How Does a Turkey Farmer Spend a Workday?

Caring for Turkeys

Turkey farmers clean and sanitize waters each day, especially those in the cages of young turkeys. They remove soiled bedding to reduce the risk of disease spreading among turkeys. Then the farmer places fresh bedding material in roosting areas where adult turkeys sleep, as well as the cages of poults, and new hatchlings. The turkey farmer will refill the feeders, as the cages are clean. Young turkeys without feed cannot grow, so it is important to check small feeders several times a day. If hens are laying eggs, the turkey farmer will collect the eggs to incubate them artificially. Farmers use an electronically controlled incubator because it results in more live young than allowing turkey hens to sit on their eggs. Even those farmers using automatic waters and feeders must check them each day to ensure that they are functioning properly, as well as removing fecal matter from the feed and water basins. Turkey feces are a potential source of salmonella, so disinfecting hands frequently is important.

Sorting and Grazing

Turkey farmers sort young poults to keep them with others the same size so they do not accidentally kill or injure each other. They remove hatchlings from the incubator once they have hatched and completely dried. The hatchlings are moved into cages with other poults of similar sizes and heat lamps, starter feed, and special waters with narrow openings to prevent drowning. The turkey farmers sort older poults to separate future laying hens from gobblers and feeder hens. If an outdoor area is available, turkeys may be let out to graze and exercise. Exercise results in firmer breasts and thighs and increases the appetite, resulting in larger birds. However, large feed lots cannot offer range time and their birds are kept in confined areas.

Butchering and Shipping

Turkey farmers may begin butchering turkeys that they are not going to keep for breeding stock or egg laying when they are between 4 and 6 months of age, depending on the breed of turkey. If a facility for butchering is located on the farm, employees will butcher turkeys at these ages and package the meat for sale. Otherwise, turkeys will be caged and shipped for processing at this time. It the turkey farmer sells hatchlings for 4-H projects, pets and individual use, the hatchlings will be packaged immediately after hatching and shipped using overnight or 2-day delivery. If the turkey farmer sells hatchlings, they may collect eggs and store them to incubate later so hatchlings will arrive in time for February and March shipping.

Resources

• Turkey Ecology
• How to Raise Champion Turkeys for 4-H or Pleasure