Ever dreamed of raising your own Thanksgiving turkeys? This guide will equip you with the knowledge and insights to turn that dream into a delicious reality. While raising turkeys for profit can be challenging, raising them for personal consumption can be a rewarding experience.
In this guide we’ll delve into:
- Why raise turkeys?
- Choosing the right breed
- Raising turkeys from poults to market weight
- Feeding and housing requirements
- Processing your turkeys
- Tips for success
Whether you’re a seasoned poultry enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this guide will provide you with the information you need to raise healthy, delicious turkeys
Why Raise Turkeys?
There are many reasons to raise turkeys. For some, it’s a way to enjoy fresh, local food. Others appreciate the challenge and satisfaction of raising their own poultry And for some, it’s a way to connect with nature and learn about animal husbandry
Here are some of the benefits of raising turkeys:
- Fresh, delicious meat: Turkeys raised on your own farm are likely to be healthier and tastier than those you find at the supermarket.
- Control over your food: You can choose what your turkeys eat and how they are raised, ensuring that they are treated humanely and fed a healthy diet.
- A fun and rewarding experience: Raising turkeys can be a lot of fun, especially for families with children. It’s a great way to learn about animal care and responsibility.
- A way to connect with nature: Raising turkeys can help you connect with the natural world and learn about the life cycle of these fascinating creatures.
Choosing the Right Breed
There are many different breeds of turkeys to choose from, each with its own unique characteristics. Some breeds are better suited for meat production, while others are better for egg production. Some breeds are more cold-hardy, while others are more heat-tolerant.
Here are some of the most popular turkey breeds for meat production:
- Broad-Breasted White: This is the most common breed of turkey raised for meat. They are known for their large size and fast growth rate.
- Broad-Breasted Bronze: This breed is similar to the Broad-Breasted White, but they have a slightly different feather pattern. They are also known for their good flavor.
- Royal Palm: This is a smaller breed of turkey that is known for its excellent flavor. They are also heat-tolerant, making them a good choice for warm climates.
- Midget White: This is a very small breed of turkey that is often raised as pets. They are also a good choice for people who want a small turkey for their Thanksgiving table.
Raising Turkeys from Poults to Market Weight
Raising turkeys from poults to market weight is a relatively simple process, but it does require some planning and preparation.
Here are the basic steps involved:
- Purchase poults: You can purchase turkey poults from a hatchery or from a local breeder. Be sure to choose a reputable source.
- Set up a brooder: Turkey poults need to be kept in a warm, dry environment until they are about 6 weeks old. You can set up a brooder in your garage, basement, or even in a spare room.
- Feed and water: Turkey poults need a special diet that is high in protein. You can purchase turkey starter feed from your local feed store. Be sure to provide your poults with fresh water at all times.
- Move to a coop: Once your turkeys are 6 weeks old, you can move them to a coop. The coop should be well-ventilated and have plenty of space for your turkeys to move around.
- Feed and water: Turkeys need a different diet once they are older than 6 weeks. You can purchase turkey grower feed from your local feed store. Be sure to continue to provide your turkeys with fresh water at all times.
- Processing: Once your turkeys reach market weight, you will need to process them. This can be done at home or at a local processing plant.
Feeding and Housing Requirements
Turkeys need a balanced diet that is high in protein and nutrients. The age of your turkeys will determine the exact kind of feed you require.
Here are some general guidelines for feeding turkeys:
- Poults (0-6 weeks): Turkey starter feed (28-30% protein)
- Growers (6-18 weeks): Turkey grower feed (20-22% protein)
- Finishers (18 weeks to market weight): Turkey finisher feed (16-18% protein)
Turkeys also need access to fresh water at all times.
The size of your flock and the local climate will determine the housing needs for your turkeys. However, there are some general guidelines that you should follow:
- Coop size: Turkeys need about 4 square feet of space per bird.
- Ventilation: The coop should be well-ventilated to prevent the buildup of ammonia and other harmful gases.
