Does anyone here raise turkeys?

[uppityperson]

We have 4 heritage turkeys and find them very different from our chickens. They are only a couple months old and rather skittish, look and sound like dinosaurs.

Does anyone here have turkeys as I've some questions about them. Thanks.

[BanzaiBonnie]

1. My dad used to raise turkeys

If no one else answers, I could ask him your questions. But my bet is that this group is so diverse that SOMEONE here is raising turkeys and knows some stuff.

Myself, I just got a flock of chickens again this year. I love the chickens AND their eggies. I also got a pair of geese. I love the geese even more. They're very sweet and the gander is fiercely protective - but not mean. When he calls, the chickens come running.

[uppityperson]

2. 2 are males. omg

heard gobbling today so went out to look. 2 are males, were in full strut, wings stiffly at sides, tails spread, feathers fluffed, beak penises flopping, necks engorged and red. I found if I went "lilililili" in a falsetto, that would set them off. The other 2 were trying to ignore them. VERY funny and they are really odd birds, compared to my stupid "look look look" chickens.

[hippywife]

3. Sounds like fun!

I might think about adding a few to our place. LOL

[uppityperson]

4. I was concerned, but they are a kick.

They don't go in at night, have to herd them into the coyote/raccoon safe house. Other than that, they are easy. They poop a lot, and eat a lot, and are gradually getting used to use so not as skittish. If they were to be pets, we'd socialize them more, but since they aren't, you know.

They are heritage breeds, meaning don't grow as big as fast as the dolly parton ones do, but are better overall. They sound like dinosaurs, not big chickens.

[Lefty48197]

5. I have a very important question:

How in the heck do you know what a dinosaur sounds like? :D

[hippywife]

6. Bummer to hear they don't

put themselves to bed like the chickens do. That's always a real time saver for us, and especially appreciated after dark when all we have to do is go out to close and latch the door on their house.

[hollowdweller]

7. I used to have a bunch.

They are cool.

Definately one of the easiest birds to kill and pluck for sure.

I used to have a bunch but they overpopulated on me. I couldn't kill and eat them fast enough.

Ended up selling them after 5 or 6 years of having them. But they were a lot of fun when we had them.

Had one that was really aggressive. He would see you inside and bounce off the window. Ended up he kicked my wife in the face and she ran inside. I headed to the house to check on her but heard the door swing and out she came wearing a butchers apron and carrying a machete. He was several years old but tasted great. WE actually had to cut the carcass in half with a hand saw to get him in the oven.

We had a pary and he was so good even vegetarians were eating! He was a bourbon red, we also had the bronze. They would even hike in the woods with us. Wild turkeys would come down in the woods and call to the hens we had.

I loved the gobbling and the deep thumping, and the color changing heads.