So this will be my second year raising chickens. I would like to try and raise 4 (maybe?) turkeys. I like the idea of raising my own Thanksgiving bird, so I'm just wondering when I should order....I read somewhere that they mature in about 5 months? So that would put my order around June....or do you guys that raise turkeys for this purpose get them in the spring with everything else, and let them grow a bit longer? Thanks for any advice :)
Dawn
I've also heard they're not quite as hardy when they are little, and they also take a different feed, correct?
Question about Turkeys
It depends on how big you want them and what kind of feed (quality) you feed them. I got 6 day olds on June 1st, one died and one went lame so I gave him to someone who could dress him if he got worse.
I ended up dressing one a week early, she was 22lbs, the sunday before TG they weighed in at 27( the hen), ST (second Tom) at 42 and Turkzilla at 48 lbs. And all were great tasting!!
I started off with turkey starter for a week and after that since they were being raised with guineas, banties and reg size chickens, I fed everyone gamebird crumbles (easier)until they were going thru that very fast so I switched to turkey grower plus I had laying pellets and gamebird starter out too, I love those big hanging feeders(not hung though) I think I started the turkey grower in the middle of august. Also, they were free ranged all day, got plenty of fresh veggies, treats and veggies scraps.
Keeping their brooder clean and house is very important. I read never raise turkeys and chickens together, I free ranged mine and kept everything clean and had a big enough house for everyone and didn't have a problem. Next year I am getting 2 ,more than I need.
Oh and seperate Toms and Hens at about 4 months or when you see the toms wanting to mate, they cannot naturally but want to and their weight and leg strength will literally rip up the hens horribly and you will need to dress them or they will die.
This message was edited Nov 30, 2007 12:28 PM
Here they are full grown
Wow, thanks for the info LoraK. I just love the pics! The babies are so darn cute, but I just can't get past the ugliness of the poor adults, lol! It's kind of a, so ugly they're cute thing :) They have such pretty colorings on some of the turkeys I've seen on hatchery websites, but I just giggle everytime I see their faces.
I did happen to find your post earlier on, about your HUGE birds-after I had posted this. Omigosh, I can't believe they get that BIG!
So you are getting just 2 next time, or 2 *more* then you need? I've also heard not to raise chickens and turkeys together; so it sounds like with your feed, you kept them together at some time? That's what I'm also wondering about; all the different types of feed to have on hand, lol! Right now all my birds are on layer-I have 5 hens and two roosters that will be a year this spring, and then the rest of my birds (all regular chickens) were born in July. They are eating the same feed.
So there is turkey starter, then turkey grower, and also gamebird feed, that turkeys can eat....and it's okay for regular chickens to eat that too?
I have two houses to use, and am just using one right now. So that wouldn't be a problem seperating the turkey poults, and/or seperating the toms when needed.
Sorry for all the questions! Can you tell I get long winded, lol! When free ranging, can the turkeys/chickens be "by" each other? I let my chickens out during the day, but they get put back in the house, and locked in over night. I just have this vision of a normal farm yard, with chickens/turkeys/geese/ducks,etc wandering around (together) and always thought that the norm.
No problem about all the ?'s, I asked more than my share! It was a huge learning process for me!
Only feed the turkey starter to the turkeys for one week only, so brood turks and other fowl seperately for 7 days. Make sure they are eating I was told to! You should be able to buy small amounts instead of a 50lb bag
I was raising guineas keets who need a much higher protein content so everyone, turks, guez, silver sebrights, silkies and marans ate the same. Everyone did quite well, I have nice plump chickens and still plenty of eggs everyday! Some people are more aware of the cost per pound/egg, I am happy when my poultry, friends and family are so paying the extra buck a bag doesn't bother me. So turk starter for one week, then gamebird crumbles or turk grower and if you want extra fat "fat and finish" for the last couple of weeks, also they had cracked corn after all the green grass/plants were gone this fall
I am getting atleast two more than I need and I am making there date for dressing with the processors when I get them, if you aren't dressing your own make your appointment ASAP so you can have then when you want. I recommend the weekend before TG.
Mine were in my house for about 2 1/2 wks, then out in their house with a heat lamp in a small enclosed area. Then in a 5x5 with the lamp on at night only, then when it was warm enough I took away the light and let them have access to the whole house and they free ranged at about 7/8 wks old.
All my poultry lives or lived together and free ranged together too. Turks are supposed to come down with chicken illness or something like that. I think as long as they free range all day and have a clean well vented house they are fine.
Just make sure you don't free range the hens and toms near the "end" like I said
the last pic and the one was taken on 9/23
Thank you for the wonderful pictures, LoraK, it's so neat to see them all "grazing" together :) And thanks again for the info, I am definitely taking notes!