What turkeys are best for pets?
On the other hand, if you’re simply raising your birds to keep as pets, it might be better to focus on heritage turkeys – Standard Bronze, White Holland, Narragansett, Royal Palm, etc. These turkeys are known for their long, productive life span and slow growth rate.
How many acres do you need for turkeys?
Space: A good-quality habitat will support one bird per 30 acres (one flock per 640 to 800 acres). But because turkeys need a lot of living space, they may not remain on your property year-round unless it’s 1,000 acres or more.
Do you need a coop for turkeys?
If you plan to raise your turkeys from poults, then the answer to “Do turkeys need a coop?” is a resounding yes. Once the poults outgrow their brooder, they will need a secure coop at night, just like any other type of poultry.
How much space do pet turkeys need?
Turkeys are social creatures, so plan on raising at least two. They are bigger birds than chickens and thus more space is required. You’ll need a minimum of 25 square feet of outdoor space per bird for them to exercise, with predator-proof fencing on all sides, as well as overhead.
Do turkeys like to cuddle?
Turkeys love to be stroked, petted and cuddled. They will remember your face and if they like you, they will come up to you to greet you. Turkeys also love music and will cluck along with the songs.
Do turkeys get along with chickens?
One of the questions that comes up often is, “Can I keep chickens with other kinds of poultry?” or “Can I have a mixed flock?” The short answer is YES, you can. But should you? Generally speaking, ducks, peafowl, and turkeys can certainly be kept on the same property together, and they would coexist very well.
Are turkeys easy to raise?
Turkeys are not that hard to raise, but they differ a bit from chickens in terms of what they need, and raising them from poults (baby turkeys) is more time- and energy-intensive than raising chickens from baby chicks.
Will turkeys fly away?
They forage on the ground, but at night, they will fly to the top of trees to roost. This helps protect them from predators lurking around at night. Not only will they fly up into trees, but they will also fly away from a scare or predator nipping at their heels.
Can a turkey live in a chicken coop?
One of the main ways to keep turkeys healthy is too NOT raise chickens and turkeys together. When turkeys and chickens are raised together, turkeys run a high risk of contracting the disease histomoniasis, also known as blackhead.
Do turkeys imprint on humans?
Unlike chickens, turkeys imprint onto humans quite easily. We received our poults through the mail and they were about two days old. We were probably the first humans to hold them for longer than a short moment and to talk with them. Therefore, when they saw our faces and heard our voices, they began to imprint on us.
Do turkeys eat cats?
After some research to try to explain such behavior, it turns out that wild turkeys do not normally eat cats, or even dead cats. They typically eat berries, plants, insects and small vertebrates. So, this probably rules out the chance that they were planning on eating the cat.
Why do we not eat turkey eggs?
Turkeys lay eggs at a far slower rate than your average chicken. We’re talking one or two eggs a week versus a standard hen’s one-per-day. The entire turkey egg-laying process costs way more in factories, since the birds require much larger amounts of food and living space than their hen counterparts.
Is a Turkey the right pet for You?
When Abraham Lincoln was president, his pet turkey was a familiar sight on the lawns of the White House. A turkey is a great choice of pet. These are impressive looking birds with very interesting, regal-looking plumage. A male turkey strutting about your yard putting its plumage on full display can be a regal sight.
Can turkeys be housed with chickens?
Turkeys can usually be housed with chickens; however, there are some precautions to be aware of. Blackhead is a disease that commonly affects turkeys and can be transmitted by chickens or other fowl. If blackhead is common in your area, it’s probably best to house your chickens and turkeys separately.
Should I get a Turkey for my 5 acre pasture?
We have a 5 acre fenced in pasture and the toms stayed in because they were too heavy to fly, but the females flew in and out as they pleased. They didn’t roam as far as the chickens. I would at least get two. Turkeys get very attached to you if you spend a lot of time with them and they will follow you around the yard.
Do turkeys run away from chickens?
For the most part, she is the big chicken and will run away from the chickens if she feels threatened or scared. Pet turkeys are usually very good about staying near their people and their home. Even when they are allowed to free range, they generally don’t wander as far as chickens do.