Turkeys can overwinter in temperatures below freezing provided they have adequate shelter, water, and extra feed to support the increased calorie burn of producing enough heat for them to stay warm. With the right care, your turkeys will come through winter happy and healthy.
Do turkeys need a heat lamp?
They will be happiest if you keep their brooder temperature at 95-100 degrees for the first week, then lower the temperature by about 5 degrees per week until they are fully feathered, approximately 6-8 weeks old. They will still appreciate a heat lamp at night for a few weeks after this period if the nights are cool.
Can turkeys get too cold?
Turkeys can also suffer frostbite to their faces and snoods. But in most cases, turkeys that choose to sleep in the open will tuck their heads under one wing during extreme cold or weather.
Can Turkey survive in cold weather?
It turns out that cold, by itself, is not a major problem for turkeys. Feathers make terrific insulation, and a turkey has more than 5,000 of them. Even without food, turkeys can survive in zero-degree weather for about two weeks. If they have enough food, they can survive pretty much indefinitely in cold weather.
When can I take the heat lamp off of turkeys?
One heat lamp can handle about 35- 50 turkeys. Normally brooder temperature can be dropped about 5 degrees a week and can be turned off during the day by 4 weeks of age unless you live in cooler weather areas then by 5-6 weeks of age eventually weaning them off the extra heat completely.
What is the best bedding for turkeys?
Litter: The best bedding for turkeys is 2-3 inches of clean sand covering the floor. You may also use large wood shavings, straw or hay. Make sure the bedding is very dry before placing it in the brooder. Turn the bedding every few days to eliminate poult contact with their feces and add extra bedding when necessary.
Can turkeys sleep outside?
It’s common for broad-breasted turkeys to be perfectly content sleeping in a coop. Heritage turkeys, however, have a huge independent streak, and they may not appreciate your efforts to keep them safely housed at night. Heritage turkeys prefer to sleep outdoors rather than in a confined space.
What do I do with my turkey in the winter?
To sum up: Select cold-hardy breeds if you live where winters are cold. Make sure your roosts are large and sturdy enough for your turkeys. Help keep them warm at night with extra carbohydrate before you tuck them in. Keep those coops clean, dry, and well-ventilated.
What do you feed turkeys in the winter?
Preferred foods of wild turkeys
- Beech (Beechnuts are an alternate food source when acorn supplies are low.)
- Hickory (As with beechnuts, hickory nuts are an alternate winter food source.)
- Dogwood.
- Wild cherry.
- Grapes.
- Berries.
Should you feed wild turkeys in winter?
Keep wildlife wild! Never deliberately feed wild turkeys to attract them to your property or keep them around. Turkeys can survive very well on natural foods and do not need handouts from people.
Where do turkeys go when it’s cold?
On cold windy days we have found it best to key in on the mast producing tree areas in the timber and the bottom of a ravine. Turkeys like these areas because they will be sheltered from the wind and will be searching for nuts beneath the leaves on the frozen ground.
Where do turkeys go when its cold?
If they bulk up too much, they won’t be able to fly back to their roost. Turkeys are arboreal birds that sleep in the trees during winter. That’s why they will produce just enough fat to get them through short spells of severe winter weather.
How cold can turkey poults tolerate?
Turkey poults can go outside to a protected area when they are 6-7 weeks old, fully feathered and the ambient temperature is 65 degrees or higher.
Do turkeys need light at night?
Once your Young turkeys have feathers be sure to keep a light on them at night just in case. This will ensure that they will not get cold, they may not need the light but let them decide. As above always make sure that they have enough room to move away from the heat if it is too much.
What should you not feed turkeys?
Foods You Should Never Feed to Turkeys
- Low-quality chicken feed. Turkeys require more protein than chickens do, therefore, a simple chicken feed will not contain the nutrition that a turkey needs.
- Other Livestock Feeds.
- Dried/Raw Beans.
- Avocados.
- Fruit Pits and Seeds.
- Tomato and Eggplant Leaves.
- Raw Meat.
- Onions.
What do turkeys need in a coop?
You’ll need a minimum of 25 square feet of outdoor space per bird for them to exercise, with predator-proof fencing on all sides, as well as overhead. You’ll also need a small shed for a turkey coop; an 8-by-10-foot structure is big enough to house a few birds.
How much feed does a turkey eat per day?
Heritage turkeys will eat 73 pounds of feed by 28 weeks
| Heritage Turkey Age (in weeks) | Total Pounds Of Feed (per poult for 2 weeks) | Daily Pounds Of Feed (per poult per day) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-6 | 1.9 | 0.14 |
| 7-8 | 2.84 | .2 |
| 9-10 | 3.54 | .25 |
| 11-12 | 4.32 | .31 |
Is hay OK for chicken bedding?
Hay must not be used for bedding because it soon gets damp, and that can cause fungal spores to grow that can cause aspergillosis. This disease is contracted by inhalation when there is a high spore count in the air, which can happen in a relatively short period of time given the right conditions.
What type of shelter do turkeys need?
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 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.
Can turkeys sleep with chickens?
In reality, there is more than one answer to this question and a few factors to consider. The short answer is yes, you can raise turkeys and chickens together. We have for years. We also keep geese, ducks, and guineas with our chickens in the same coop and run.