When can turkey free range?

[LittleRedRanch]

I recently rescued a turkey, she is about 6 months old. She fits in great with my flock but I don't know when I can let her free range with them? 1 week? 1 month? Does she know this is her home now?

 

[Geena]

If by free range you mean in an unfenced area, I would wait at least a couple of weeks, and even then you never know with a turkey. In my experience they are a lot more adventurous than chickens. Was she kept with chickens previously?

 

[LittleRedRanch]

I rescued her along with her chicken friend. Have no clue on how they were raised, I got them from a someone who picked a whole flock up someone dumped in an abandoned parking lot. These were her last two to find homes for. The chicken is a naked neck already laying eggs. Both accepted by my flock and living in the XL coop with them.

 

[LittleRock]

In my personal experience, turkey hens tend to explore and toms love to follow hens. Even though I raise all my turkeys from poults, I still have to keep them in a pen because they will venture farther than I am comfortable with.

 

[GotCoop]

I would keep her locked down in the coop for a couple weeks. Then provide escort in the evenings for another week to make sure it "coops" at night. They generally herd pretty easily (easier than chickens in my experience).

BTW where in NWF?

 

[LittleRedRanch]

I would keep her locked down in the coop for a couple weeks. Then provide escort in the evenings for another week to make sure it "coops" at night. They generally herd pretty easily (easier than chickens in my experience).

BTW where in NWF?

DeFuniak and thanks! I've been letting her out in the goat pen and the chickens actually stay closer now to her since they fit through the wire holes so they go in and out and nap with her etc then she walks to the coop for bed time!

 

[MillersFarm]

Is she the only turkey you have? I would suggest getting her another turkey hen to talk to and to have some company.. agree with other posts, Keep her in a run for the first couple of weeks and slowly start letting her out to free range with everyone else. I'd still keep an eye on her the first week you decide to let her out.

 

[LittleRedRanch]

Yes she is the only turkey.... for the moment lol looking for her a friend.

 

[GotCoop]

Agree with Millersfarm, I love to hear the roosters in the morning. But nothing beats the turkeys sounding off when you go out the coop or even pull into the driveway. I saw a couple of RP hens on CL over by Milton for $10.