[dan808]

Hi guys I'm wanting to raise two turkeys for new years day I have never had home or farm reared and would like the experience I have a few questions if you can help me out 

Should I be getting them within the next month?
Is there a difference in meat between toms and hens?
How much food should each one be given? Or should it be down at all times?
Can they have stuff out the garden like the chooks?
I will hang them on the 27th dec will this be sufficient time?

Any more info will be greatly appreciated.

[GrannieAnnie]

We are picking up our turkey poults at the end of this month, so now is ideal time.

Some people say that tom meat is slightly less tender, but me, I love it all! lol

Feed should be ad lib like chickens, and 2 turkeys will eat approximately, 3kgs of turkey starter crumb (don't feed chicken food),then at about 6-8 weeks old around 25kgs of turkey rearer then from 12 weeks until slaughter a similar amount of turkey finisher.

You can give them supplement the finisher with mixed corn to help cut down the cost towards the end, but we give mil by mouth for the last 24 hours so you don't get a lot of crud in the crop.

They love weeds like chickens, but can be choosy about things like cabbages, but ours loved marrows and pumpkins!

We hang ours for 7 days, but you don't want to be culling on Christmas Day, so yes you should be okay with the 27th.  hang them in your coolest place!

You may find this interesting, even though its meant for those with more than 2! lol

http://www.farmgatehatcheries.co.uk/default.aspx?m=21&mi=149

Good luck!

[Sparkyrog]

How many are you getting Grannie I am finding it hard to source 3 or 4 ? 

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Sparky, Brian has ordered 30 again.  We give one to our favourite family members and the postman got one last year!  We have an American who has one for Thanksgiving, and we swop 5 poults for some nice locally reared beef in September.

The rest are frozen, some whole and some jointed, and last year Brian took the meat off of 4 for me to mince to make sausages and stuff!  This year I want 6! 

We buy ours straight from Kellys turkeys in Essex.  Do you want yours as growers or day olds?  Kelly's may have a farmgate farmer near you who would sell you a few.  We get ours at day old.

You could try putting your postcode in here and see if one comes up near enough to you? 

http://www.kellyturkeys.co.uk/suppliers.aspx?m=7&mi=108

[Sparkyrog]

I normally go for growers day old's are too much faff ! Thanks for the info nearest ,is in wales . will keep an eye on the market 

[Aunt Sally]

Kelly Bronze are the best Rog !

[Sparkyrog]

I don't doubt that Aunt Sally however I don't want to make the capital investment needed to house 25 turkeys and what would I as a single guy do with them ? Technically I can't sell them 

[GrannieAnnie]

If there had been one nearer to you they may have just sold you 4 or 5.  They work out a bit more expensive, but even Kellys main farm will sell just a few.

I'll look out for you too and will let you know if I find anyone nearer than Wales!   

[Sparkyrog]

Thankyou Grannie  back from dinner now 

[GrannieAnnie]

Have you tried these people?  They are not far from you!

http://www.fentonpoultry.co.uk/turkeys.htm

or

http://www.chickens.allotment-garden.org/poultry-suppliers/turkey-for-sale-Somerset.php

[Sparkyrog]

no I had't found them but have done some wide searches  Thanks I will investigate 

[ANHBUC]

I don't doubt that Aunt Sally however I don't want to make the capital investment needed to house 25 turkeys and what would I as a single guy do with them ? Technically I can't sell them 

You can sell the turkeys live.   

I hatched 5 last year and sold 3 chicks (within a day) and kept the other 2 for us.  You can sell them at any stage though and if you are having a problem sourcing them others are probably in the same position.