how much space do turkeys need

How Much Space Do I 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.

1. How many square feet do turkeys need?
2. How many acres do turkeys need?
3. Will turkeys go back to Coop?
4. Do turkeys need a place to roost?
5. What is the best age to butcher a turkey?
6. Are turkeys friendly?
7. Can turkeys smell you?
8. Are turkeys hard to raise?
9. What is the best bait for wild turkeys?
10. Will turkeys kill each other?
11. Can turkeys and chickens be raised together?
12. Will a turkey roost with chickens?
13. Will my turkeys fly away?
14. Can turkeys fly over fences?
15. At what age can turkeys go outside?
16. How long does it take for a turkey to grow to full size?
17. At what age are turkeys full grown?
18. How long do you let a turkey rest after butchering?

How many square feet do turkeys need?

Turkeys will need a larger area to grow than chicks due to their size, and size requirements will increase as the turkey grows. The following is the amount of coop space per turkey that will be needed: 0-8 weeks: 2-2.5 square feet per turkey. 8-16 weeks: 3-4 square feet per turkey.

How many acres do turkeys need?

So allow them to roost, and let them help protect themselves. With any luck, little turkeys grow into big turkeys. Keeping that in mind, it's still easy to underestimate the amount of space you'll need to allocate once the birds arrive on the pasture. A basic rule of thumb is 10 acres for every 200 turkeys.

Will turkeys go back to Coop?

Turkeys will roost anywhere except where you want them to.

They would go in the coop at night with no problems and roost with the chickens. But something in them changed as they got older.

Do turkeys need a place to roost?

Roosting Area

Turkeys require elevated roosting spots to spend the overnight hours, ideally with a sheltering roof to protect them from the elements. It is possible to build a single roost pen with space for several birds (a five-by-eight-foot roost will house about 20 turkeys) or you can build a set of roosts.

What is the best age to butcher a turkey?

The best age to butcher a Broad Breasted Turkey is 16-20 weeks, for heritage breed turkeys it's 24-28 weeks.

Are turkeys friendly?

Pet turkeys are very friendly and social

Turkeys are social animals and will become very attached to their people! ... However, most turkeys are generally docile, making them a good animal to be around children.

Can turkeys smell you?

It is often said of turkeys, “If they could smell you, you'd never kill them.” Maybe so, but the senses they do posses are among the keenest in nature, honed by eons of natural selection to ensure survival of the species. Even novice hunters occasionally encounter a “foolish” bird that makes them feel like a hero.

Are turkeys hard 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.

What is the best bait for wild turkeys?

One of the first things the majority of turkey hunters and managers do is head to their local feed store, stock up on chopped corn, wheat, or grain sorghum, and spread it out in areas turkeys frequent.

Will turkeys kill each other?

Turkey will sometimes attack chickens, and both chickens and older turkeys will sometimes go after poults. It's best to keep poults away from adults until they are bigger. Even than you need to make sure they all can get away from each other. I haven't had any toms kill another Tom even though there's sometimes fights.

Can turkeys and chickens be raised together?

The short answer is yes, you can raise turkeys and chickens together. ... We also keep geese, ducks, and guineas with our chickens in the same coop and run. But before you head off to the feed store to buy a variety of poultry, there's a few more things you should know.

Will a turkey roost 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.

Will my turkeys fly away?

Once they get the point on that they'll generally stick around. HOWEVER - if you don't provide them with enough food, they will wander off in search of greener pastures. As long as they're getting enough food either from your land itself and/or supplemented feed by you, they're not going anywhere.

Can turkeys fly over fences?

Turkeys will fly across water and over fences but also go under or through fences and wade sizable streams. Remember, turkeys use deer trails, including crossings at natural barriers. Scout waterways and fence lines for sign at game trail crossings. These may be potential setup sites when calling a bird.

At what age can turkeys go outside?

Move Them Outside

Make sure they are fully feathered and at least eight weeks old before moving poults to their new outdoor housing. You can give them access to outdoors but still provide the lamp at night for a week or two, and then finally move them to their new, grown-up turkey roosts and pen.

How long does it take for a turkey to grow to full size?

The usual lifespan for a turkey is 10 years, and pure breed turkeys take approximately 4-5 months to grow to full size. The hen turkeys take 16 weeks to mature completely, and average 3.6 kg (8 lb) to 7.2 kg (16 lbs) in weight.

At what age are turkeys full grown?

Hens are slaughtered at about 14–16 weeks and toms at about 18–20 weeks of age when they can weigh over 20 kg (44 lb) compared to a mature male wild turkey which weighs approximately 10.8 kg (24 lb).

How long do you let a turkey rest after butchering?

Let the bird rest in the fridge for 48 hrs. then freeze or eat. The resting will make the bird more tender, and in my opinion more flavorful.