What do turkeys need???

[Ilikechickens!]

When they're little and adult. Do they need roosts???? please help! im getting them the 16th!

 

[turkeyman]

It depends meat birds don't need a roost. what kind are they?

 

[lacyloo]

my royal palms roost on 2 by 4's that our set up in our coop

 

[Ilikechickens!]

Broad Brested Broanze & Broad Brested whites.

 

[sandspoultry]

Get a copy of Story's Guide to Turkeys. It has lots of great information.
Sharon in NC

 

[Ilikechickens!]

Thnx!!!!

 

[wilds of pa]

this breed will not fly once adults. however you could give them a small roost as they are growing. Will these be eaten.

Normally after 6 months you will start to see possible leg and joint problems and bad toes are also problems for them.

Ive even herd of it happening sooner. But i think it may start at about 6 months on up. However there are a few cases where some of these birds live longer and have a good healthy short life.

We've had a female who went over 2 years old and her one leg fianlly got the best of her., as her 2 bothers made it to around 1 yr and there legs went on them, these birds where all free ranged. We personally would never buy this breed again for pets...

Charlie

 

[Ilikechickens!]

Thnx!
I'm Desprit(spell?) Now plz the little ones are coming next week!

 

[wilds of pa]

brood them as you would chickens with a heat lamp, use turkey starter(crumble/mash)

Get a water and put some marbles in the water where they drink from so they dont drown.

Read on here how they brood chickens it basically the same thing for all poultry/gamebirds.

Just you will need a bigger space as they grow out, dont put them out side until they are fully featherd and dont let them get wet.

What i do with my game birds, once they are featherd out i keep them in there brooder and mist them lightly once a day for a few days with a spray bottle to get there oil glands active.
Then when you are ready to put them out they will stay protected alot longer from having active oil glands.

this works great if you can keep them under the brooder lamp for those few days(5-7days of misting)

Hope this helps you a little bit..
Charlie

 

[chickenannie]

Ilikechickens -- if you get heritage turkeys, they don't have the leg problems and health issues of the Broad Breasted whites. Many people think heritage birds taste better, with more flavor, but take an extra month to fatten and have less of the huge breast meat that those breeds have (they have bigger leg meat though). Heritage breeds are 10 times prettier and can forage for their own food and will hatch their own eggs if you want to breed them (The BBwhites can only breed through artificial insemination with human intervention).
Heritage breeds will live for years if you want breeding stock and sell for almost twice as much as the BBwhites.
Obviously you can tell which ones I prefer!