Q: How soon can they go outside? Alex doesn't have their coop finished yet, so it won't be this week or next, but maybe after that? Temps are already in the 90's every day.
A: It all depends on What is in the soil in your area. If there is no know viruses or other dieses then at about 4 weeks they can take
day trips out. But if there is or you have had previous turkeys die off suddenly then it would be advisable to wait until they are about 10 weeks old.
It takes a while for the turkeys emune system to mature you should wait until 8 to 10 weeks setting them out.
Remember Turkeys need a Momma to take care of them until they are about 10 to 15 weeks old. They are not like Chickens.
When you do make sure they had shade and plenty of water.
Q:My chickens are all heavy breeds and good sized; Will they get along?
A; There is a number of dieses that Do no seem to effect Chickens that much but are deadly to Turkeys. So you will
see most people who say No. But there are many who raise chickens and turkeys together with no problems.
It's easier if the turkeys and Chickens were raised together from chicks. But if that's no possible do not introduces them
until they are about the same size. The keep an eye on them to see if they will get a long.
You must be careful about the feed. Usually Wild Game starter is the best. If you add calcium such as oyster shells,
you must put Vitiams in there water else the calcium will not be proceed correctly and lead to leg problems.
Q; Trample each other?
Possible turkeys have a tendency to see where they want to go, But not what is in between.
Generally everything gets pushed out of the way.
Q: When they're grown would turkeys prefer to stay outside (ex. a dog house out in the run)
or will they generally come in to roost?
A: As a general rule turkeys love being outside, as long as they learn where the food, water and shelter is they stay around.
They will range further then your Chickens. But if you do have a lot of wild turkeys then hens may be stolen by a Wild Tom.
They also prefer wide blade grasses and weeds then regular lawn type grass.
Q: He didn't think they would make good pets, but looking at those pics
A: Yes a turkey can make a wonderfully pet and watch/warning bird. But it all depends on the turkey. As
you raise then the one with the better Human to Turkey personalities will become apparent.
Q: I'm considering wing-clipping to try and keep them at home while still allowing them freedom to range. Would that work?
A: Yes that would work but you have to clip wings every so often. It's slight different for each type of turkey.
Q: would the turkeys have a tendency to take off for no reason?
A: No, they would have a reason, like some wild tome Turkey showing up and stealing the flock, not enough food or water.
things like that. Other wise once they learn were the regular meals come from they come back.
Other that might help info :
Turkeys will start slow they take off growning. They will grow at least twice as fast as a Chicken. Faster then a CornishX
So have you brooders, pens, coops, runs ready before you need them.
Always start Turkeys off with wild game bird, of turkey starter ration, which is 22% to 29% protein. If they have runny
poo for more then three days cut back on the protein. If they runny poo last longer then 3 additional days then they are sick.
It can take up to 7 to 10 weeks for a Turkeys imune system to fully develop. Which is much longer then it takes a chicken.
Be prepared to change there litter often. They are eating and pooing machine, and there poo smells more the
chicken poo.
The first 4 to 5 weeks is critical for a turkey pullet. The again at around 10 to 11 weeks seems
to be another toubleing time for them.
Turkeys eat there own poo. They can get nutrition from it along with some vitmians and minerals
and it also helps there imune system if it's adult turkey poo.
By biggest fear with our turkeys is our Red Bourbons and Blue Slate like to fly up to my shoulder and perch when they were small.
I dreading the day when they grown up. I can just imagine having a 20 to 30 pound bird try that and getting face planted in a
nice pile of turkey poo.