Table of Contents
How big of a pen do turkeys need?
How Much Space Do I 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.
What do turkeys need in a pen?
Like chickens, they need quality feed, fresh water, a secure living space and run, clean bedding, roosting poles, and ground-level nesting boxes. Other than that, there are a few differences between chickens and turkeys.
Can you raise turkeys in a pen?
Turkeys should be raised separately from chickens. A turkey pen should be enclosed to prevent predators from taking advantage of an easy meal. A group of 12 turkeys requires about 75 square feet of space. Many people prefer to raise them more naturally and provide them with a larger pen for foraging.
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.
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.
Can turkeys run with chickens?
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. But before you head off to the feed store to buy a variety of poultry, there’s a few more things you should know.
What is a turkey pen called?
The house is made with poles, interwoven with saplings, to form a type of structure known as a “wattle.” The structure is covered by a thatched roof made of rush gathered from local marshes. The house provides a safe place for the turkeys to roost and lay eggs.
Do turkeys return to coop at night?
Turkeys will roost anywhere except where you want them to. They would go in the coop at night with no problems and roost with the chickens.
How long do turkeys live for?
Turkey/Lifespan.
When should I start raising Thanksgiving turkeys?
Most turkey breeds will mature between 14-22 weeks of age, which means you will need to purchase birds early in July to make sure they have enough time to grow. Heritage breeds will take a bit longer, 25-30 weeks, so those birds would need to be purchased in late May or early June.
Can you let turkeys free range?
It’s like free-ranging chickens. The free-ranging can give the birds access to natural vitamins and nutrients they need. But it isn’t enough to sustain them properly. Make sure you give your turkeys grain and grit along with their free ranging.
How hard is it to raise turkeys?
Turkeys are not that hard to raise, but they differ a bit from chickens in terms of what they need, and raising them from poults (baby turkeys) is more time- and energy-intensive than raising chickens from baby chicks.
When can turkey poults go outside?
Most often poults will be fully feathered and will be ready to move into their outdoor housing around 6-7 weeks of age. But until they are fully feathered they need to be kept in a draft-free, temperature-controlled brooder space protected from predators and supplied with fresh food and water.
How big should a turkey nest be?
The Size of the Box A turkey will need a large 18″ x 18″ box. The nesting area does not need to be a series of individual boxes. Some birds enjoy using communal boxes (others however do not).
How do domestic turkeys sleep at night?
Turkeys may use traditional roost sites night after night but they generally use different sites and move from tree to tree. Turkeys usually select the largest trees available and roost as high in them as they can comfortably perch.
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.
Why do we not eat turkey eggs?
The reason may be primarily about profitability. Turkey’s take up more space, and don’t lay eggs as often. They also have to be raised for quite a bit longer before they begin to lay. This means that housing and feed-related expenses would be considerably higher for turkey eggs compared to eggs from chickens.
Can you put ducks and turkeys together?
Raising ducklings and turkeys together is possible! So long as you offer a proper environment, they can usually be raised side by side, sharing food, water and a heat lamp until feathers develop and they are released into their ‘adult’ pen!.
How tall should a turkey pen be?
Whether your turkeys are allowed free movement over range pasture or are being confined in a pen area, the fencing material should be as high as possible, at least four feet, given that these birds can and will fly.
Do turkey eggs taste the same as chicken eggs?
Turkey eggs are totally edible: Those who have backyard turkeys report their eggs taste remarkably similar to chicken eggs. They are slightly bigger, the shell slightly tougher, and the membrane between the shell and the egg slightly thicker, but otherwise, not too different.
What do you feed meat turkeys?
They require a high-protein diet. Turkey starter diets typically contain 28% protein in crumble form. It is generally recommended that you use turkey starter diets for the first four weeks. A turkey grower diet typically has 26% protein.
