Topic of the Week - Getting started, keeping turkeys

[R2elk]

How many toms can you have in a flock? Tom to hen(or whatever Female turkeys are called) ratio?

I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom. Getting a pair of turkeys is bad for the health of the hen. I have heard of cases where people have had no fertility issues keeping one tom for up to 13 hens. I also do not keep multiple toms in the same pen with the hens during breeding season. If I am keeping more than one tom, I separate the toms with their own hens and make an effort to keep the toms out of sight of each other to prevent them fighting through the fence instead of attending to their hens.

 

[R2elk]

How much space do you need to keep a pair of turkeys? Are they noisy? Do they need a coop?

I do not recommend keeping a pair of turkeys unless they are both hens. Some people keep their turkeys in coops at night, I do not. I would recommend a minimum of 10 sq. ft. of clear space in a coop per turkey. The more space the better. I recommend an absolute minimum of 20 sq. ft. per turkey in a run. My current run provides in excess of 600 sq. ft. per turkey.

Turkeys can be noisy but do not compare to how noisy guineas can be. Everyone has different noise tolerances and while I find the gobbles and all the different hen sounds pleasurable there are people that find these sounds objectionable.

Other than the broad breasted varieties, the heritage varieties do need roosts stout enough to support their weight. I make my roosts at staggered heights so that if they choose to they can easily hop from roost to roost as they ascend. I tend to not go over 6' high for the tallest roost to help prevent foot and hip injuries from a bad landing on hard ground.

 

[R2elk]

Oh great I got four broad breasted turkeys and told my husband those are my babies we won’t eat them. One of them even comes and sits on my lap when I’m outside.

It happens all the time. Turkey poults are extremely vulnerable to imprinting and people just can't eat their babies even after they are grown up.

 

[Lrosell31]

It happens all the time. Turkey poults are extremely vulnerable to imprinting and people just can't eat their babies even after they are grown up.

Next time I will get a different breed of turkeys. Now I know.

 

[R2elk]

Next time I will get a different breed of turkeys. Now I know.

That isn't possible. You can get a different variety of turkey. Other than the Ocellated turkey, there is only one breed and that is Turkey. Although there are many varieties, the APA only recognizes the breed Turkey and 8 different varieties. Bronze is one of the recognized varieties and they do not recognize a difference between a Broad Breasted Bronze and a heritage Bronze.

 

[Lrosell31]

That isn't possible. You can get a different variety of turkey. Other than the Ocellated turkey, there is only one breed and that is Turkey. Although there are many varieties, the APA only recognizes the breed Turkey and 8 different varieties. Bronze is one of the recognized varieties and they do not recognize a difference between a Broad Breasted Bronze and a heritage Bronze.

Someone was saying that heritage turkeys live longer. Sorry for sounding dumb but this is my first time raising any backyard birds so I’m trying to learn as much as possible. And my birds are more pets than food.

 

[R2elk]

Someone was saying that heritage turkeys live longer. Sorry for sounding dumb but this is my first time raising any backyard birds so I’m trying to learn as much as possible. And my birds are more pets than food.

Heritage turkeys have a much easier time living longer. I currently have a ten year old hen and her nine year old daughter and both are still laying fertile eggs..

 

[Rondack]

What is the main reason for keeping turkeys?

 

[Rondack]

Meat?

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

What is the main reason for keeping turkeys?

Thanksgiving dinner!

Really it depends on the person. Sounds like a handful of us on this thread are looking for a fresh feast, but the knowledgable folks have raised turkeys 10+ years.