Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of the egg producers also kept turkeys. This can be risky since turkeys are uniquely susceptible
to numerous diseases carried by chickens, waterfowl, and wild birds. Small farms might get
away with co-raising turkeys with other poultry for several years, but eventually something will
strike. Organically raised turkeys are too high in value to risk them in this way.
Small producers can successfully grow turkeys if they take basic steps to prevent contamin-
ation from other poultry.
• Turkeys should have separate facilities: brooder, housing, range, or pasture.
• Turkeys should have separate equipment: feeders, drinkers, brooder lamps, buck-
ets, hoses, fences, feed bins, etc.
• Turkey chores should be done first thing in the morning before the rest of the farm
chores or by a separate person.
• A footbath outside brooders and housing or a separate pair of boots should be used
for turkey chores.
• Minimize spilled or excess feed on range to avoid attracting wild birds.
A Little History
The several hundred turkeys we've raised on Kingbird Farm have collectively caused
more strife and trepidation than the thousands of broilers that have passed through.
Each batch came with its own challenges and sometimes even rewards.
The first couple of years were relatively uneventful. We raised small batches in pas-
ture pens without preselling them and got our feet wet. In year three we were still
brooding and raising the turkeys right alongside the chickens. This was the first year
we began to see problems, though they had nothing to do with the proximity of
chickens. The feed ration was probably imbalanced, and we started to see slipped
tendons on the poults at two weeks of age. We quickly supplemented with hard-
boiled eggs and fresh greens, and most of the poults recovered.
In year four the poults did quite well as youngsters and we put a large, healthy flock
out to pasture. As November rolled around we clued in that the birds were not grow-
ing very large. They were healthy white turkeys that were flying, roosting, and for-
aging very well, but not growing. They were long and lean and quick, like wild tur-
keys. Well, we had deadlines and the birds were processed the Sunday before
Thanksgiving regardless. These vibrantly active birds dressed out to an average of 10
