7 Essential Tips for Raising Turkeys: Your Complete Guide to Success

If you’re pondering over the prospect of raising turkeys to economize your grocery bill, you’re in for a surprise. Let me guide you through the wonderful journey of turkey raisers. You can bask in the joy of seeing them hop around daily, while maintaining control over their diet. We’re considering a small-scale venture here, rearing turkeys for personal consumption. This guide will be your best friend in keeping those feathered fellows happy, healthy, and organic.

1. Why Choose Organic?

Explore the benefits of choosing organic products with this informative guide on raising turkeys.
Photo by Mikkel Bergmann on Unsplash

Isn’t it concerning how purchased organic produce burns a hole in our pocket? That’s because ensuring unadulterated produce requires extra care. Poultry farms usually squeeze turkeys into small spaces. This close proximity increases the chances of disease spread among turkeys. To counteract this, farms often resort to heavily medicated feed. Unfortunately, this feed may contain antibiotics, hormones, steroids and other synthetics. Why pile all this into your turkey when you can just give them room to roam and keep them disease-free? That’s the primary step towards raising organic turkeys.

2. House Baby Turkeys Properly

: Learn the essential steps for properly housing baby turkeys, including providing a clean and warm brooder environment, access to fresh water and appropriate feed
Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Start your journey at a local hatchery, where you can buy baby turkeys at a reasonable cost. Make sure these little ones have a cozy place once they’re yours, ideally somewhere with a temperature above 80 degrees. You can house them in a small inflatable pool and use a bulb as a heat source. Just maintain a safe distance to prevent any accidents!

Protection Against the Elements

A sturdy shelter with a thatched roof, providing protection against rain, wind, and sun.
FossilDS, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Once your turkeys are older and ready to explore the outdoors, ensure they have a secure shelter. A covered area can provide them respite from unfavorable weather conditions. Floor their pen with hay for their comfort.

Understanding Roosting Habits

Explore the fascinating roosting habits of turkeys in this insightful guide
Photo by Rafael Rodrigues: https://www.pexels.com/photo/turkeys-in-the-yard-18243057/

Fun fact about growing turkeys: they prefer staying off the ground while sleeping. You can set up a platform within the pen, providing them the comfort they seek during their nap times.

3. Maintaining a Nutrient-Rich Diet

Learn how to maintain a nutrient-rich diet for turkeys with this comprehensive guide, covering essential components such as grains, seeds, vegetables, and protein
American Lotus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Keep fresh food and water available throughout. Growing turkeys require plenty of nutrients, so ensure you’re providing a balanced diet to these feathered friends. Replace the water regularly, especially during hot weather to keep them hydrated.

4. Free Range or Not?

A group of turkeys roaming freely in a spacious green pasture under the sunlight.
Photo by Batın Özen: https://www.pexels.com/photo/turkeys-in-countryside-7616509/
  • Among turkey raisers, some prefer letting their birds roam freely. This free-range method has its pros and cons.
  • While it’s a more natural way of life for the turkeys, there’s an increased risk of them falling prey to predators.
  • The freedom results in tougher meat – often requiring boiling before it can be cooked further.

Although keeping turkeys caged might seem less humane, ensure you provide them sufficient space. Remember, it’s not cruel if they have ample space!

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