UPDATED W/PICS!!!PG.3 Thinking about getting a turkey - QUESTIONS!

[SunAngel]

I don't really know the answer to your questions either, sorry. I have a 3 month old turkey that lives with a pheasant that hatched at the same time. They are inseparable also. If I take the turkey out of the pen to hold it, they will both peep/call to each other until the turkey is returned. My pheasant is a male and I think my turkey is a female, hope that doesn't pose any problems down the road. I don't plan on getting any more of either bird, so I hope they continue to like each other.

Good luck with your decision. I love our little turkey. S/he seems so much smarter and friendlier than my chickens.

 

[19hhbelgian]

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SunAngel... You're closer to "her" than I am!... Maybe you could get your little one a turkey friend, then I won't get in trouble with my hubby!

 

[toredano]

I have one lone turkey baby that hangs and sleeps with the 11 Guineas .So far, so good..But I think he/she needs a buddy soon. The guineas are way to flighty and go further than the turkey can.


I think they should be in flocks.. I just made the mistake of not getting another one since I didnt know jack about turkeys when I got him/her 2 months ago.

 

[chickenannie]

I have 4-5 month turkeys available (Bourbon Reds) if you want one that age. I'm near Lancaster and Reading, Pa.

 

[kees]

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Whoa, that's one big turkey! How much did it weigh?

 

[kees]

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[paulinaydern]

I don't really know how much Patrick weighed. He was a pet so I never thought of weighing him after he died. Although when I tried to lift him into the wheelbarrel by his legs I was caught off guard by how heavy he was.

He never had a hard time walking, he was sort of tall as well as just plain big.

Maybe because he thought he was a bullmastiff it was the power of his imagination that made him grow so huge, just like his pal Rosie.

She was 145 lbs.

I just hope my Jake grows up to be just as pretty as Patrick was.

P.

 

[the Old Rebel]

Well, what did you decide to do?

I've had turkeys for seven years. Never had a problem with aggression except with each other. My turkey tom is the sweetest bird on this property. I used to carry him around on my arm like a falcon.

They probably do better in groups, but if you have the time to spend time with the little one, it'll probably be fine. As others have said, they do fine with chickens or guineas or ducks, except that chickens carry blackhead. I've been blessed to be able to raise chickens and turkeys in the same pen. Don't know that I've lost any to blackhead. But if your chickens are older, they might hurt the poult.

I had no idea turkey poults sold for so much money. I give mine away. I must be crazy!!!

Yes, all turkeys should be winter hardy..... but then I'm from the South. It's warmer down here than it is up there.

Anyway, if you decide to get it, I hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine.

Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL DAY!!

 

[MandyH]

Turkeys CAN live with chickens but if it turns out to be a Tom turkey it WILL turn on your chicken hens especially in the Spring when its mating season. It's best to let it have its own space away from the chickens when they are grown if turns out to be a tom because he can/will kill hens. If it turns out to be a turkey hen, and it is raised with some chicks about its age, it should be fine. I can also tell you that if you put a poult in with older chicks, they can be very nasty to a poult. Turkeys are timid by nature, and are easily bullied when small. Also the incidence of blackhead is usaully small. Blackhead has to present in your soil for your turkeys to get it, it's not just something that jumps out and grabs them. There are areas that are prone to blackhead, and areas that are not. You can check with your Ag extension and ask them if blackhead is a problem in your area. You can usually tell the sex of poults when they are a couple weeks old.

 

[toredano]

I just picked up 3 Midget white babies and my bigger turkey baby is MUCH happier with them around.. I can tell because he doesnt pace the fence and peep all day long.

They are like potatoe chips// cant just have one