Royal Palm Turkey's questions

[KingsCalls]

I just bought a trio of Royal Palm Turkey's and am inexperienced with turkey's. Can they eat scratch and laying pellets just like chickens? Is 2 hens enough for one tom? Anything else you can add would be a great help. Thanks

 

[antlers]

Not an expert here but I tried turkeys the first time this spring. I have 4 Burbons, 4 R.Palms and 2 Black spanish. I feed them the same things as the chickens but a higher protein %. 20 to 26 percent. This past weekend I turned them out into my deer fence (I raise deer too) they have not eaten anything but grit, grass and bugs since but are growing well. They know what they want. I should not say anything but...they are also stealing 38% protein pellets from the deer and whole kernal corn. They decided they like the short stock tanks to drink from too rather than their water fount. I trimmed one wing last weekend to keep them in a 8 foot fence. They can and do fly.
2 hens and a tom? I would say he will be happy but then I bet he would be happier with 7-8

. Seriously I find mine stick real close together and if you had more there would be more eyes if you free range them. Safety in numbers kind of thing.

 

[muddler6]

I'd like to jump in here too with some questions if it is o.k., I was wondering about the feed too, but I also need to know how much room I need for 3 or 4 turkey too.

 

[antlers]

Space? Depends. Depends on if you want them to have continious grass or if your willing to bring it to them. My 10 stay MOSTLY in a mowed 100 by 100 area of the deer fence. They graze all day. I have heavy soil though and grass grows faster and thicker than on sandy soil. If space is limited and your willing to have dirt and bring them grass (they LOVE it) then I dont think I would go smaller than 12x12 for 4. I am a firm beliver in that birds that get enough exercise are healthier and happier. Tonight is was so funny watching them fight over a big grass hopper..... Think that poor hopper is in about 5 different bellies tonight.

 

[ticks]

Off, topic, but How are you allowed to have deer? What about it? explain.

 

[dangerouschicken]

You need higher protein than chicken feed. Here is a thread with more info

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=64221

 

[antlers]

Quote:
Minnesota allows game farming for Deer, elk, and other related animals. It is regulated by the Minn Board of Animal health. They dont LIKE us to do it but state laws allow it. Excellent records are a must and you get yearly visits to insure compliance. USED to be profitable but not so much now. I have had up to 50 but now down to 14. Mostly for shed antlers for craft work and we eat cull animals. My kids were raised on venison . They like it better than beef and it will taste better too if properly handled. Less impact on the land too.

 

[sandspoultry]

Yes turkeys do need a higher protien feed to start. We feed ours 28% Game bird starter for the first 6 to 8 weeks, then a 20% chicken start n grow up to 16 weeks. At 4 months they go out with the rest of the flock. They have plenty of room to forage plus there is chicken layer availible free choice. When we were raising birds for the Thanksgiving market after 16 weeks we fed them a 18% grow and finish up until processing time.

Steve in NC
Knee deep in turkeys at the moment.