How to Raise a Turkey as a Pet

Turkeys are not just for dinner; they also can be pets.

Turkeys are most commonly raised for the dinner table at Thanksgiving, but they can also make an interesting alternative pet. They may not be as entertaining or cuddly as dogs, but turkeys are generally friendly, non-aggressive birds that make relatively good pets. Various breeds of turkey are available, some of which can fly, while others cannot. For those that can fly, a veterinarian or professional breeder can clip the bird's flight feathers to make the turkey more manageable.

Things You'll Need

• Large bird enclosure
• Turkey feed
• Wood shavings
• Crushed corn cobs
• Straw
• Water dish

Instructions

1. Supply the turkey with either an open pasture or a large roofed pen of at least 100 square feet. Turkeys are large birds and need room to exercise. Start with a large enclosure that the young turkey, or poult, can grow into. The pen should have thick chicken wire all around it to make sure it keeps the birds in and predators out.

2. Cover the floor of the enclosure with wood shavings, straw and crushed corn cobs. This makes a good quality litter to catch waste and can be cleaned out and replaced. If a litter is not used, the bare ground will become saturated with waste and the enclosure will need to be moved.

3. Give the turkey a heated nesting box in which to sleep and stay dry. A large wooden box with a litter-covered floor and a small heating lamp will keep the bird dry and warm. Turkeys can grow up to 4 feet long and more than 80 pounds, so base the nesting box on the size the bird is likely to reach.

4. Feed the turkey a daily diet of commercial domestic fowl food pellets. Nuts, fruits and vegetables can be added to the diet as treats. When young, special medicated turkey feed is advised to help with growth and disease protection.

5. Supply fresh water every day either in a large dish or a poultry water dispenser. Keep the water fresh to keep the turkey healthy.

6. Handle the young poult every day to get it used to you. As the bird grows, it will gradually get too large to hold, but early contact will make sure it never becomes aggressive.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the turkey's pen regularly to make sure the bird is not subjected to harmful parasites. Used litter can be used to fertilize plants or vegetables.

• Call around to local vets to find one who has experience with farm animals and, principally, turkeys. A city vet may not be experienced in treating farm animals.

• Consider having the vet trim the turkey's claws regularly or ask them to teach you how to do it. The beak can also be blunted to avoid pecking injuries.

• Make sure pens and nesting boxes are secure to prevent predators such as foxes or coyotes from getting to the turkey at night.

• Some areas may have zoning laws on the keeping of farm animals such as turkeys. Check local laws.

References

• Poultry Pages: Raising Turkey
• Dog Breed Info: Turkey