When I got my Broad-Breasted Bronze Turkeys, I said I would keep track of the costs for those interested. I purchased 6 straight-run BB Bronze turkeys. While I did order other poultry w/ the turkeys, I included the whole shipping costs for those who may not have other birds in their orders.
Turkeys w/ shipping costs: $41.10
One 50# bag of Turkey Starter: $11.30
Two 50# bags of Turkey grower: $23.10
One 50# bag of Turkey Finisher: $10.05
One bag of shavings: $5.85
One 5# bag of grit: $4.80
Total costs: $96.20
Averaging $16.03 per bird. The weights varied from 14# to 25 # per bird.
This does not account for costs of running heatlamps. Also I already had feeders and waterers.
For me, it was well-worth the time and effort to raise the turkeys.
Turkey Raising Cost Breakdown
thanks for the run down. getting my turkey eggs in a week.
You're welcome. What type of turkeys will you be hatching?
bronze and a few whites a friend is going to give me
Thanks for that excelllent information, Sue. When I observed your cost to your approx weight. Try buying that in a store, not even talking of the quality. Wow that is great info. Haystack P.S. Do you keep your turkeys and chickens together? Just wondering.
Just what I needed.. a free pass to the feed store! LOL Guilt Free Turkeys comin home! LOL
lol!!
Haystack, I kept a few chickens w/ them for the first few days because the hatchery stated that the chicks will teach the poults how to eat. After it looked like they had a grasp on where the food and water was, I took out the chicks. Also, to be on the safe side, I put down paper towels so they wouldn't eat the shavings!
Excellent thinking. I just can't get over the price per lb to raise your own. I love turkey and bacon sandwiches. Help me Lord! My mouth is watering.
I'm sold.. LOL I am hunting fence posts now.. at least they don't crow! I can put them closer to the neighbor's window. he he he I hope I don't go crazy now..
ZZs, they do gobble when something startles them but I don't think its as loud and certainly not as long as a roo crowing. Personally, I liked the sound(made me giggle everytime they did it!)
Always good to have a little giggle in the wiggle. Hay
I forgot to ask you, at what point are you going to butcher them? And will you butcher all. or save some to breed.? Lots of questions. Hope you don't mind. Hay
We put them up a couple days ago.
The breed we purchased Broad Breasted Bronze aren't capable of natural breeding because of their size. I'm considering getting a couple Royal Palm to keep year around but I have to run that one by DH!
Oh, we had them for almost 4 months.
This message was edited May 27, 2009 8:21 PM