What I should know about turkeys

[Alicia G]

This year I joined the market turkey project in my 4-H club and I want to know all there is to know about turkeys! I have order 10 turkey poults and they will be coming to me at two weeks of age. These are utility whites (or thats what I think you call them!) and they are all female. So I plan on keeping them in my barn (8x12). I have a 30x15 pen set up as well.
So I guess some of the things I would like to know is
-Do I have enough space?
-Will they be ok near my ducks and chickens(6 ducks, 6 serama;they are in there own cages)
-How much time should they have outside? As much as possible?Only a curtain amount of time?
-What things should I watch out for?I have heard storys about them drowning in puddles a deep water dishes, is that true?
-What would be good bedding for them?Shavings, straw?
-What can you feed them?
Now I have ducks and chickens and I make there food. 4 parts ground corn, 1 part ground flax, 2-3 parts pureed vegetables (carrots usually) and my breeders get layer pellets in there mix, but I wouldnt feed that to them of course. Would that be good for them after they are done the turkey starter?
Also are there curtain foods you can feed your turkeys that will make there meat taste better?
All information would help me out sooo much!
Alicia

 

[A.T. Hagan]

You can answer most of your questions here: http://www.albc-usa.org/downloads.html

 

[Alicia G]

My computer wont play any of the files on that website

 

[Jmiller429]

okay.Im assuming these are broad breasted whites. ( production meat bird.) These birds will consume a ton of feed and rapidly gain weight. They should be fine near the other birds, just dont mix them together. 8x12 will work for a while, and make sure theyre enclosed for at least a month while theyre younger. But like i said, they get big real quick so you'll want to move them to the big pen. I use hay for bedding, and they love to pick thru it and eat seeds and whatnot.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
You may need a .pdf reader to open them. It's a free program that you can get right from Adobe here: http://get.adobe.com/reader/

 

[Alicia G]

Ive trying putting adobe reader on in the past but when it loaded the files it was all gibberish. Maybe its the computer or maybe I didnt put it on right but what ever it is I could never get the darn thing to work! I guess thats why I fail computer technolagy class!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

OK, I'll find you a few non .pdf pages on turkeys that you can read.

http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2187.htm

http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modpo/e1259006.html#visuals

http://poultryone.com/raisingturkeys.php

http://www.southernstates.com/articles/cl/turkeys-raising.aspx

 

[Thomasturkey]

One of the biggest challenges for me raising BBW dealing with growth problems. Some people say they are hard to get to eat. I never had that happen. Just get them drinking by dipping there beaks in a sugar water when they come. Do this several times until you see them drinking on there own. You where smart to get all hens. I think they have less leg problems due to there smaller size. Hens will weigh 16-20 pounds at 18-24 weeks of age if properly fed.

Broad Breasted white turkeys need a 28 to 30% turkey or game bird starter from 0-6 weeks. From 7-13 weeks they need a 21% grower ration. From 14-24 weeks they need a 16 to 18% finisher.

Can you read this format? http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modpo/e1259006.html#visuals

 

[Alicia G]

Thank you! I can read those. OOoo I cant wait to get my turkeys!
I hope I dont have any leg problems with my birds. I remember at the Nova Scotia provincal 4-h show I watched the market turkey compitition and one of the turkey went down on her legs. It looked so miserable! Letting them outside (when there older) to strech out should help avoid that right?
Also is it good to feed them vegatables and apples?
I feed my ducks and chickens corn,flax and veggies and it keeps them very happy and healthy. Would that be the same with Turkeys?
I know when I raised pigs we would put the apples to them about two weeks before slaughter and it made a big difference in the taste. Would that be the same with turkeys?

 

[Thomasturkey]

I think Apples are a perfect food to feed them when your finishing them. I let mine out to my orchard to eat all the fallen apples. Melons, squash and pumpkin are also good.