While chickens are the go-to bird for egg production, turkeys can also be a good choice for backyard farmers. Turkeys are larger than chickens, so they require more space. However, they also lay more eggs and produce meat that is lower in cholesterol.
What is the benefit of having a turkey?
Turkey is a very rich source of protein, niacin, vitamin B6 and the amino acid tryptothan. Apart from these nutrients, it is also contains zinc and vitamin B12. The skinless white meat of turkey is low on fat and is an excellent source of high protein. Turkey also contains anti-cancer properties.
What are the disadvantages of turkey production?
Poor air quality in turkey houses often occurs as farmers attempt to reduce heating costs by using high stocking densities and low ventilation rates. The key toxic gases in poultry houses are ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide, together with dust.
Do turkeys need to be in pairs?
Because living alone can be very stressful for flock animals such as turkeys, if a turkey resident is unable to live with other turkeys, it will be important to give them the opportunity to bond with a companion(s) of a different species while ensuring everyone’s safety.
What is the best housing for turkeys?
Turkeys require elevated roosting spots to spend the overnight hours, ideally with a sheltering roof to protect them from the elements. It is possible to build a single roost pen with space for several birds (a five-by-eight-foot roost will house about 20 turkeys) or you can build a set of roosts.
Do turkeys bond with humans?
Turkeys form strong social bonds and show affection towards one another. Turkeys are gentle creatures who enjoy socializing with human companions and protecting other turkeys with whom they’ve bonded.
How long do turkeys live as pets?
Life Expectancy
The maximum recorded lifespan for a turkey in captivity is twelve years and four months. For turkeys living in the wild, the maximum is less than ten years, but the average life expectancy of a male turkey is just over 2 years and just over 3 years for females.
Is turkey farming difficult?
In comparison to broiler chickens, turkeys are extremely difficult to start, the brooding period is a much more stressful time for both poult and grower, and turkeys remain on the farm for a much longer period increasing the likelihood that something may go wrong before the flock sells.
How hard is it to raise turkeys?
Turkeys are not that hard to raise, but they differ a bit from chickens in terms of what they need, and raising them from poults (baby turkeys) is more time- and energy-intensive than raising chickens from baby chicks.
How cold can turkeys tolerate?
Turkeys are overall hardy animals, meaning they are able to withstand low temperatures (below 20°F) for periods of time.
Will turkeys return to coop at night?
Turkeys will roost anywhere except where you want them to.
They would go in the coop at night with no problems and roost with the chickens.
Is bird seed good for turkeys?
Food. Turkeys are omnivorous and will sample a wide variety of foods. To attract turkeys to your yard, you can provide them with a large ground feeding station containing cracked corn or mixed birdseed. Turkeys will also happily clean up any spills under hanging feeders you may have up for other birds.
Can a turkey mate with a chicken?
There have been attempted crosses between domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallapavo) and chickens. According to Gray, no hybrids hatched in twelve studies. Other reports found only a few fertile eggs were produced and very few resulted in advance embryos.
How many turkeys do you need for Homestead?
When raising turkeys for their meat, you must know how often you will be slaughtering them first. The process is similar to slaughtering chickens. Generally, if you wish to raise turkeys repeatedly, the rule of thumb is to have one Tom for every 10 hens. This way the flock will reproduce and grow each spring.
Do turkeys need to be locked up at night?
Because of this, turkeys must be closed into their indoor space before dusk and should not be let out again until the sun is coming up in the morning. Therefore, turkeys require an indoor living space that will keep them protected from all predators while they are closed in overnight.
How many turkeys can you have per acre?
Space: A good-quality habitat will support one bird per 30 acres (one flock per 640 to 800 acres). But because turkeys need a lot of living space, they may not remain on your property year-round unless it’s 1,000 acres or more.
Do turkeys remember their owners?
They create long-lasting social bonds with each other and with humans. Turkeys love to be stroked, petted and cuddled. They will remember your face and if they like you, they will come up to you to greet you.
Do turkeys get along with dogs?
Sure. But we’re not mad. Like we said, it’s not always impossible for doggos to become best friends with unlikely creatures. Keeping that in mind, it’s also not super likely that every dog will be best buds with a turkey either, so keep an eye on their behavior.
Are turkeys protective of their owners?
Pet owners said that the birds can have different personalities and are often nervous animals, but can also become protective of their owners.
Will my pet turkey fly away?
Again, this will be a yes and no answer. Domestic turkeys are larger than wild turkeys and that will affect their flight. But the heritage turkey breeds will have a better chance at flying than the commercial broad-breasted white turkey which is the most widely-eaten turkey in America.
Are turkeys noisy pets?
Pet turkeys can be noisy
Each turkey is unique and some are more vocal than others. Male turkeys gobble (especially during mating season) while females make a high-pitched chirping noise. Our turkey gets especially noisy when it’s almost meal time.