The Barn
Freesteading group focused on the discussion of livestock.
Organizer:
- Organized by
-
-
Turkeys
-
Turkeys
I am new to turkeys. I bought 3 hens in February. One fell off the roost and broke its neck is the best we can figure happened to her. Fine when we checked on them that evening and dead the next morning. The 2 remaining are healthy and growing up well. Well yesterday I became a foster parent to 2 jakes. They are beautiful birds. Stout and heavy. It’s obvious that they free ranged and do not like the pen we put them in. But we were afraid our dogs would attack them if we didn’t pen them. Will they thrive in the pen or will I have to let them out?
-
5 Replies
-
I have never used high roosts for the turkeys (I’ve only raised the heavier breeds for meat production). The younger turkeys would roost on a wide board about 1 foot off the ground. Animals that are used to free ranging will never be happy caged back up. We they are raised penned up and that’s all they know, then they thrive. But if raised free range then they know what’s outside and they will always try to get out.
-
I don’t know what breed they are. But they are huge
Any idea
-
They look like broad breasted bronze turkeys. They are one of the largest breeds of turkeys!
-
Looks like broad breasted bronze, would be my first guess.
-
-
-
Turkeys seem to do well on ladder type roosts that start 12-18″ off the floor and go up in the same spacing. Depends if you have midget whites or standards. I love starting them on a low board as a practice roost. What a great idea.
It is the beginning of Feb in Ohio and Rural king had 3 poults for $2 each because they were almost 2 weeks old and they needed sold for room for new arrivals. I have never had turkeys. W I didn’t bring them home, but would this have been a stupid idea. They would have brooded in the garage.
-
This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by Squashmania.
-
This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by
Log in to reply.