How To Raise Baby
Turkeys
How to Raise Baby
Turkeys - Considerations Before Even Beginning to Operate Any
Livestock at Home
After reading this, you will have more information on
how to raise
baby turkeys.
If you have a space to spare, it is a wise to raise baby turkeys
indoors. Doing so will give you fewer problems with bad weather and
predators. An ideal housing for turkeys would be about six square feet
of floor space per turkey. A spare room in your barn or even a garage
will be fine.
Another option is to let the turkeys roam free in a fenced-in yard
after about the second month of age. Though this is a risky option
since some turkeys may fly over the fence or some animals might break
in and attack your turkeys.
You can order baby turkeys from an instate hatchery. The less distance
and time involved during the baby turkeys' transport, the better their
condition will be upon their arrival.
If you plan to raise 10 or more baby turkeys, you need to buy a
100-pound bag of turkey starter containing medication that prevents
coccidiosis, which is a common intestinal disease. Turkeys would
immediately develop immunity to coccidiosis while feeding on medicated
starter feed.
They also need a warm temperature of 100°F; you can drop the
temperature to 5° each week. It is best that you keep a thermometer
for the first two to three weeks. They may need heat up to six weeks
of age.
If you plan to raise baby turkeys, a red infrared heat lamp is ideal.
You can mount it in a porcelain socket that is attached to an
extension cord, and then hung by a chain. The bulb should be suspended
at least 18" above.
You might need to set some time to spend with them for the first hour
since you have to make sure that the young birds find the feed and the
water. Make sure not to leave open pails or boxes on the floor. It is
hard to raise baby turkeys because they tend to be very curious and
might jump into such a container. There should only be the feed,
water, and the heat in the room.
Baby turkeys are known to start picking on each other resulting to
bleeding, even death. To prevent this, you can cut off one-half of
their upper beak at 10 days of age.
When the turkeys are about six to eight weeks of age, start using
turkey growing ration containing medication against blackhead disease.
One final note, you might want to consult local zoning and building
ordinances before even beginning to operate any household livestock.
You also have to consider its impact on your neighbors.
Other Articles:
Raising Turkeys – 4 Reasons Why You Should Start
How To Raise Turkeys – Common Mistakes and Problems to Avoid When
Raising Turkeys
Keeping Turkeys - A Beginner's Guide to Keeping Turkeys As Pets at
Home
Raising Turkeys - Is Keeping Turkeys With Chickens a Good Idea?
Raising Turkeys for Profit and Fun - Which Is The Best Way?
Rearing Turkey Organically - First Things First When Starting to Raise
Turkeys
Before You Raise Turkeys – Terminologies and Interesting Facts You
Should Know
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