Turkeys as Pets?

[MandyH]

Turkeys are THE best pets ever. We raise blue slates and sweetgrass turkeys. The slates are more personable, but I've had them the longest and they are used to out family. They free range on 5 acres but mostly stay in the pasture. They are very inquisative birds and are way more personable that chickens. Get you a couple, you won't regret it. If you have an incubator and want to hatch your own, just PM me and I will send you some eggs.

 

[lishah2000]

My royal palm tom is very friendly. He follows us everywhere and as long as you are outside he is right there. He greets any visitors and starts to display. Gets upset when they leave. He is about four or five years old and I've had him a little under a year. He had a few different homes before me and they all still ask about him.

He also hates loud noises and in turn doesn't like the roos fighting. He is the rooster police and stops any fighting.

I only had the hen a short time (evil coons), but she was very entertaining. In a lot of ways I liked her even more. She spent a lot of time hanging out with the ducks. Never understood that one. The way she would dance/run across the yard was the funniest.

He doesn't travel far from the chicken runs unless he is following us or foraging with the free-range chickens. He is great hawk protection for the chickens.

 

[Shady]

I don't think I can fence the yard. It's five acres. Way too expensive to fence.
Can you keep them penned?

 

[ivan3]

Yes, you can keep them penned. Six foot welded wire fencing is adequate, but run will need to be covered for at least a year (they fly like stunt planes until they settle down). If you are out with them when you let them range they will follow you around and pretty much stay in the area. If you are not out, and they can see a neighbor in the distance, or a Box turtle wandering off into the woods they might well go exploring with unpredictable results. Once they get older the toms pretty much stay put, but the hens will always be a challenge as they will go galavanting to the most predator prone area on/off your property when nesting season rolls around (must be provided with safe nesting arrangements).