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Are turkeys easy to raise?
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.
How long does it take to raise a turkey?
Modern production methods have shortened the time it takes for turkeys to reach maturity. A hen usually takes 14 weeks and weighs 15.5 pounds when processed, but a tom takes roughly 18 weeks to reach a market weight of 38 pounds.
How do you raise turkeys in the backyard?
Provide a roosting area if possible. Keep them inside at night to provide more control over parasites and keep them safe from predators. Turkeys are social birds, so plan to spend time with them while you’re outside. Allow one square foot of space for the young birds, up until they’re two months of age.
Do turkeys need a coop?
If you plan to raise your turkeys from poults, then the answer to “Do turkeys need a coop?” is a resounding yes. Once the poults outgrow their brooder, they will need a secure coop at night, just like any other type of poultry.
Can turkeys be 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.
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.
What age do you butcher turkeys?
Butchering, Processing, And Cooking Turkey With that being said, at 16-22 weeks they should be weighing at around 12-14 pounds. A heritage breed turkey will mature at 25-30 weeks. So when you have determined they have reached the appropriate weight, you will pull your turkeys out and butcher them.
How long do turkeys live for?
Turkey/Lifespan.
Are turkeys loud to raise?
One big difference between chickens and turkeys, however, is that turkeys make a gobbling sound, which is not very loud, but it might be loud enough to disturb your neighbors if you live in a dense urban area.
Are wild turkeys hard to raise?
Are turkeys hard to raise? Turkeys aren’t any harder to raise than meat chickens in my opinion. The difference is in their personalities, the amount of food they consume and the space they need. If you’ve successfully raised meat chickens or even egg chickens, you should be able to raise turkeys.
What do u feed a turkey?
Adult turkeys will eat as much as fifty percent of their intake from pasture or range grass. Range grass is grass that is four to six inches long. Turkeys like to eat the growing tips of the grass. They will also enjoy any kitchen or garden scraps: lettuce, tomatoes, sweet corn, summer squash, and so on.
Are turkeys good for your yard?
The birds eat many pesky insects, and a flock of turkeys nearby can be ideal pest control for a yard. Witnessing a turkey (or, even better, a flock of turkeys) in your yard has a playful, novelty effect enjoyed by all, especially young children.
When can turkey poults be put 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.
What shelter do turkeys need?
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.
How much does it cost to feed turkeys?
On average, a hen turkey will consume around 35 pounds of feed (current cost of about $5.69 or $. 33/pound of gain) and reach 14-20 pounds (live weight) in 12-14 weeks. Toms will consume about 90 pounds of feed (current cost of about $14.65 or $. 38/pound of gain) and reach 35-42 pounds in 16-19 weeks.
How do you keep free-range turkeys in your yard?
You can use window screens or chicken wire on top to keep them in. Turkey babies don’t need a lot of space in the brooder the first week, keep them nice and cozy at 85-90 degrees (don’t guess – use a thermometer) the first several days, then you can begin to lift the heat lamp up a few inches each day.
Do turkeys stay in electric fence?
The electric fence will keep predators out, and the netting would keep the right sized turkey in, but the electricity is no deterrant to a turkey. This didn’t work for all of them, but if only 1 got out, it would spend the rest of the day walking around the fence trying to get back in.
