Advice for raising turkeys for meat, show, or as pets.

Raising turkeys can be a rewarding experience as they are hardy, intelligent birds that provide flavorful meat and eggs. They require more space and a specialized diet compared to chickens, making proper care essential for their health and well-being.

Care Requirements
Space Needs
Turkeys require more space than chickens due to their larger size. Here’s a breakdown of their space requirements:

Age of Turkey, Space Needed per Bird
Poults (0-8 weeks) 1 square foot in the brooder
Growing Turkeys (8-20 weeks) 4-5 square feet outdoors
Adult Turkeys 5-10 square feet outdoors

Diet
Turkeys have specific dietary needs that differ from chickens:
Poults (0-8 weeks): High-protein starter feed (28-30% protein).
Growing Turkeys (8-20 weeks): Grower feed (20-24% protein).
Finishing for Meat (20+ weeks): Finisher feed (18-20% protein).