Thinking of Turkeys!

[Glutton4...]

Over Christmas I had the stupid idea that I'd like to rear my own Turkey for next year's Christmas Dinner. The guy who did it locally has passed away, and I thought I might like to rear my own.

Anyway, I have several questions; I'm guessing that keeping one is unfair, so two or three would be more sensible. Would I be able to keep them with my 'Laydees?'

If not, what sort of run and house would I need to construct?

Does anyone have any advice and/or first-hand knowledge of keeping Turkeys?

Cheers, hopefully .

[chicken slave]

I had the same thought, but when I started looking into it they say if you keep turkeys and chooks together you increase the risk of the turkey getting blackhead. This confused me somewhat as when I was growing up grandpa used to keep them together in the yard and field and there was never any disease in any of them.
Don't know what kind of coop you have but they need to get through the door and if you fatten them up it maybe a little bit of a squeeze.
As for where to keep them as far as I know they were woodland dwelling birds, so they probably would benefit from an area with trees and shrubs.

This maybe of no help, but is what I have found out so far.

[bluemoon]

I met two yesterday, the male was truly spectacularly huge! They were living with a pair of Rhode Island Reds (a cockerel and a hen) and both chickens and turkeys were fine. In fact I was told that the chickens had voluntarily moved into the area with the turkeys from another part of the land, where there were plenty of other chickens so it wasn't for the company.
Both cock and hen turkey would have been way too big for a standard chicken coop though and they had a small, cosy shed.

[moppet_217]

The childcare centre my son goes to has an array of various animals. They keep chicken, ducks and turkerys all in together and apparently have no problems with them being together.

[tootles]

I think it sounds an excellent idea.
I shall add it to my list of 'Things I would like to keep but Mr T won't let me'
pigs, chickens, rabbits, turkeys, bees.

[Glutton4...]

I think it sounds an excellent idea.
I shall add it to my list of 'Things I would like to keep but Mr T won't let me'
pigs, chickens, rabbits, turkeys, bees.

Just do it! I would like to keep Bees - stupid really 'cause I blow up like a balloon if I get stung lol! Maybe not a good idea then

Anyway, as for the Turkeys, I was expecting everyone to tell me I was daft, but so far all I've got is encouragement - Fab

[tootles]

I have the same problem with bee stings - but have enough space not to have to have them too close.
Problem with Mr T is 'committment' (!!!) he won't say whether he wants to stay here. We have £x to stay for another year and after that..................
I am looking for work and really want to stay. I'm not sure if he has ever seen being here as a permanant move??!!

[Glutton4...]

Hmm, some people are like that. You're lucky you got him to move there in the first place - my OH hates change, and as for moving (which we did last summer), he'd rather just go to work and let me get on with it!

[lynda66]

if i get the lottie this year i have orders for 3 xmas turkeys lol ....... and they will be living with the chooks and ducks ...... may have to make a bigger door

i say go for it

[tootles]

My MiL ordered a turkey from the local farm last year. She asked for a 15lb'er. When we wnt to collect it, they tried to give her a 13lb'er which she nearly took - until he mentioned that it was it's undrawn weight!! turned out to be nearer 9lb!! There were 10 of us!

[Glutton4...]

That's hardly a surprise though Lynda, is it? I knew you'd say that lol!

I don't have a problem rearing birds for meat, and I reckon I could prepare them, but I'm a real wuss, and could never actually kill them myself. My Dad says I have to if I rear them (I've got news for him), OH says he could do it as long as he was shown how to do it humanely. I guess we'll see .

Goes off to start Googling Turkey breeders...

[RedThorn]

Just do it! I would like to keep Bees - stupid really 'cause I blow up like a balloon if I get stung lol! Maybe not a good idea then

Anyway, as for the Turkeys, I was expecting everyone to tell me I was daft, but so far all I've got is encouragement - Fab

Not sure if I react to Britsh bees, but African bees, lets just say I needed to keep an epi-pen for them! Can anyone tell me if I'll react as badly to british bees?

[Glutton4...]

Hi RedThorn,

I would guess the reaction would be the same, but I'm no expert. My Dad carries an Epi-pen since he got stung a few years ago, but they never gave me one! Perhaps they're trying to tell me something lol!

[RedThorn]

just means you're a tough Bird

Hope not though(the bees), I stop breathing in about 15 mins....

[lynda66]

i'm gonna get one of these, so i can cuddle em while killing em so it won't be quite as traumatic (for me anyway)

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