Turkey and cold weather

[Foul Mouth Farm]

I have 3, three and half month old (maybe a little older) broad breast white turkey. They’ve been in the garage to transition to colder weather.
How cold can they tolerate? I put them out in the pole barn today (37°) but next week we are in the negatives- looks like -3 to -20. They have roosts and deep straw. Will they be okay?

 

[TOMTE]

I have 3, three and half month old (maybe a little older) broad breast white turkey. They’ve been in the garage to transition to colder weather.
How cold can they tolerate? I put them out in the pole barn today (37°) but next week we are in the negatives- looks like -3 to -20. They have roosts and deep straw. Will they be okay?

Are they fully feathered? Do you have a heat lamp on them or anything? If you do, I'd probably stop so that they can more easily adjust to the cold temps. Going from warm/heated area to below zero temps outside, that might be too much of a shock. If they're fully feathered and have straw to bed down in when it gets frigid, they should be fine. Wild turkeys seem to thrive here in winter. And my chicken pullets are doing great so far in this cold weather with no supplemental heat, just a winterized run (wrapped in landscaping cloth and greenhouse plastic)! We'll see when the temps drop below zero in the next few days if that trend continues or if I need to do something more for them. I suspect they'll be just fine.

 

[Foul Mouth Farm]

Are they fully feathered? Do you have a heat lamp on them or anything? If you do, I'd probably stop so that they can more easily adjust to the cold temps. Going from warm/heated area to below zero temps outside, that might be too much of a shock. If they're fully feathered and have straw to bed down in when it gets frigid, they should be fine. Wild turkeys seem to thrive here in winter. And my chicken pullets are doing great so far in this cold weather with no supplemental heat, just a winterized run (wrapped in landscaping cloth and greenhouse plastic)! We'll see when the temps drop below zero in the next few days if that trend continues or if I need to do something more for them. I suspect they'll be just fine.

They are fully feathered and weigh close to 7-10lbs already!!! They’ve had no supplemental heat in the garage and did just fine. And we’ve had a few nights of low negatives so far. I am looking into a heat panel just in case

 

[Molpet]

I'm sure you are aware that BBW are meat turkey prone to leg and heart problems. Meant to be harvested at 16 wks or so.... People have had birds dress out around 50lbs at 6 months.
They get hurt getting off roosts

 

[R2elk]

I have 3, three and half month old (maybe a little older) broad breast white turkey. They’ve been in the garage to transition to colder weather.
How cold can they tolerate? I put them out in the pole barn today (37°) but next week we are in the negatives- looks like -3 to -20. They have roosts and deep straw. Will they be okay?

If you don't provide supplemental heat, turkeys are very cold hardy. Providing supplemental heat prevents them from growing their feathers to the degree they need to provide their own warmth.

My turkeys roost outside in all kinds of weather including down to -40°F with no issues.

Since you have BBW turkeys all they need for a roost is a bale of hay or straw. At 3 months old they can still roost like heritage turkeys but as they gain weight it is better that they are given a lower perch to avoid damage to their feet, legs and hips when they get down from the roost.

 

[Foul Mouth Farm]

If you don't provide supplemental heat, turkeys are very cold hardy. Providing supplemental heat prevents them from growing their feathers to the degree they need to provide their own warmth.

My turkeys roost outside in all kinds of weather including down to -40°F with no issues.

Since you have BBW turkeys all they need for a roost is a bale of hay or straw. At 3 months old they can still roost like heritage turkeys but as they gain weight it is better that they are given a lower perch to avoid damage to their feet, legs and hips when they get down from the roost.

We have a few straw bales in the pole barn for insulation they can use and some lower 2x4s for our Muscovy. Thank you for your help!!

 

[Foul Mouth Farm]

I'm sure you are aware that BBW are meat turkey prone to leg and heart problems. Meant to be harvested at 16 wks or so.... People have had birds dress out around 50lbs at 6 months.
They get hurt getting off roosts

We are planning on processing them come springtime or early summer. I knew they grew quickly but this is my first time having them and I am amazed at how fast they have grown. We have some low roosts in the barn already of some bales of straw and a few lower 2x4s as well. Maybe 3ft? Off the ground

 

[Molpet]

We are planning on processing them come springtime or early summer. I knew they grew quickly but this is my first time having them and I am amazed at how fast they have grown. We have some low roosts in the barn already of some bales of straw and a few lower 2x4s as well. Maybe 3ft? Off the ground

I tried to keep a BBB hen for breeding. I had to help her off a 3ft high huddle box. She could get up but was afraid to jump down and would yell until I helped her. But she was 6 months old and a chunky monkey. Even though I tried to restrict her feed.

 

[Foul Mouth Farm]

I tried to keep a BBB hen for breeding. I had to help her off a 3ft high huddle box. She could get up but was afraid to jump down and would yell until I helped her. But she was 6 months old and a chunky monkey. Even though I tried to restrict her feed.

Also good information to know. Mine as of right now were roosting all over the garage- on boxes, the work bench, you name it and then flying everywhere. I assume as they get chunky, they will calm down with the nonsense.

 

[R2elk]

Also good information to know. Mine as of right now were roosting all over the garage- on boxes, the work bench, you name it and then flying everywhere. I assume as they get chunky, they will calm down with the nonsense.

Young BBWs fly and jump very well. As they gain weight they slow down a lot. If kept long enough, they will not fly at all.