Turkey Questions

[aclee]

We are currently raising 40 Cornish X, and I'm really enjoying it so far. They are only a couple weeks old though

Expecting to move them out of the house this weekend though. I'm looking forward to potentially doing another set of Cornish in the fall, if we go through all of these and find freezer space for them (I know, I should have thought of that before) I would also love to raise a turkey or two for Thanksgiving at least, and maybe Christmas, or one for the freezer. How doable are turkeys if you don't have a large area? When would you start them to be ready for Thanksgiving if you wanted a smaller bird? I was thinking about 2 of the midget white (is that what they are called) and getting two females in hopes that they would be quieter.

When I say we don't have much land, I mean, we have about .25 of an acre, and poultry isn't technically allowed...so how loud are they, and how much space do they need? We do have a fenced backyard, and a HUGE shed that we are going to clear out for the cornish anyway...

 

[Buster52]

My Bourbon Reds are relatively loud for a bird in an area where they are forbidden, so I wouldn't chance those. Don't know anything about MWs. My toms can gobble pretty loud, and a heritage breed would be old enough to gobble by the time it is ready to butcher.

Someone else will have to talk about confinement situations. I don't have any experience in that area.

 

[mamawolf544]

I cant speak for confinement because mine free range but my MW's can fly, I know you can clip their wings but this babies have no trouble getting on the roof or flying across the pasture. I have one Tom and he isn't very noisy and the hens are very quiet.

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

Think about finishing two broad breasted white hens in a 4' x 4' space that has a plastic grid floor and a top as these hens can also fly. Not as high, not as far but still enough to get themselves, or you, into trouble. They can certainly be allowed out on the property when someone is around to keep an eye on them.

In about 16 weeks they should weigh 20 pounds and dress out at 12 to 13 pounds ready to cook. You can get them as big as 25 to 25 pounds live weight in about 22 weeks but after 16 weeks the rate of growth and feed conversion ratio goes downhill fast.

 

[aclee]

Quote:
Awesome info, thanks!

So start the poults in early August for a Thanksgiving process?

I can totally do a 4 X 4 area with monitored free range...Will they fly even if I clip their flight feathers? I'm thinking I can monitor them all I want but if they fly up on the roof while I'm monitoring them...ain't much I can do...

Any estimates on feed volume per bird to bring to 16 weeks? That sounds like the perfect size. We pay about $85 per bird here at Thanksgiving just to get a bird that is natural and not brined...my husband has a sodium restriction so we have to go with a fresh bird...

Anyone have a picture of the Midget White near process time? Just trying to imagine a couple 20 pound birds in my yard...

 

[Buster52]

BBWs don't tend to fly all that well.

 

[the simple life]

If you are going to go with the midget whites then August is too late to start them if you want 20 lb birds, I am not sure if you can even find them that late in the season.
Everyone is taking orders for them now.
You should check out the turkey forum here, I asked alot of those same questions and there are a few people over there that own several different breeds of turkeys and can really comment on the comparisons between the birds.

Here is one thread that addresses alot
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=92240