Turkeys is usually a enjoyable, worthwhile addition to a small farm or homestead. They’re normally raised for meat, though some individuals prefer to maintain a “tom” (a mature male turkey) round as a pet. Earlier than you determine so as to add turkeys to your farm, listed below are the fundamentals of elevating turkeys the appropriate approach.
Ought to You Increase Turkeys?
Elevating turkeys is just like elevating chickens—however turkeys require a bit extra babying, particularly as poults (younger turkeys). They’re additionally social with people, far more so than chickens, so you may must be prepared to spend a while together with your birds day-after-day.
Selecting a Breed
The subsequent step is to decide on the appropriate breed. Broad-Breasted Whites are the “trendy” consuming turkey, just 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). Customary Bronze and White Holland varieties are additionally common breeds for meat manufacturing.
Broad-Breasted Bronzes and Whites aren’t precise breeds, only a non-standardized business pressure used for meat, whereas White Hollands and Customary Bronzes are acknowledged breeds. Heritage turkeys embrace Bourbon Reds and Narragansetts; the latter are placing, 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, referred to as poults. You will want to arrange a brooder space similar 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 have 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 most effective 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. Ensure 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 galvanized poultry netting.
Preserve the pasture contemporary by shifting the transportable roost to wash floor weekly. You can even rotate the placement of feeders and waterers to forestall manure buildup.
Feeding and Watering Turkeys
Replenish on the provides you may must feed and water your turkeys. For a dozen turkeys, you may want no less than 2 gallons of water day-after-day, so think about an computerized waterer related to your outside water spigot. A four-foot-long waterer will suffice for 12 birds. Many turkey farmers construct a wood vary feeder with a bit roof on high to carry the feed. A feeder that holds about 100 kilos of feed is an efficient dimension for 12 turkeys, as by the point they close to maturity they are going to every eat a pound of feed a day.
Stopping Turkey Issues and Illnesses
Studying find out how to forestall well being issues earlier than they come up—with clear pasture, movable roosts, and contemporary, clear water and meals—is the best strategy to deal with elevating turkeys. Nonetheless, generally issues occur and you will must know find out how to care for them. Give turkeys sufficient roosting house and pasture. Ensure that to lift them individually from chickens. Guarantee your turkey home has good air flow, and defend your turkeys from predators.