Topic of the Week - Getting started, keeping turkeys

[sumi]

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Turkeys are becoming increasingly popular with poultry keepers and homesteaders as pets, or to raise as meat birds. This week I would like to hear your experienced turkey keepers' tips and advice for new turkey owners regarding keeping and raising these birds. Specifically:

- How much space do turkeys need?
- Housing requirements?
- Feeding turkeys.
- Which varieties are best for pets, meat, both?

Pic by @GotCoop
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https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

 

[Kessel23]

 

[R2elk]

A lot of great information on heritage varieties can be found at Porter's Rare Heritage Turkeys. Click on the Color Varieties tab to see images and information on many of the different varieties available. The Phenotypes and Genotypes page has even more photos and genotype information that is helpful in running Porter's Turkey Color Calculator.

He has a turkey egg hatching tips page, a page on starting your poults, a page on inbreeding and linebreeding and much more information.

 

[Ducklover2]

 

[PirateGirl]

I may have suggested that I would raise my husband a turkey for dinner. I am the bird person, he is the enabler. He said there are worse things I could be into

 

[R2elk]

I may have suggested that I would raise my husband a turkey for dinner. I am the bird person, he is the enabler. He said there are worse things I could be into

The most dangerous thing about raising a turkey to eat is that far too often the people become so attached to "dinner" that it ends up as a pet instead.

 

[Lrosell31]

I may have suggested that I would raise my husband a turkey for dinner. I am the bird person, he is the enabler. He said there are worse things I could be into

My husband puts up with my backyard bird addiction. He says whatever makes me happy. Hahahaha

 

[PirateGirl]

The most dangerous thing about raising a turkey to eat is that far too often the people become so attached to "dinner" that it ends up as a pet instead.

I like to think that because I'm the caretaker and he is the eater that somehow it will be easier... but I doubt it!

 

[PirateGirl]

The most dangerous thing about raising a turkey to eat is that far too often the people become so attached to "dinner" that it ends up as a pet instead.

Also I suppose this means I should research what breeds of turkeys make the best pets in case I keep him forever

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

also.

We got 6 bourbon reds and 4 narangasets (sp?) On Thursday. The plan is to meet up at a friends place before thanksgiving and prep 6 of them for dinner. We got 4 extra because we heard they die easy. So far we had one act like it was having trouble breathing, but recovered after a sort of "crop massage".
They do act quite different than chickens, but I've heard people say they aren't actually that easy to kill and we'll probably make it to the feast with ten. Which i guess means some will be christmas feasts!