RAISING TURKEYS NEED HELP!?
Question by Jacquie: RAISING TURKEYS NEED HELP!?
i was not sure about raising anything for food but afetr realizing the conditions supermarket turkeys go through, i would rather give my turkeys the best care for thier short inevitable lives. I have a wall in my barn that used to have 3 average sized 10×12 horse stalls. now its just a wall but i was thinking of putting a chicken wire cage in their to house mabey 20 or so surplus broad breasted turkeys. i might put an outdoor pen enclousure too if possable. I am going to try to hope that they will breed and have more baby chicks. My plan is to raise them for meat for my family and to possably sell the chicks or the turkeys for food. do you think this is cost effective with feed prices going up? when do they lay eggs? can they breed? do you think this is enough room? how much would i sell the meat for? are they loud? do toms crow or make loud noises(as obnoxious as roosters?) Is this a good breed(cheapest i found was meyer hatchery for $ 4.23 each st.run) any tips or other important info will help! thanx!
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One Response to RAISING TURKEYS NEED HELP!?
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I wouldn’t do this. It’s a lot of time, and a lot of money. It’s cheaper to just go to the store, and requires a lot less space and time.
You need a group of 15+ turkeys, though most people keep closer to 50. They need 3-4 sq. ft. per bird in a pen, and 4-6 sq. ft. per bird in an outside run. They have to be completely closed in so other animals can’t get to them. They need multiple feeders and waterers that have to be checked daily. The food and bedding costs are high, and neither of those two things lasts long. When you use them for meat, they do NOT taste like the meat you get in the store. They’re nasty and gamey. The females make a little barking sound, and toms are a little louder with gobbles when grown. They’re aggressive and stupid. They smell HORRIBLE. Poults should be raised inside the first 8 weeks, and after that need very warm outside conditions. It probably costs around $ 50 per bird for the full care until you can use them for food around 30lbs. You won’t get that much money off of one bird.
And in the end, someone still kills them. It’s not pretty, and it never will be.
Little Bitty
November 10, 2011 at 7:25 pm