Thinking of getting a turkey

[ravencreek]

Ok we just moved to our new property(5 cleared acres and 4 wooded). We are thinking of getting a few turkeys but have never had them. So I have a heep of questions and concerns. ANY help is appreciated.

Do they require a pen like a chicken or can they free range?
If they are free range will they stay around or fly away?
Can they be housed with chickens?
Do you feed them like a chicken or buy TURKEY feed?

 

[moduckman]

1. It's good to have a pen with house to have at night. You can let them run while you're home.
2. When the hens want to set up a nest, free range ones will venture quite far away. It is better to make a nest out of a wash tub and keep her penned.
3. I've housed mine, and even hatched mine, with chickens. No problems in 20+years.
4. Poults need a little higher protein. After they get bigger they can eat chicken feed, although mine have found dry dog food much to their liking.

 

[sewincircle]

Are you thinking of raising them for food or for pets?
I think about it too. Its good information. Thanks moduckman.

 

[ravencreek]

We just wanted them as backyard pets. Is there a perticular breed you would suggest? I plan on getting them from an online hatchery so they will be a few days old when I get them. I have someone else that is going to be ordering with me since I don't need 10 turkeys at once. I think we are going to split the order 50/50.

 

[moduckman]

I've have bronze, had royal palm, narragansett, black spanish and Bourbon red. Without a doubt, the most social of all was the reds. They did not show well against the others, which is why I no longer have them. The reds, male and female, seemed to have a wonderful disposition. Remember, no two birds act alike. This is just my opinion.

 

[sandspoultry]

Of our turkeys the Royal Palms are what people seem to notice first, the Bourbon Reds are the most curious, followed by the Standard Bronze- the Bronze are also the largest, The White Hollands are very laid back and calm - the 2nd largest, The Beltsville White the best layers, The Midget White the best table bird. We have pics of each of the breeds we raise on our web site if you want to see pics.

Steve in NC

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

You have gotten some good info here.
We have the royal palms and tons of wild strain. We keep most pened especially the wilds for obvious reasons, but we do have a hand full of toms that were "spare parts" that wonder around just fine, they roost on top of the chicken pens at night.
I have houses for them but they never use them even in the nastiest of weather the sit right out in it!
In TN you should be fine as far as weather goes.
Here's a pic of our royals, they are the most popular of the domestics. They are a little weathered we had a lot of rain this week.Note the royals are in with silkies, no problem!
There is also a pic of our wild aviary, it's kind of far off but you'll get the idea, also note the lack of much shelter in the wild aviary. I have a small shed on one end just for their food, aside from that they roost on the 2x4 's on the center poles.
We also keep electric fence around ALL our pens to keep unwanted night time guest from tearing in!

P.S. We sell eggs and pouts too when they start laying!
Good luck
Aubrey

 

[Struttn1]

Quote:
For a backyard pet go with the Royal Palms.

 

[ivan3]

Struttn1 wrote: For a backyard pet go with the Royal Palms

But get some netting...

This thread might be helpful, as well: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=92240​

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Yep, my wife raised one in the house til it got to big last year, it would follow us everywhere!
She named her Meepers.
I'll have to look up some of her footage of that for yall, it's adorable watching it chase her around, Still does now outside in the royal palm pen.
Aubrey