The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: piggy on June 11, 2010, 08:11:06 pm

Title: Turkeys
Post by: piggy on June 11, 2010, 08:11:06 pm

We are thinking about getting some turkeys to raise for christmas,are they hard to keep/feed/look after.

Thanks

Title: Re: Turkeys
Post by: jameslindsay on June 11, 2010, 08:12:51 pm

They drop dead at the drop of a hat I hear.

Title: Re: Turkeys
Post by: shetlandpaul on June 11, 2010, 08:33:28 pm

not true. they are just diffrent from chickens. a bit softer and needing a slightly diffrent aproach but they are easy to raise once past the chick stage. it very worthwhile and when your eating your own christmas dinner that you raised you will enjoy it. the only important things are worming and making sure they don't get cold whilst young. they eat alot but you gain in the end.

Title: Re: Turkeys
Post by: Hermit on June 11, 2010, 10:01:33 pm

I agree with Paul. Just need a bit more TLC than chickens but if you are set up right no problems.

Title: Re: Turkeys
Post by: Sandy on June 11, 2010, 10:25:12 pm

My daughter had some and she reconed they were very friendly and would follow her, I want some for Christmas too, I may freeze some but I am going to have ALL my three daughters and thier family stay here for Christmas, one is comming from Auss!!!

Title: Re: Turkeys
Post by: shetlandpaul on June 12, 2010, 08:15:10 am

try and not get to friendly with them. they taste better if you don't feel guilty about eating a friend.

Title: Re: Turkeys
Post by: Teresa on June 12, 2010, 04:41:28 pm

What do you feed them? Are their special turkey feeds or is it the same feed you give to chickens?

Title: Re: Turkeys
Post by: shetlandpaul on June 12, 2010, 07:06:40 pm

your ment to feed them turkey growers and then finishers. but we don't bother they just have the layers pellets and maise. they don't seem to suffer too much. they free range and are greedy so the 3 quid a bag mounts up diffrence mounts up..