomendation is a minimum of 4 sq ft per bird, but that's old info. I gave my birds much more room.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:
BB turkeys are very hard to sex when they are chicks, feed stores and the like usually sell straight runs.

A BB hen, depending on how much you feed it (and they do eat - a lot!) would likely dress out around 20 lbs on average. Toms will be bigger, but the again it depends on their activity and how much you feed them. You could keep a tom on the small side if you restricted food and let him free range a bit for excersize.