when to get turkey chicks for Next Year's Thanksgiving Dinner?

[elrod]

How long does it take a turkey to mature? I would like to harvest my own turkey for next years Thanksgiving Dinner. When do I need to buy Chicks? I am guessing 10 months to a year, how far did I miss it. Thanks

 

[tonini3059]

It depends on the breed and how large of a dressed bird you would like. Heritage breeds like bourbon reds take about six months I heard, while modern meat birds take about four months. I got some broad breasted whites on July 20th, and they dressed out around 15lbs I think, I didn't weigh them so I am not positive. I would like to have gotten them a little earlier just so they would be a little bigger. Hope this helps.

 

[the simple life]

I have heard you should get them in the spring, say april/may.
Someone on here posted that she had a turkey get to 51 lbs for this years dinner and it was hatched in July.
While its possible to get a big bird like that so late in the season I am afraid to take any chances with it so I am getting mine in the spring when they start selling the poults again.

 

[TarzantheChickenMan]

the first year i got turkey the first week of June BB whites one tom topped out 50+lbs i butchered 2 weeks before thanks giving
he was too big for the oven so he got cooked in pieces
the next year i got more BB whites july 15th or so they were in the 25-35lb range i butchered them the week of thanksgiving
this year i got palm royals and blue slates mid june they were about 14-16lbs for the tom palms and 20-22lb for the tom slates dressed they did them the Tuesday before thanksgiving
im planing on hatching blue slates next year ill just have to see when the hens start laying next spring im hoping to hatch 50+ poults

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

For a heritage variety you need at least 6 months, we prefer ours in the 10 month range. They seem to have more flavor. For the BB types you can get them about June for Thanksgiving.

Steve in NC