Grow a turkey for Christmas

[Alice]

In the August mag there's a feature on raising a turkey for Christmas dinner.
Is anybody doing it ?

[rustylady]

Even if I did Alice, I think it would become a pet and I wouldn't be able to eat it. Haven't managed to read the mag yet, stuck at work.

[bluemoon]

I am seriously considering it, though probably not for this year and I'd probably buy a breeding trio then try to raise my own, that way those first birds could become pets and it wouldn't matter. I've gone so far as to have a look at the web-site mentioned in the article, but to be honest it's not something I've considered before I read it so I'm not going to rush into it. Also I distinctly remember someone here mentioning the fact that all Turkeys are good at is dying.

[allotmentlady]

Ooooooooh noooooooooo i would not be able to the deed b4 xmas.......it would turn into a pet!

[bobleponge]

Alice my best friends at home are doing it. When I left for this trip he had just finished their cage and moved it into place, and the eggs were in the incubator.
They have a dozen eggs I think, they will keep 3 or 4 as a breeding flock, and the rest will go in the freezer. They already have ducks, geese and chickens, so are pretty experienced.
If you are considering it, and have questions PM me and I will speak to them and try and get them answered for you.

If I was at home full time, I would be doing it without question, with no qualms over getting them in the freezer.

[Glutton4...]

I was thinking about it, but now we've got the Geese, I don't think adding Turkeys would be well received!

[Polly Fouracre]

It's difficult to keep turkeys ans chickens together. They need to kept separate so we will be hatching goslings in a few weeks time for our Christmas dinner!

[bluemoon]

It's difficult to keep turkeys ans chickens together. They need to kept separate so we will be hatching goslings in a few weeks time for our Christmas dinner!

Is there any reason that they need to be kept separate, Polly? Apart from the disease angle mentioned in the article. Someone on our lotties has 2 Turkeys, kept separate, but then a Rhodie cockerel and one of his ladies found their way into the Turkey enclosure and never left.

[allotmentlady]

Turkeys and geese can live quite happily with each other.....we used to keep them together on the farm, geese protect the turkeys!

[dexterdoglancashire]

I couldnt do it either. I would love to have one, as a pet, but certainly couldnt eat it.

[Hilary B]

I've grown Christmas dinner turkeys and kept a trio for breeding the next year's growers.
Potential problems (apart from the enthusiasm with which turkeys die) include the rat problem. I had one turkey (the breeding 'stag') badly chewed up by rats, and it was several years before I tried keeping them again.
If you have suitable accommodation, go for it!

[Hilary B]

I couldnt do it either. I would love to have one, as a pet, but certainly couldnt eat it.

If you like pets with a void behind the eyes.........

[Alice]

Thanks for the offer of help Bob - but no, I'm not considering it.
Since so many Grapes keep chickens I just wondered how many would consider rearing a turkey for Christmas. I think I'll stick to buying a goose as I don't know anything about rearing birds.

[Polly Fouracre]

Is there any reason that they need to be kept separate, Polly? Apart from the disease angle mentioned in the article. Someone on our lotties has 2 Turkeys, kept separate, but then a Rhodie cockerel and one of his ladies found their way into the Turkey enclosure and never left.

It was blackhead I was thinking of, Bluemoon. You can put medication in the water but, as we rear our poultry organically, I don't want to do that.
Besides, geese taste better!

[jackie j]

My dad bred some birds once for christmas dinner, when it came to do the deed he couldnt do it, he used to keep going in and out of the house, then he would go and get an uncle of mine to do it for him lol.