Male-female ratio in a heritage flock ?

[BeccaOH]

I'm new to turkeys. Raised my first 4 poults this spring. I currently have one BR male and one BS female. I would love to build up my flock and breed the Bourbons.

Questions:
1) I have a chance to buy a trio of BR, but how many males in a flock is too many, and can I integrate half-grown males together? I guess I could keep the boys separate have my Tommy for Thanksgiving and keep the new male for breeding, but I don't know his temperament yet.

2) How much indoor and outdoor space is recommended per turkey?

Thanks much.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We have 4 or 5 hens per tom. One thing to remember on turkey mating is it's hens choice, she will lay down for the tom she wants. When you put them together they will fight to settle out the pecking order, the best thing is let them sort it out by themselves. Just keep an eye that no major damage is done.

Steve in NC

 

[BeccaOH]

Thanks, Steve. I've read your advice before and appreciate it.

Any notes on space to allow?

(Edited spelling.

)

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

2) How much indoor and outdoor space is recommended per turkey?

In the house 6-10 sq ft per bird

in the run 20-30 sq ft per bird.​

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

The space varies depending on where you look it up. In our area indoor house space is pretty much zero as they all stay outside year round except to lay. For roost space I would figure about 2 feet per bird. In colder weather they roost closer together and in the heat of the summer they spread out more. For outside space as much as you can give them, our pens are probabably a 1/3 of an acre which give them plenty of room.

The ALBC has a pretty good library/database for raising turkeys.

http://www.albc-usa.org/EducationalResources/turkeys.html

Steve in NC

 

[BeccaOH]

Thanks. I talked to the seller and learned they are about 2-year-old breeders being culled from hatchery stock. I'm not sure how comfortable I am with that. Any more advice along age and such?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
The age is ok, at 3 + years fertility starts to go down. Check the length of the beard on the tom if they try to tell you it's a young bird with a 5 or 6 inch long beard you know something is up. the beard grows about an inch a year except for White Hollands. Pick up the birds and feel them - the drumsticks should be large and solid, the breast filled out, check for mites or any other crawling bugs. easy to see in the armpit/wingpit area and around the vent. Check the poop, look for anything out of the ordinary. See if there is any limping or trouble walking, Listen to them breath, the eyes should be bright, the birds themselves active - moving around foraging etc. If you get thru all that,

the feathers should be a rich reddish color (this time of year they may be somewhat washed out due to mating and the summer heat coming on- ours are starting to molt so it's begining to look like a pillow fight happened) On the tail feathers there should a red line about an inch or two from the tip of the tail feathers. The BR's don't have a sharp distinct line like a Royal Palm does. You don't want solid red or white tail feathers.

Last but not least go by your gut feeling on the person selling them. Do you get the feeling they have something to hide or don't want you to inspect the birds closely. Biosecurity is one thing but not letting you view the rest of the flock is another, aks them point blank why they are culling them. We sell our older breeders at the 2 or 3 year point because we sell alot of hatching eggs the eggs from younger birds ship and hatch better.

Steve

 

[BeccaOH]

Thanks. That is very helpful.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Let us know how it goes.

Steve

 

[gypsy2621]

Steve while we are on the subject of moulting and I am sure the OP will be interested also,
Is there any way to bring a young Tom( about 5 months old) out of a moult thats been going on for 2 months?
I am feeding a top quality grain but I am unsure if I should be feeding higher or lower protein.
This poor boy(a Jersy Buff) looks like he has been drug through a knot hole backwards, poor thing is falling apart all over the run. he is getting in new feathers and he is stunning until you look at the ground and wonder where he hid all the feathers.

the Shafts of the feathers are firm, clear where should be, more solid color where should be, I keep thinking he is moulting out his new feathers along with the old.

a little back history for the past 2 months,
May June and a good most of July have been wet, rained all but for 7 days in the 2 month period,
weather has been in high 50's and low 60's at night.
Is the weather part all ? of his moulting issue?
or am I doing something wrong.
I didnt hatch him but bought him from a friend. I dearly love this Tom he is a great babysitter for my young Slates.
Thanks for any insight you can give me
and Glad to see you back.