Turkeys could be a enjoyable, worthwhile addition to a small farm or homestead. They’re normally raised for meat, though some folks wish to maintain a “tom” (a mature male turkey) round as a pet. Earlier than you resolve so as to add turkeys to your farm, listed below are the fundamentals of elevating turkeys the correct manner.
Ought to You Elevate Turkeys?
Elevating turkeys is much like elevating chickens—however turkeys require a bit extra babying, particularly as poults (younger turkeys). They’re additionally social with people, rather more so than chickens, so you will should be keen to spend a while along with your birds every single day.
Selecting a Breed
The following step is to decide on the correct breed. Broad-Breasted Whites are the “trendy” consuming turkey, much like those you discover within the grocery store (however even this breed, raised on pasture on a small farm, will style much more flavorful than the grocery store selection). Commonplace Bronze and White Holland varieties are additionally well-liked breeds for meat manufacturing.
Broad-Breasted Bronzes and Whites are usually not precise breeds, only a non-standardized business pressure used for meat, whereas White Hollands and Commonplace Bronzes are acknowledged breeds. Heritage turkeys embrace Bourbon Reds and Narragansetts; the latter are putting, medium-sized birds that excel at foraging and pest management. Royal Palm turkeys develop to a smaller completed dimension of roughly ten to sixteen kilos and are stunning, different-looking birds.
Elevating Turkeys From Poults
Sometimes, you may be beginning with day-old turkeys within the spring, known as poults. You will have to arrange a brooder space identical to you’ll for chickens. There are many do-it-yourself concepts for brooder areas, from a feeding trough to a kiddie pool.
Similar to beginning chicks, you will want to maintain the brooder space between 90 and 95 levels F for the primary week, then slowly decrease the temp by elevating the lamps, cooling it by 5 levels F every week. Lots of the similar locations that promote chicks additionally promote turkey poults.
Housing and Fencing Turkeys
Make a plan for housing and fencing your turkeys. Many farmers let their turkeys reside outdoors on vary in a big fenced pen with a movable roost meeting, very similar to a movable hen coop. The perfect vary for turkeys is brief grass. Pink clover and Kentucky bluegrass are particularly good grasses to have on the vary. For a flock of a dozen turkeys, plan to construct a pen of roughly 75 toes sq., or one-eighth acre. Be sure that your fence is safe from coyotes, foxes, and raccoons—all of whom would love free-range turkey dinner. Woven wire fencing is a good selection, as is inspired poultry netting.
Maintain the pasture contemporary by shifting the transportable roost to scrub floor weekly. You may as well rotate the situation of feeders and waterers to stop manure buildup.
Feeding and Watering Turkeys
Fill up on the provides you will have to feed and water your turkeys. For a dozen turkeys, you will want not less than 2 gallons of water every single day, so contemplate an computerized waterer linked to your outside water spigot. A four-foot-long waterer will suffice for 12 birds. Many turkey farmers construct a picket vary feeder with somewhat roof on prime to carry the feed. A feeder that holds about 100 kilos of feed is an effective dimension for 12 turkeys, as by the point they close to maturity they may every eat a pound of feed a day.
Stopping Turkey Issues and Illnesses
Studying methods to forestall well being issues earlier than they come up—with clear pasture, movable roosts, and contemporary, clear water and meals—is the best technique to deal with elevating turkeys. Nonetheless, typically issues occur and you will have to know methods to deal with them. Give turkeys sufficient roosting house and pasture. Be sure that to boost them individually from chickens. Guarantee your turkey home has good air flow, and shield your turkeys from predators.