- Bedding: The bedding in the coop should be clean and dry. Straw or wood shavings are good options.
- Nesting boxes: If you want your turkeys to lay eggs, you will need to provide them with nesting boxes. One nesting box per 5-6 turkeys is a good rule of thumb.
Processing Your Turkeys
Once your turkeys reach market weight, you will need to process them. This can be done at home or at a local processing plant.
To process turkeys at home, you will require the following supplies:
- A sharp knife
- A scalding pot
- A plucker
- A cooler
Here are the basic steps involved in processing a turkey:
- Kill the turkey: The most humane way to kill a turkey is to stun it first. This can be done with a blunt object or with an electric stunner.
- Scald the turkey: Once the turkey is dead, you need to scald it to loosen the feathers. The water should be between 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pluck the turkey: Once the turkey is scalded, you can pluck the feathers. This can be done by hand or with a plucker.
- Eviscerate the turkey: Once the turkey is plucked, you need to eviscerate it. This means removing the internal organs.
- Chill the turkey: Once the turkey is eviscerated, you need to chill it to a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips to help you raise healthy, delicious turkeys:
- Start with healthy poults: Be sure to purchase your poults from a reputable source.
- Provide a clean and comfortable environment: Turkeys need a clean and comfortable environment to thrive. Be sure to keep their coop clean and provide them with fresh bedding.
- Feed your turkeys a balanced diet: Turkeys need a balanced diet that is high in protein and nutrients. Be sure to feed them the correct type of feed for their age.
- Provide plenty of fresh water: Turkeys need access to fresh water at all times.
- Monitor your turkeys for signs of illness: Turkeys are susceptible to a number of diseases. Be sure to monitor your turkeys for signs of illness and contact a veterinarian if you notice any problems.
Raising turkeys can be a rewarding experience, whether you’re raising them for profit or for personal consumption. By following the tips in this guide, you can raise healthy, delicious turkeys that you and your family will enjoy.
Growing your own Thanksgiving turkeys
If you have ever considered raising turkeys for Thanksgiving feasts, now is the time to get started.
Providing your community with fresh, locally sourced food can be a fun and rewarding endeavor when you raise market turkeys for the Thanksgiving holiday. Young people can also gain a great deal from this project by honing their animal science and entrepreneurial skills. Have you ever considered doing this?
Since most breeds mature between the ages of 14 and 22 weeks, you should purchase your turkeys early in July to ensure they have enough time to grow. Because heritage breeds take a little longer—25–30 weeks—they must be purchased in late May or early June.
Turkey poults are typically a few days old when they arrive at the buyer’s location and can be purchased from a number of hatcheries. It’s a good idea to start with the end in mind when choosing which breed to buy. The time it takes a bird to mature and its final weight will differ depending on the breed. Turkeys should be kept in groups of at least three to six birds.
Turkey poults are raised very similarly to chickens. For the first six weeks, they must be housed in a brooder before being moved into a coop. Turkeys need more room to grow than chicks do because of their size, and this space requirement will increase as the turkey grows larger. 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
- 16-20 weeks: 5-8 square feet per turkey
- 20 weeks to market weight: 6-10 square feet per turkey
Turkeys also require different diets during different growth stages. They need a diet very high in protein so that they can grow and gain muscle quickly. Generally, a 30% protein diet is fed as a starter feed from 0-8 weeks of age. After that, birds can be dropped down to a 20% protein grower formula until they achieve market weight. Turkeys must have access to clean, fresh water at all times as well.
“Giving Poults a Good Start” by the University of Maine Extension and “Raising Turkeys” by the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension are great resources that can provide more in-depth information.
Turkeys are sold at a price per pound. In order to determine what you need to charge per pound, consider the following:
- Purchase price of poults
- Feed costs
- Harvesting costs
- Marketing costs
- Other expenses—bedding, supplies, etc.
Determining your input costs will help you set a fair price so that your costs are covered.
Raising turkeys can be a fun and rewarding way for young people to get more experience with 4-H poultry outside of the community fair.