Opinions on turkeys

[Katiean]

The only turkeys I can find in our area are the double breasted extra heavy white or bronze turkeys. At the feed store they say they grow so fast that their legs can not support them. Anyone with experience?

 

[disneyhorse]

What are you looking to do with them?

Even the commercially raised ones can live long-ish lives if fed healthy food and given exercise. However, the non-commrecially bred ones will be a better bet if you are looking for a bird that will live longer than just a couple of years...

PM me for more information on keeping turkeys alive despite their genetics...

Andrea

 

[chandab]

They are dumber than a post.

 

[Katiean]

They are dumber than a post.

I know they are dumb. We had some when I was a teen. However, they are not as dumb as some people say. I was told they would drownd themselves by looking up in a rain storm. I have not found them to be that stupid.

 

[chandab]

I know they are dumb. We had some when I was a teen. However, they are not as dumb as some people say. I was told they would drownd themselves by looking up in a rain storm. I have not found them to be that stupid.

I've not raised turkeys, buy my MIL did and I'm sure she told me she lost one or two in a rain storm.

True or exaggerated, I'm not sure. We don't have chickens or other fowl as they would be too tempting for the coyotes and fox around here; not to mention weasels and hawks.

 

[Katiean]

We have hawks and coyotes and some kind of critter that ripped the heads off of my neighbors chickens. However, we have had chickens for about 12 years now (just lost one of the original hens) We do not have a rooster but our cats that will take down a quail will also watch over the hens. The hawks seem to want our dogs more than the chickens. Anyway, I went back to the feed store to get another couple of chicks because one of the 3 I got died. I was also going to pick up a couple of turkeys. They were all gone. Even the chicks I wanted. I had to go clear to the south end of town to get 3 chicks. I wanted wyandots. I now have 3 new Silver's and 2 Golden's. But I guess no turkeys until next year.

 

[ruffian]

We tried to raise bronze turkeys. Started with 24 chicks, ended up with O N E !! Yes they are stupid. You have to put marbles or something shiney in the feed to make them peck at it to figure out it's food. We were told that because we also had chickens they carried a virus that killed all the turkey chicks but one. The one that lived grew up on dog food because he would drive the beagle off her feed.

From now on it's Butterball for us!

 

[chandab]

We tried to raise bronze turkeys. Started with 24 chicks, ended up with O N E !! Yes they are stupid. You have to put marbles or something shiney in the feed to make them peck at it to figure out it's food. We were told that because we also had chickens they carried a virus that killed all the turkey chicks but one. The one that lived grew up on dog food because he would drive the beagle off her feed.

From now on it's Butterball for us!

Probably more grain in most dog food than anything else, so probably not a big deal.