Turkeys coops and freeranging questions

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
This true if you are just wanting them for meat.
However they will need to be housed as stated.
I'd get heritage, free range them, the heck with a house just build a tall roosting perch, they will roost just like my wild ones at night.
We keep most of ours in pens, but most of ours are wild strains too.
But our domestic heritage roost just like the wilds, we do freerange a few odd ball toms, and they roost right on top of the chicken coops, they know what time it is.

For roost, keep in mind the heavy amount of weight, we use 12 -16 ' tall 4x4 post connected with 2x4's
These work great. I tack on a pic of one to show you, will also try to get picks of them on it. It's funny to look at 20+ grown turkeys on a 2x4!

As far as housing goes, they just dont use it, we have houses built for them, but they never use them. As Sandspoultry said, during hurricanes is the only time we take any special housing care of them, and they would prefer to be left alone even then.

Be selective with who you get your stock from and you shouldnt have much to worry about with disease.
We mix ours with bantams and have never had disease problems.
A lot of the illnesses can be vaccinated for, and I prefer not to mix them, at least enclosed , with waterfowl. You run a bigger risk of disease with them being in the ol duck mess.
All in all, they are very fun to raise even if the end result is the dinner table. Though you may find that harder to do if you spend a lot of time with them, the have very big personalities.

Aubrey

 

[deerman]

Depend on what state you are in some it is illegal to free range turkeys. Ohio for sure

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

For our market turkeys we don't build houses for them. We do give them a roosting skid if you will, its about 8'x8'x8'T with a roof, no sides at about 4' we have 2x4's laying on their sides for perches. They very rarely use them though. They would rather roost on a branch or anything that you don't build for them, if you build it they probably wont use it.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

So, if they dont really need a "coop" , does that mean they will also nest anywhere they want?

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

So, if they dont really need a "coop" , does that mean they will also nest anywhere they want?

If you let them, they will make a nest that they see fit and they will start to lay their eggs, not a very smart or safe thing to do, but yes they can.​

 

[pdpatch]

Quote:
Good point, In Nebraska it's illegal to knownly release domesticated animals into the wild. Some may look at completly free ranging as releasing into the wild.

There is also four sub-species of turkeys in Nebraska that you need a permit to raise. You can not capture any of these wild ones to raise.

Tom

 

[mooman]

Depend on what state you are in some it is illegal to free range turkeys. Ohio for sure

I live in south carolina where I'm pretty sure you could free range an elephant if you wanted to, but I will check.

So it sounds like they can be put back in the coop come slaughter time or if predation becomes a problem. I just have to train them to come for treats, yes? But they will not put themselves to bed like the chickens do.

Is there any advantage to getting females when raising meat turkeys? Other than ending up with different weights of dressed birds.​

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

No If you have some where safe for them to roost, they will do that right by themselves, just be sure it's high enough that preditors cant get them.
I 'm in GA and agree, I think here in the south there are so many farms they would be very hard presed to make free ranging illegal.
You're pretty safe there I would think.
As for meat female verse male. I dont raise for meat so am not sure, but with all the other stuff I kill and eat, usually a female is tenderer and has better flavor, should be the same with birds?

Aubrey

 

[Rustywreck]

Boggy Bottoms,

In the picture you posted, what are you using to cover the top? Is it chicken wire or plastic netting?
I like what you have, but I imagine it would be hard to do with chicken wire. I have huge predator problems, anything from weasels to bears (though the bears haven't been a problem).
I don't know if the plastic poultry netting would keep them out. I suppose though if a raccoon tried to get in they'd get tangled pretty good.

 

[spook]

Thank you for these conversations! I am going to become a new Turkey momma next weekend. They are adult Narri's, and what ever they have for young will be going to freezer camp in the fall... (someone owns that phrase, but I loved it!)
We have a 6' tall pen, hardware cloth, feeder, waterer all set up, but we need a perch. Also, I am unable to find where and how it should be set up. The floor space is 8'x4'x6'.

I'm quite nervous about bringing adults in, but I hope they will be ok with being confined for a while as I want to make sure they will know where food and water are, and let them become dependent on me to supply food.

I'm eager to hear your opinions!