How to Care for Turkeys

If you have decided to raise your own Thanksgiving turkey, there are a few things to keep in mind. One of the most important is that turkeys are friendly animals. If you are sure your dinner won't become Tom the pet turkey, then raising a turkey is an easy endeavor.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Provide adequate housing for your bird. Turkeys each require about 6 square feet of space. Some breeders recommend keeping your turkey indoors. Others let the birds roam in the yard once it is old enough, but this can be risky because of predators.
2. Use wood shavings for turkey litter. Avoid sawdust because the bird might eat it. Newspaper is also a bad idea. Some turkeys have slipped and ended up with injuries from newspaper. Scoop the litter as if it were in a cat box.
3. Keep sand or fine gravel available to turkeys that are kept indoors. This is not necessary for outdoor turkeys. They find their own grit.
4. Consult a feed store for proper nutrition related to the bird's age and length of life. Protein requirements vary by age. Some food is medicated to prevent disease. Stop using medicated food for a period of time before slaughtering the turkey.
5. Mount a heat lamp close to the floor for young turkey poults. Turkey poults require more care than adult turkeys. Use a lamp that provides 100 degrees F to start. Lower the temperature 5 degrees a week thereafter.
6. Help young turkeys find their feeder and waterer. Sit with them until you are absolutely sure. They can have a hard time and have been known to eat their litter instead. Slowly raise the height of the feeder and waterer as the young turkeys get bigger.
7. Remember that turkeys are curious animals. It's hard to tell what they can get into. Some claim to have seen turkeys drown in a pail of water. Keep the area where your turkey live free of hazardous curiosities.

Tips & Warnings

• Never raise turkeys with chickens. Diseases can kill your turkey if it is not kept completely separate from chickens.