Turkey Run, Free Range Questions

[Thefishman320]

I'm considering raising a few turkeys for meat, next year but don't know much about keeping them in a run or free ranging them or pretty much anything else. I know our chickens don't go more than a few hundred feet from the coop when we let them free range but would turkeys stay in a certain area? Depending on how far they roam, I might have to get a couple of extras for the neighbors. How would they do in a run? How much space would they need? Would they be ok in a run with my chickens? Could they live in the coop with the chickens or would they need their own space? We have 2 acres, the chickens wander on 2 of our neighbors properties but they are fine with that since they get free eggs. The chickens don't wander to the houses behind us, there is a 6 foot fence that they do not seem interested in. I have done a decent amount of research on the internet but there is so much conflicting information. Any help with my questions or anything that someone might think, would help, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[R2elk]

I'm considering raising a few turkeys for meat, next year but don't know much about keeping them in a run or free ranging them or pretty much anything else. I know our chickens don't go more than a few hundred feet from the coop when we let them free range but would turkeys stay in a certain area? Depending on how far they roam, I might have to get a couple of extras for the neighbors. How would they do in a run? How much space would they need? Would they be ok in a run with my chickens? Could they live in the coop with the chickens or would they need their own space? We have 2 acres, the chickens wander on 2 of our neighbors properties but they are fine with that since they get free eggs. The chickens don't wander to the houses behind us, there is a 6 foot fence that they do not seem interested in. I have done a decent amount of research on the internet but there is so much conflicting information. Any help with my questions or anything that someone might think, would help, would be greatly appreciated.

A lot depends on what kind of turkeys you plan on getting. Broad Breasted turkeys will be ready to process from 4 to 6 months old depending on how big a carcass you want.

If you have a problem getting attached to your birds, they can make it very hard on you to process them.

If you want to raise them for meat because you think it will be a cheap source of meat, you cannot raise turkeys for the price you can buy "loss leader" turkeys at the grocery stores around Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.

Depending on how you start your poults, they can imprint very easily. If human imprinted they can be very nosy and right up into everything you try to do.

They can free range much farther than the chickens do.

I keep mine in a 50'x100' run attached to my coop. I let them free range in an approximate 2 acre area that is enclosed with a 2"x4"x6' welded wire fence. If your perimeter fence has a top rail or bar, they will use it as a perch and will invariably get down on the wrong side of the fence.

 

[Thefishman320]

Thanks, I know they will cost more, but I'm done buying meat from grocery stores. The extra cost is justified by the taste and lack of chemicals and additives.
I personally don't get very attatched but my wife and kids do. I was hoping to free range them but I could build a run behind the garage.
Thanks for the help.