How To Raise Turkeys

Turkey Brooding and Housing

Turkey poults, unlike other poultry chicks, cannot regulate their body temperature during the first seven to ten days of life. For this reason, set the temperature of your brooder to 100°F for the first week and then decrease the temperature by five degrees every week until the poults are six weeks old.

If you are wondering the answer of how long does it take to raise them, turkey poults grow quickly, after three weeks they can be transferred to grow out cages. At six weeks old they can be transferred to their permanent enclosure, whether that is a specially designed coop or free-range safe space. Turkey hens require a large nesting box for them to lay their speckled eggs in. Turkeys are social birds so its best to keep them in groups of three or more. For every tom you should have at least three hens, otherwise the hens may be over-mated. Turkey hens can lay up to a hundred eggs a year under ideal conditions. However, most turkey hens will lay a clutch of about a dozen eggs and then go broody. 

Turkey Nutrition and Treats

In the wild turkeys mainly consume grasses, nuts, acorns, insects, fruit, and the occasional small reptile. Turkeys are large birds and adults consume about one pound of feed a day. Turkeys require a diet of at least 30 percent protein. During the breeding season increase the protein intake and make sure to give the turkey hens crushed oyster shells as they need the extra calcium to lay eggs with strong shells. 

Turkeys can be fed a game bird, all flock, or turkey feed in pellet or crumble form. Make sure to always provide your turkeys with fresh food and clean water. If your birds run out of water it is important to give them small amounts multiple times so that they don't over drink and risk getting distended crops. Making sure your birds have access to water and food at all times is vital, Hatching Time has made sure to provide great Feeder and drinkers that can work no matter the poultry you are raising. Some great treats for turkeys include leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables and to give a boost to health, while providing a delicious snack I also recommend Happy Tract and Golden Graze snacks. 

Choosing the Right Turkey Breed for Meat, Eggs, or Pets

Turkeys are raised primarily for their meat, some poultry owners raise turkeys for their eggs or as pets. There are about a dozen turkey varieties to choose from. Heritage breed turkeys are breeds that retain historic characteristics that are no longer present in commercial turkeys. Blue Slate, Royal Palm, Narragansett, and White Holland are just some of the heritage turkey breeds. Some distinguishing characteristics of heritage turkey breeds are that they mate naturally and reach their mature weight around seven months of age. Heritage turkey hens should be productive layers for five to seven years, while toms should be productive for three to five years.

Traditional or commercial turkey breeds include the Broad Breasted White and the Bronze which can reach weights of 50 pounds for males and 30 pounds for females in five months. These birds are raised commercially for their meat. If you are raising turkeys for meat make sure to have a feather plucker that can accommodate the large size of a turkey. Feather pluckers are great because they can fully defeather a bird in seconds, saving you the time and energy of hand-plucking. Check out our blog on Processing Poultry. 

Can I Keep My Turkeys with other Poultry?

Some poultry owners raise their turkeys with guinea fowl, peafowl, or chickens. When raising turkeys and chickens on the same property be aware that chickens can give turkeys Blackhead Disease (Histomoniasis), which is a protozoa, without being affected by it. Symptoms of blackhead disease are black pimple-like bumps on the heads of affected turkeys. It is recommended to introduce turkeys to a flock of chickens when they are at least three months old so that their immune system is strong enough to fight off the disease.

I recommend keeping poultry species separate or with like species. For instance, keeping ducks and geese together is fine, but keeping ducks and chickens together makes for a very messy run and other issues. Turkeys can be kept with chickens, but due to their larger size are likely to monopolize the feeders and nesting boxes. If you decide to start raising turkeys you can hatch your very own at home, purchase day-old poults, or purchase adult birds. Turkeys, just like chickens and quail, require a place to nest, roost, require shade, fresh feed and water. 

Written by: 

Aryeh Wiesel