Guide to Choosing and Raising Turkeys

Turkeys can be a fun, profitable addition to a small farm or homestead. They are usually raised for meat, although some people like to keep a "tom" (a mature male turkey) around as a pet. Before you decide to add turkeys to your farm, here are the basics of raising turkeys the right way.

Should You Raise Turkeys?

Raising turkeys is similar to raising chickens—but turkeys require a bit more babying, especially as poults (young turkeys). They are also social with humans, much more so than chickens, so you'll need to be willing to spend some time with your birds every day.

Choosing a Breed

The next step is to choose the right breed. Broad-Breasted Whites are the "modern" eating turkey, similar to the ones you find in the supermarket (but even this breed, raised on pasture on a small farm, will taste far more flavorful than the supermarket variety). Standard Bronze and White Holland varieties are also popular breeds for meat production.

Broad-Breasted Bronzes and Whites are not actual breeds, just a non-standardized commercial strain used for meat, while White Hollands and Standard Bronzes are recognized breeds. Heritage turkeys include Bourbon Reds and Narragansetts; the latter are striking, medium-sized birds that excel at foraging and pest control. Royal Palm turkeys grow to a smaller finished size of roughly ten to sixteen pounds and are beautiful, different-looking birds.

Raising Turkeys From Poults

Typically, you will be starting with day-old turkeys in the spring, called poults. You will need to set up a brooder area just like you would for chickens. There are lots of do-it-yourself ideas for brooder areas, from a feeding trough to a kiddie pool.

Just like starting chicks, you will need to keep the brooder area between 90 and 95 degrees F for the first week, then slowly lower the temp by raising the lamps, cooling it by five degrees F each week. Many of the same places that sell chicks also sell turkey poults.

Housing and Fencing Turkeys

Make a plan for housing and fencing your turkeys. Many farmers let their turkeys live outside on range in a large fenced pen with a movable roost assembly, much like a movable chicken coop. The best range for turkeys is short grass. Red clover and Kentucky bluegrass are especially good grasses to have on the range. For a flock of a dozen turkeys, plan to build a pen of roughly 75 feet square, or one-eighth acre. Make sure your fence is secure from coyotes, foxes, and raccoons—all of whom would love free-range turkey dinner. Woven wire fencing is a great choice, as is electrified poultry netting.

Keep the pasture fresh by moving the portable roost to clean ground weekly. You can also rotate the location of feeders and waterers to prevent manure buildup.

Feeding and Watering Turkeys

Stock up on the supplies you'll need to feed and water your turkeys. For a dozen turkeys, you'll need at least 2 gallons of water every day, so consider an automatic waterer connected to your outdoor water spigot. A four-foot-long waterer will suffice for 12 birds. Many turkey farmers build a wooden range feeder with a little roof on top to hold the feed. A feeder that holds about 100 pounds of feed is a good size for 12 turkeys, as by the time they near maturity they will each eat a pound of feed a day.

Preventing Turkey Problems and Diseases

Learning how to prevent health problems before they arise—with clean pasture, movable roosts, and fresh, clean water and food—is the easiest way to handle raising turkeys. Still, sometimes things happen and you'll need to know how to take care of them. Give turkeys enough roosting space and pasture. Make sure to raise them separately from chickens. Ensure your turkey house has good ventilation, and protect your turkeys from predators.