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Space: A good-quality habitat will support one bird per 30 acres (one flock per 640 to 800 acres). But because turkeys need a lot of living space, they may not remain on your property year-round unless it’s 1,000 acres or more.
How much land does a turkey need?
Turkeys are social creatures, so plan on raising at least two. They are bigger birds than chickens and thus more space is required. You’ll need a minimum of 25 square feet of outdoor space per bird for them to exercise, with predator-proof fencing on all sides, as well as overhead.
How many acres do you need to raise turkeys?
Turkeys require about one-eighth of an acre or about 75 feet by 75 feet for one dozen turkeys.
Are turkeys profitable?
Turkey is one of the best animals to raise for meat and profit. Especially during the holidays because their price will spike as almost every single family in the US buys a turkey for dinner. Raising turkey will also save you money because you won’t need to buy one for the holidays.
How many turkeys do you need to start a farm?
Turkeys are social birds, and it is best to have at least 3-5 in a backyard flock so they feel comfortable. When you are ready to raise turkeys… Choose the Right Breed: Commerical turkeys (broad-breasted birds) are selectively bred for more breast meat, but they are noisier and can be more difficult to raise.
Can chickens and turkeys live together?
One of the main ways to keep turkeys healthy is too NOT raise chickens and turkeys together. When turkeys and chickens are raised together, turkeys run a high risk of contracting the disease histomoniasis, also known as blackhead.
Will free range turkeys fly away?
Because turkeys are able to fly, those birds have been confined to the caged yard. We wanted to allow them free range in the fenced-in grassy area. However, because it has an open top, the turkeys would be able to fly away. Clipping the wings, a painless procedure, prevents the birds from taking flight.
How much coop space does a turkey need?
The following is the amount of coop space per turkey that will be needed: 0-8 weeks: 2-2.5 square feet per turkey. 8-16 weeks: 3-4 square feet per turkey. 16-20 weeks: 5-8 square feet per turkey.
Do turkeys need a perch?
Turkeys require elevated roosting spots to spend the overnight hours, ideally with a sheltering roof to protect them from the elements. It is possible to build a single roost pen with space for several birds (a five-by-eight-foot roost will house about 20 turkeys) or you can build a set of roosts.
Do turkeys need nesting boxes?
Nest boxes are an essential feature for laying turkey hens, and can be simply built with just a little time and effort. Turkeys are large birds, but enjoy a cozy nest, so 8 inches of nesting room is more than enough to make them feel comfortable.
How much do turkey farmers make a year?
Salary Recap The average pay for a Turkey Farmer is $31,176 a year and $15 an hour in the United States. The average salary range for a Turkey Farmer is between $24,231 and $36,758.
Can I make money raising turkeys?
Raising turkeys for profit is no small feat. It requires ingenuity, hard work, and some marketing skills to make it all come together. But if you can produce a quality bird and people can taste the difference between your hard work and the meat purchased from a local chain market, they’ll come back every year.
How much do turkey farmers make per turkey?
“While poultry growers take all the risk of production, they are receiving just 5 to 6 cents per pound for turkeys and chickens.
What do turkeys live in on a farm?
Turkeys raised on factory farms are hatched in large incubators, without the warmth of a nest or a mother. After a few weeks, they are moved to large, warehouse-like sheds. These sheds, called “grower houses,” confine thousands of turkeys together.
How long do turkeys live for?
Turkey/Lifespan.
Do turkeys return to coop at night?
Once the poults outgrow their brooder, they will need a secure coop at night, just like any other type of poultry. If you raise your turkeys among chickens, then the turkeys may learn to go into the coop at night by following the example set by the chickens.
Can you eat turkey eggs?
And even though turkey eggs are edible and similar in taste to chicken eggs, they aren’t as widely consumed. Not only do turkeys produce fewer eggs but they also require more time to come into egg production. Chickens come into production at 19 to 20 weeks, while turkeys require 32 weeks.
Do turkeys need heat in the winter?
We often think of keeping turkeys and other poultry warm in winter. But what we really need to do is keep the air fresh and moving, preventing both ammonia and moisture buildup, and give them ample opportunity to exercise.
Why can’t farm turkeys fly?
As Brian Palmer explained in The Washington Post, “The turkey breast gets stronger as it gets larger, but the animal’s power-to-mass ratio diminishes, so it can’t flap quickly enough to support sustained flight.” Essentially, the turkeys become too thicc to fly.
Can you brood chickens and turkeys together?
The short answer is yes, you can raise turkeys and chickens together. We also keep geese, ducks, and guineas with our chickens in the same coop and run.
Do turkeys need to be fenced in?
Turkey Fencing As turkeys are big in size and good flyers, so the fencing should be as high as possible. The fencing have to be at least four feet high. If you want to avoid flying, then trim their wing feathers. And thus your birds will stay inside happily unless something disturbs them.
