Raising turkeys as part of our flock was one of the best decisions we made here on the farm! It wasn't our initial thought, though; it kind of happened by coincidence. And what a great coincidence it was!

Scroll down to catch the full story and the things we have learned over the years about raising and caring for turkeys.

how we got our turkeys

One of the first times I saw a turkey was at our cousin Zane’s home. He had a Tom and a Hen, and they were running around making all sorts of crazy sounds!

I’m not going to lie; I was kind of scared of them. The gobble sound was quite intense, and the way they walked around had me all puffed up.

Then, one day, I received a call from my friend saying she had hand-raised two turkeys, and they needed a home before Thanksgiving. She was looking for someone who would not butcher them and thought we might take them.

So, on a whim, we said yes! Next thing you know, Tom and Gisele came to live with us! And it has been a true joy ever since!

They are Royal Palm Turkeys and are quite a beautiful breed. They are considered a heritage breed.

Other heritage breeds include Bourbon Reds, Narragansetts, and Black Spanish. These breeds are more bred for beauty and show animals, as opposed to for meat.

Unfortunately, heritage breeds have the potential to go extinct as they are not bred as much as the bigger, more common factory turkeys bred for meat consumption.

The boys can get up to 16-18 lbs, and the girls around 10-12 lbs. The first of their breed was spotted in Florida back in the 1920s. They are a friendly breed and also exceptionally clever!

why I love raising turkeys

I am now a true believer and have loved having them around!! Here are a few thoughts on turkeys and turkey care that might help you if you’re considering raising turkeys yourself!

1.) They have taught me life lessons about parenting. When Tom and Gisele had baby Gigo, they protected him at all costs. It was amazing to see Tom hiding Gigo under his wing for protection. I will never forget how amazing it was to see two turkeys being such great parents.

2.) They are hilarious to watch. It’s like watching a national geographic special every day in your yard. They dance around in the most hilarious and majestic march. It’s a must-see.

3.) They are not as messy as you might think. Yes, they have larger poop, etc., but they genuinely don’t make as much of a mess as chickens and ducks.

4.) You’ll have a new best friend. It is hilarious to see them literally run when they see me because they know I’m going to give them some treats!

5.) They are beautiful. It’s incredible to see their heads turn colors and their feathers shine brightly. Just so beautiful and unique.

Continue reading for my tips on raising turkeys as pets!

THOUGHTS ON TURKEY CARE

FEED & WATER FOR TURKEYS

Turkeys will eat the same feed as chickens, just more of it. They are fast-growing and have a high demand for nutrition and protein to meet growth and development demands.

You must feed poults (babies) a starter feed with at least 28% protein and preferably medicated against coccidiosis. At 6 weeks, you can change from starter to grower ratio with 26% protein and preventative meds against blackhead disease. At week 12, you can start to give adult feed.

The feed quantities also depend on their size and breed:

Large: Toms - 1 ½ pounds, Hens - 0.8 pounds

Medium: Toms - 1 ¼ pounds, Hens - 0.6 pounds

Small: Toms - ¾ pounds, Hens - ½ pounds

Adult turkeys will eat as much as fifty percent of their intake from pasture or range grass. Range grass is when the grass is four to six inches long. Turkeys like to eat the growing tips of the grass.

They will also enjoy any kitchen or garden scraps: lettuce, tomatoes, sweet corn, summer squash, and so on. And they love grubs and mealworms! My hen Gisele especially LOVES them.

I’ve got a delicious frozen summer treat that my whole flock loves. Check it out HERE.

They also do well with some scratch grains in winter when it’s cold. You may need to consider adding turkey-sized grit to their feed to help with digestion.

As with all other animals, always have fresh, clean water available and clean their feeders often. During the summer, our turkeys actually love standing in a small pool to keep cool. It is hilarious!

TURKEY LIVING SPACES

Many believe that turkeys are cleaner than chickens as they don't have this constant itch to scratch and dust the whole time. Which is a huge advantage in the run and coop!

Turkeys need lots of space, and everything needs to be bigger. The run, coop, and nesting boxes. You can work on an estimate of 4-6 square feet of space indoors and 20 square feet outdoors per turkey. This will ensure comfortable, healthy living conditions for the turkeys.

They need a run and coop/ barn/ shed that protects them at night from predators and where they can hide against extreme weather elements. Proper ventilation is also essential to prevent pneumonia and the build-up of gasses.

Turkeys often prefer sleeping outside, so an enclosed run with roosting poles is ideal. Always make sure their bedding is clean and provide some extra hay during the winter months.

Remember, they also need nesting boxes at ground level to lay and brood their eggs.

TURKEY HEALTH & WELLNESS

Turkeys are, after all, birds, and birds can contract many diseases due to the nature of wild birds migrating all over the world.

The best way to prevent turkey diseases is to ensure fresh air circulation in their coops and being allowed to roam freely outside. It also helps to move the turkey house or roosts frequently to fresh ground so that their manure doesn't pile up in one location.

Turkeys tend to not show any apparent signs when they are sick, so the best way to monitor your turkeys is to really spend time with them every day. This will help you to learn their behaviors and detect anything that is out of order.

One of the biggest threats is blackhead disease that can be transmitted by chickens to your turkeys. You must find out from your local council if blackhead disease is present in your area. If so, you need to keep your flocks separate.

Ask your local vet how you can prevent and treat blackhead and other diseases present in your area.

HERE is a complete guide on potential turkey health challenges.

DO TURKEYS FLY?

Turkeys do fly, so be aware. I have not clipped our turkeys' wings because we have not had an issue with them flying away. But if you are at all concerned, you can clip their wings to prevent this.

I like for them to fly away from danger if need be, and that's why I don't clip them.

Do turkeys molt?

Some say they don't; some say they do. In my case, I think they do have a good shedding of feathers once a year.

My girl Gisele got quite bald looking for about 6 weeks, and then all her feathers came back. Both my Tom's have also lost a few of their feathers. Make sure they have good nutrition and electrolytes during this time, and they should be ok.

CAN TURKEYS BE RAISED WITH CHICKENS?

In short yes. They all seem to get along and mind their own business. I even have them with my ducks! One big happy FARMILY.

However, there are diseases in some regions of the country, such as blackhead, that can be fatal to turkeys. Chickens can transmit this disease to Turkeys. Research to see if this is a problem in your area before keeping them together.

I’ve also written a whole blog post on raising a mixed flock with more information regarding this!

Friends, these are just beginner guidelines that I want to share with you. There are lots more info that is just too much to share on here.

I strongly advise that you do as much research as possible, ask for advice from other farmers, and contact your local vet for advice on vaccinations, deworming, feed, pastures, etc.

Say yes to turkeys? Absolutely! Raising turkeys as pets is great fun and rewarding!

Love, Annette xx

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