raising turkeys for profit

Raising Turkeys Poults

Food and Water Tricks. When placing turkey poults into the brooder box, make sure you dip their beaks in water. ...
Brooder Box Specifics. ...
You Won't Escape Buying Feed. ...
Put Them on Pasture. ...
Put Your Trees to Work. ...
Raise the Grains. ...
Pick Your Berry Patch. ...
Save Your Grass Clippings and Weeds.

How much does a turkey farmer make?

The average pay for a Turkey Farmer is $30,567 a year and $15 an hour in the United States. The average salary range for a Turkey Farmer is between $23,758 and $36,041.

How much does it cost to raise turkeys?

The total cost came to approximately $1.20 per pound. This price was based on pastured birds raised with a conventional meat producer feed. At the time, I was paying from $14.99 to $16.99 per 50 pound bag of feed.

How many turkeys can you have per acre?

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.

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.

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.

Are turkeys easy to raise?

They're great at controlling pests, and they're easy to raise and fun to watch! Narragansett turkeys are attractive, and some strains are particularly good at hatching eggs. Turkeys love to be up high, so they will congregate anywhere they can find a nice high perch.

How much is a live turkey worth?

How much does a live turkey cost? Live turkeys are generally sold as day old poults (freshly hatched chicks). The price will range based on the breed, but generally they cost anywhere from about $3.00 to $20.00 each.

How long does it take to raise meat turkeys?

It takes 16-20 weeks for a poult to grow to mature weight, and that means a start date around the end of June to mid-July for getting and starting to grow your turkeys, depending on what size turkeys your customers like best.

Are turkeys affectionate?

Turkeys are affectionate, sensitive animals. In farmed sanctuaries across the world, they're often the most beloved of residents. They love to be petted, held, and even hugged.

At what age can turkeys free range?

Most often poults will be fully feathered and will be ready to move into their outdoor housing around 6-7 weeks of age. But until they are fully feathered they need to be kept in a draft-free, temperature controlled brooder space protected from predators and supplied with fresh food and water.

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.

What do farmed turkeys eat?

In their natural environment, turkeys are omnivores. But in a factory farm, turkeys are fed a steady diet of corn-based grain feed laced with antibiotics. Industrially produced turkeys spend their first three weeks of life crammed into a brooder with hundreds of other birds.

How can I make my turkey grow faster?

Turkeys need a high protein diet when they are young as they grow and gain muscle quickly. To support this growth, feed a complete feed with 30 percent protein, such as Purina^® Game Bird + Turkey Startena^® until the birds are 8 weeks old.

What are male and female turkeys called?

Adult male turkeys are called gobblers. Juvenile males are called jakes. Gobblers average around 18-22 pounds and can have a wingspan of 5 feet. Adult female turkeys are called hens.

Can turkeys live with chickens?

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.

Why should you not eat turkey?

Top 10 Reasons Not to Eat Turkeys

Turkeys Are "People" Too. Turkeys have personalities, just as dogs and cats do. ...
Fear Factories. ...
Don't Be a Butterball! ...
Bird Flu Blues. ...
Turkey-Free, Cholesterol-Free Tasty Treats. ...
Want Stuffing With Your Supergerms? ...
Foul Farming. ...
Feed the World.

Will free range turkeys fly away?

Because turkeys are able to fly, those birds have been confined to the caged yard. We wanted to allow them free range in the fenced-in grassy area. However, because it has an open top, the turkeys would be able to fly away.

Do turkeys need nesting boxes?

Nest boxes are an essential feature for laying turkey hens, and can be simply built with just a little time and effort. ... Turkeys are large birds, but enjoy a cozy nest, so 8 inches of nesting room is more than enough to make them feel comfortable.

What is the friendliest breed of turkey?

Our Jersey Buff (our first turkeys) are very friendly and beautiful. they were about 2 years old when we got them. lghter in color than the bourbons, but we got a bunch from porters this year. they are almost 10 weeks old, and the bourbons and buffs are so far the friendliest.

Are turkeys louder than chickens?

Turkeys can be much louder than other fowl, as well as messier, and in tight neighborhoods, they may be less welcome. Turkeys do not generally lay many eggs, but they can be a great source of meat.

Do turkeys eat ticks?

According to Wild Birds Unlimited, an adult turkey is one of the most voracious tick predators around, and an individual may eat 200 or more of these little critters in a given day. The Tick Encounter Resource Center reported that many species of bird feast on parasites.