Need recomendation for breed of turkey for a beginner...

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I want to raise a few turkeys next year and was wondering what was a good breed for a beginner. I have 1/2 acre fenced (2 1/2 acres total), already have a couple of dozen chickens, a couple of goats and 4 dogs. We can build whatever size pen they need and let them free range in the fenced yard when the dogs are up. Is it better to get one of those breeds that get really big or a breed that only gets to be about 15 pounds? They will be food for our family of 4 throughout the year. I also have 2 young children so I don't want anything that is going to be aggressive with them. Any ideas? Any info. appreciated. Thanks.

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), November 12, 2001

Answers

its cheaper,, if you just raise "turkey breasts", thats all mosat eat anyways,, so you can easly sell the extras

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 12, 2001.

I raised turkeys for a couple of years. There are several different types but if you want more white meat buy white turkeys. Check with your local feed store for feed. There is a starter mash and then a grower feed. We bought ours at about two weeks old ( the end of June ) that way they will already have gotten of to a good start. We would process them the tuesday before Thanksgiving. The hens would go anywhere from 16 pounds up and the toms mostly came in around 30 pounds. If they get much larger they will have difficulty walking the last few weeks before the Holiday. There is also a danger with raising turkeys and chickens together. The chickens carry a disease that's fatal to the turkeys. I'm sure there are others in this group who know considerably more but this will give you a start. As far as size is concerned the bigger the better. The carcass of a 14 pound bird isn't much different than a 20 plus pounder. The weight that gets added is in the breast. 14 or 15 is a good starting number. That gives you one for each month and maybe a couple to sell. The going rate here is about $2.00 a pound. A pen about 30 by 40 feet should do just fine with a place for them to get under cover. Turkeys are VERY stupid... They's drown in a rain storm!

-- Ken in Maine (kenjan@nh.adelphia.net), November 12, 2001.

There's a web site with turkey info on it with links to other sites: http://www.feathersite.com

-- Jo (farmerjo@kvalley.com), November 13, 2001.

I used to raise bronze turkeys, got 'em at the feed store every Mothers Day. They were never aggressive in any way to my young daughters or any one else. Until I had to wrassle with 'em at butchering time that is!

-- Walt K. (kraterkrew@lcsys.com), November 13, 2001.

I would choose the size of the turkey on the size your family prefers on the table. When we had 4 people in the family, we bought the smallest birds I could find. One of the small ones would give us 2 turkey dinners, some sandwiches, and soup from the bones. When the turkey was gone we were ready for a change in meals. If only the large ones were available I would cut the birds in half so we didn't get tired of turkey before it was gone.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), November 13, 2001.


Hello Anita, It would depend on what exactly you want your turkeys for. They make the broad breasted turkeys... they come in BB Bronze (large birds, but have difficulty with leg problems and breeding) and BBWhite.. the Whites get even larger, but again, too big a chest on males to breed themselves with a high reliability. (They may get the job done occasionally, but most growers use artificial insemination). I have heritage birds. These are breeds that are a bit smaller, older breeds, but they can reproduce on their own. They are still a good couple of meals, so I guess you need to decide if you want a 20- 35 lb. bird or a 45 lb. bird. Heritage breeds do not get the leg problems as much, etc. and are a bit heartier as far as health. All my turkeys are nicer than the chickens, but I have heard of toms of any breed getting that dominance thing going when older. My friendlyist turkeys are the bigger ones, but they may just be constantly looking for food...(they can be pigs) I would think about what you would like in the future. Do you plan to breed your own flock every year for butcher? or do you plan to start new with a bunch of chicks from a hatchery? Do you want to feed a few over winter...burrrr...like I do, so you do not have to worry where you will get new stock? :o) (There is a ban in some hubs and I know my sister can not yet get birds shipped to her) I would make sure the toms are in a pen when older, if you are worried about the kids. Even the hens may pick at a button or something, so you may want to keep the birds penned when the kids are out. Also free range birds eat better(bugs-plants), but can get tougher meat (muscles worked out). I usually put mine in a pen, and move the pen. THey get the new grass and all, but do not range real far. If you decide to get a heritage breed, you may have to dig a bit for a breeder, as these are not sold much through hatcheries. There are buff turkeys and Sweetgrass(white with a beautiful combination of brown and tan patches), slate blue.. I have a lone BBBronze tom (that had one leg with problems that I had to splint). The BBBronze grew faster, and I think that was the problem. Other breeds out there are wonderful too. There is a black spanish, there are bourbon reds, there are royal palms, and the list goes on. Also, there are heritage white and bronze if you like those colors, but want smaller birds. The white birds pick cleaner "looking" if you want one that will sell after processing. If you pick a heritage breed and want to keep them alive over winter, etc. You will be doing a great service. There are some breeds that are almost gone, since there are few big farms breeding them. I would not have buffs if it were not for a couple of backyard farmer/breeders trying to keep them alive. I think I owe it to our future generations to keep these beautiful birds going. Contact the SPPA if you have further questions on the breeds, etc. (They have a web site) They are a great source of info. Good luck and God bless.

-- notnow (notnow05@yahoo.com), November 13, 2001.

Does it have to be turkeys? There are some duck (& geese also) breeds that get very big, & many ducks can be kept with chickens (unlike turkeys). Though aggressive (there are some exceptions), geese will graze more then other birds. So some pasture for geese (though portable pens will work for all birds)might be desirable. Some ducks will out lay chickens (some like indian runners not only are good layers but are funny to watch when they walk), while others are very good meat birds.

It might be better (if you get some turkeys) to keep them confined to a portable pen. That way they can still get to range for plants & bugs, but not so much that they work themselves up (exercise) so they are tough to eat. Also if penned, there shouldn't be any way for your kids to get hurt by the birds (if the kids don't enter the pen, if the birds don't escape, & there are always exceptions to the rule).

The BB (broad breasted) Bronze, & BB White have trouble breeding without help (AI). This is because they are broad breasted (double breasted) & this interferes with breeding. These breeds also grow fast like cornish X rock chickens (commonly used for broilers, also known as what you find in any grocery store). There are other verieties that grow slower, come in verious sizes (& colors), & aren't BB so don't have breeding problems. Buff color tends to make a nice carcus almost as good as white (buff color pin feathers are hard to see against the skin like white). I want to get some royal palms (mostly white with some black markings on it's back, & one of the smallest breeds) myself, & they like BB Bronze & BB White are available from many hatcheries.

good luck

animalfarms

-- animalfarms (jawjlewis@netzero.net), November 13, 2001.


royal palms , are great , where we are we cant raise the bronze ones , there are too many turkey hunters , and they wold get shot , i dont like the looks of the all white ones , so the royal palms are a compromise ..

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), November 14, 2001.

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