Ever thought about expanding your poultry flock beyond chickens? Raising turkeys can be a highly rewarding experience. Whether you’re harvesting flavorful meat, collecting large speckled eggs, or simply enjoying the company of these impressive birds.
In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about turkey care, from brooding and housing to feeding and breed selection. By the end, you'll be well-prepared to raise a happy, healthy turkey flock.
Choosing the Right Kind of Turkey for You
Choosing the right breed is your first big decision, and it depends on your goals for raising turkeys.
If You Want Meat:
For meat production, Broad Breasted White is a top choice, especially on larger farms. These turkeys grow quickly and reach 30 to 50 pounds in about five months. Broad Breasted Bronze is another excellent option with similar growth. Keep in mind that fast-growing breeds need attentive care to prevent health issues.
If You Have a Small Farm or Prefer Heritage Breeds:
Heritage turkeys are ideal for smaller farms or those who prefer traditional breeds. These birds reproduce naturally, grow slower (about seven months to maturity), and are hardy and active. Popular heritage breeds include:
- Blue Slate with soft blue-gray plumage
- Royal Palm with a black and white feather pattern
- Narragansett which is hardy and adaptable
- White Holland with a classic white appearance
- Bourbon Red which is known for its calm temperament and popularity on small farms
Heritage hens often lay eggs consistently for 5 to 7 years, making them a great dual-purpose option.
If You Want Eggs:
Although turkeys don’t lay as many eggs as chickens, heritage hens lay large, flavorful eggs over longer periods, especially when raised in ideal conditions. If you plan to hatch your poults at home, a turkey egg incubator provides the consistent temperature and humidity control needed for successful hatching.
How to Set Up a Turkey Brooder: Everything You Need to Know
Young turkeys, called poults, are more sensitive to temperature changes than chicks and are generally larger, requiring a thoughtfully designed brooder.
Temperature Control:
Maintain a temperature around 100°F during the first week, then reduce by 5°F each week until they’re about six weeks old. Use an adjustable heat plate or secure heat lamp designed for taller clearance, as poults are larger than chicks. Always monitor the temperature with a thermometer and watch their behavior for signs of discomfort. Panting indicates overheating.
Brooder Space Requirements:
Provide enough room to prevent stress and illness:
- 0 to 4 weeks: 1.5 sq ft per poult
- 4 to 8 weeks: 3 to 4 sq ft per poult
- 8 to 12 weeks: 5 to 8 sq ft per poult
- 12+ weeks: 10+ sq ft per bird, especially for broad-breasted varieties
Bedding:
Use soft, absorbent bedding such as pine shavings or puppy pads. Puppy pads are a great option as they make clean-up quick and easy, help keep the floor dry, and are especially useful during the first few weeks. Avoid cedar shavings, which can be harmful to poults.
Feeders and Waterers:
Use chick-safe feeders and waterers, placing them at a height that’s easy for poults to reach. Clean them daily and offer fresh food and water at all times. Once the poults mature, consider transitioning to nipple waterers and silo feeders to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
Feeding Turkeys at Different Stages
Turkeys need a specialized diet that changes with their growth stages.
0 to 8 Weeks (Poults):
Feed a high-protein turkey starter feed with 28 to 30 percent protein to support their rapid early growth.
8 to 20 Weeks (Growing Turkeys):
Switch to turkey grower feed with 20 to 24 percent protein to support continued development.
20+ Weeks (Finishing for Meat):
If raising for meat, use turkey finisher feed with 18 to 20 percent protein in the final weeks.
Adult Maintenance:
Mature turkeys can thrive on turkey maintenance feed, game bird feed, or all-flock feed with 15 to 20 percent protein.
Treats and Supplements:
Offer healthy treats like leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables in moderation. Provide crushed oyster shells for laying hens to support eggshell strength. Enrichment snacks like Happy Tract and Golden Graze also support digestive health.
Water:
Always keep clean water available. If they run out, reintroduce it gradually to avoid overdrinking, which can cause digestive upset.
Caring for Your Turkeys Year-Round
Once poults outgrow the brooder, move them to a secure coop or outdoor housing area.
Coop and Space Requirements:
Turkeys need ample space indoors and out. Provide 12 to 16 inches of roosting space per bird inside the coop. For outdoor areas, note that turkeys can fly much higher than 5 to 6 feet. Some may even reach second-story windows. A large aviary-style run with netting overhead is the best way to prevent escapes and protect them from predators.
Roosting Areas:
Install strong roosts 2 to 3 feet off the ground to give turkeys a safe, elevated place to sleep.
Nesting Boxes:
For egg-laying hens, provide nesting boxes roughly 2 feet by 2 feet with soft, dry bedding.
Climate Control:
Provide shade during hot months and wind protection in winter. Keep their living space dry and well-ventilated year-round.
Social Needs:
Turkeys are social animals. Keep at least three together, and if you have toms and hens, maintain a ratio of at least 3 hens per tom to prevent aggressive behavior.
Common Health Issues and How to Prevent Them
Blackhead Disease:
This serious illness often spreads from chickens, who can carry it without symptoms. Avoid housing turkeys with chickens until the turkeys are at least three months old.
There is no officially approved treatment, but some vets use Metronidazole and Fenbendazole off-label. Focus on prevention. Deworm regularly, keep living areas clean and dry, and avoid mixing young turkeys with chickens.
Other Health Issues:
Cleanliness is key. Provide fresh water and food daily, isolate sick birds, and consult a poultry vet if you notice signs of illness.
Protecting Your Turkeys from Predators
Turkeys, especially poults, are vulnerable to predators, so housing security is essential.
Secure Housing:
Use strong materials for walls and roofs. Cover any vents or gaps with hardware cloth. Reinforce the ground around the coop, as some predators dig under to get inside.
Fencing and Overhead Protection:
Because turkeys can fly high, install a netted aviary-style run to contain them and shield them from hawks and owls. Standard fencing between 5 and 6 feet is not enough for most turkeys.
Night Security:
Always lock your turkeys in the coop at night to protect them from nocturnal predators like raccoons, foxes, or opossums.
Can I Keep My Turkeys with Other Birds?
Turkeys can sometimes be housed with birds like guinea fowl or peafowl. However, avoid mixing turkeys with chickens, especially at a young age, due to the risk of Blackhead Disease. Also, turkeys tend to be more dominant around feeders, so housing them separately often works best for everyone’s well-being.
Raising turkeys is a fun and fulfilling journey when you understand their needs. With the right setup, breed selection, feeding plan, and predator protection, your turkeys can thrive whether you raise them for meat, eggs, or companionship.
FAQs About Raising Turkeys
What are the best turkey breeds for meat?
Broad Breasted White and Broad Breasted Bronze are the fastest-growing and largest breeds, ideal for meat production.
How do I protect my turkeys from predators?
Use secure, predator-proof housing with strong fencing and netting overhead. Always lock them in at night.
How long does it take to raise turkeys to maturity?
Heritage breeds mature in about 7 months, while meat breeds are ready in around 5 months.
What should I feed young turkey poults?
Start them on turkey starter feed with 28 to 30 percent protein.
How much space do adult turkeys need?
Each turkey needs at least 12 to 16 inches of indoor roosting space and a large, enclosed outdoor area, preferably with a netted run.
Author Bio:
Umair Salahuddin is an experienced poultry care enthusiast and a contributor to HatchingTime.com. With years of hands-on experience raising chickens, Umair offers expert advice on chick care, brooding, and raising healthy poultry.
