Turkeys 101

[chickenwithlips94]

So I've been wanting to try raising turkeys but have heard from several people that they are difficult to raise. Could you please let me know if this is true, and what is required to raise them correctly? Is it more difficult than chickens or ducks?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Not difficult for me but for some people in can be VERY difficult and they can lose more than they want.

Post #2
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/761082/questions-for-experienced-turkey-enthusiast


Another thread where we are all talking turkeys.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/725829/turkeys-for-2013

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I never found turkeys to be much different than chickens so far as incubating them was concerned. Of course they do require 28 days to hatch rather than a chicken's twenty one but other than that the humidity and temperature was the same.

In the brooder these biggest differences are these. Turkeys are gamebirds and need a higher level of quality protein than what chicks can get by with. 26% is what I would consider the minimum with 28-30% being optimal. I seldom used medicated gamebird starter, but if you're new to poult keeping and it is available I would use it.

The other important difference is in the first three days. Poults are sometimes a little slower on the uptake than chicks. By this I mean that you need to give a little extra attention to whether they are eating and drinking. With chicks when I take them out of the hatchery box or my incubator each one gets their beaks dipped in their water then I set them down on top of their feed (in an egg carton). Each chick gets this done and once is enough. Enough will catch on that the rest soon will as well. With poults each one gets their beaks dipped in their water then set down on top of their feed (also in an egg carton) BUT I do this three times. The initial dip. Then again an hour later. The one last time another hour after that. Three times may be more than is really necessary, but it doesn't cost anything and it doesn't hurt the poults (presuming you are using normal care). I've never had any that failed to eat and drink.

After that it's all the usual brooder necessities. Keep them adequately warm, but give them enough room to get away from the heat if they want to. Keep their water clean, fresh, and plentiful and their feed fresh and always available. Avoid wet bedding for the plague that it is and don't let it get nasty. You should be good to go from there.