Turkeys

  • Turkeys

    Posted by MSAnnie on April 27, 2023 at 2:05 pm

    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?

    Squashmania replied 1 month, 3 weeks ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • CrissB

    Member
    April 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm

    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.

    • MSAnnie

      Member
      April 27, 2023 at 6:14 pm

      I don’t know what breed they are. But they are huge

      Any idea

      • CrissB

        Member
        April 30, 2023 at 12:53 pm

        They look like broad breasted bronze turkeys. They are one of the largest breeds of turkeys!

      • Squashmania

        Member
        February 4, 2024 at 10:34 pm

        Looks like broad breasted bronze, would be my first guess.

  • Squashmania

    Member
    February 4, 2024 at 10:32 pm

    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 1 month, 3 weeks ago by  Squashmania.

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