trky:turkeys

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trky:turkeys [2026/03/16 21:04] – [Further resources] Simon Granttrky:turkeys [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Turkeys+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Turkeys ======
  
  
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-## What are turkeys?+===== What are turkeys? =====
  
 Domestic turkeys are large fowl, descended from the wild turkey (_Meleagris gallopavo_) of Mexico and domesticated around 2,000 years ago. Turkeys are kept for their meat, most often to supply the Christmas market, especially in the UK, US and Canada. Striking birds, they have bald heads and fleshy protuberances above and below the beak. Mature males (‘stags’) in particular, have beautiful plumage with large tail feathers and will spend a considerable amount of their time displaying to any females who may be nearby. Domestic turkeys are large fowl, descended from the wild turkey (_Meleagris gallopavo_) of Mexico and domesticated around 2,000 years ago. Turkeys are kept for their meat, most often to supply the Christmas market, especially in the UK, US and Canada. Striking birds, they have bald heads and fleshy protuberances above and below the beak. Mature males (‘stags’) in particular, have beautiful plumage with large tail feathers and will spend a considerable amount of their time displaying to any females who may be nearby.
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 Most domestic turkeys kept today are raised intensively indoors. The stocking densities and the flock sizes lead to a number of welfare concerns. In particular, turkeys in these conditions cannot form their natural stable social relationships - aggression increases, with birds often injuring each other. Most domestic turkeys kept today are raised intensively indoors. The stocking densities and the flock sizes lead to a number of welfare concerns. In particular, turkeys in these conditions cannot form their natural stable social relationships - aggression increases, with birds often injuring each other.
  
-## What are the benefits of keeping turkeys?+===== What are the benefits of keeping turkeys? =====
  
 Turkeys are not difficult to keep if you have sufficient space, and they are entertaining birds with plenty of personality. They are some of the most decorative productive fowl you can have around; the displaying stags are particularly striking. Turkeys are not difficult to keep if you have sufficient space, and they are entertaining birds with plenty of personality. They are some of the most decorative productive fowl you can have around; the displaying stags are particularly striking.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Getting started+==== Getting started ====
  
 There are 10 standard breeds of turkey in the UK. These breeds are slower growing than the commercial, double-breasted turkeys but this means they are healthier, hardier and able to move more freely. The main breeds used for meat production are the Norfolk Black, the Bronze and the Bourbon Red. The smaller, more ornamental breeds can also be used to produce meat and need slightly less space. Some of these breeds produce more eggs, and some can be kept as ‘broodies’ as they make good mothers. There are 10 standard breeds of turkey in the UK. These breeds are slower growing than the commercial, double-breasted turkeys but this means they are healthier, hardier and able to move more freely. The main breeds used for meat production are the Norfolk Black, the Bronze and the Bourbon Red. The smaller, more ornamental breeds can also be used to produce meat and need slightly less space. Some of these breeds produce more eggs, and some can be kept as ‘broodies’ as they make good mothers.
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-### Housing+==== Housing ====
  
 Opinions vary as to how much outdoor space turkeys need. They are curious animals that need to be able to express their natural foraging behaviour; the space provided must allow for this. A trio can easily be kept in a large garden. Ideally turkeys should also be provided with trees, shrubs or some sort of artificial cover in their outdoor area. Opinions vary as to how much outdoor space turkeys need. They are curious animals that need to be able to express their natural foraging behaviour; the space provided must allow for this. A trio can easily be kept in a large garden. Ideally turkeys should also be provided with trees, shrubs or some sort of artificial cover in their outdoor area.
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-### Feeding+==== Feeding ====
  
 The simplest way to feed your turkeys is to give them commercially-produced compound food. These feeds are labelled ‘starter’ (for poults up to 8 weeks), 'grower' (up to 18 weeks) and 'breeder'. Soya-free and organic feeds are available. At the starter and grower stages it's important to be aware that turkeys require higher levels of protein than other poultry and therefore must be fed pellets specifically formulated for turkeys. The simplest way to feed your turkeys is to give them commercially-produced compound food. These feeds are labelled ‘starter’ (for poults up to 8 weeks), 'grower' (up to 18 weeks) and 'breeder'. Soya-free and organic feeds are available. At the starter and grower stages it's important to be aware that turkeys require higher levels of protein than other poultry and therefore must be fed pellets specifically formulated for turkeys.
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-### Health+==== Health ====
  
 Turkeys, like chickens, need a dust bath to help them control external parasites such as lice and mites. You can either provide a box full of dry soil and sand, or a covered area where they can dig their own dust bath. Either way, the dust bath must be protected from the rain so your birds can use it in all weathers. Adding diatomaceous earth to the dust bath can help protect your turkeys from parasites. If your birds do suffer from lice or mites you can add lice powder to their dust bath – this is far more effective and less stressful than trying to apply it directly yourself. Turkeys, like chickens, need a dust bath to help them control external parasites such as lice and mites. You can either provide a box full of dry soil and sand, or a covered area where they can dig their own dust bath. Either way, the dust bath must be protected from the rain so your birds can use it in all weathers. Adding diatomaceous earth to the dust bath can help protect your turkeys from parasites. If your birds do suffer from lice or mites you can add lice powder to their dust bath – this is far more effective and less stressful than trying to apply it directly yourself.
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-### Meat production & slaughter+==== Meat production & slaughter ====
  
 It is legal to slaughter turkeys at home for consumption by yourself and your immediate family provided it's done humanely. Turkeys, however, are more difficult to dispatch than smaller poultry and there are more restrictions on the methods that can be used, particularly for birds over 5kg. See the [Humane Slaughter Association](https://www.hsa.org.uk/) for more information. It's advisable to get training and the help of an experienced person if you wish to slaughter the birds yourself at home. It is legal to slaughter turkeys at home for consumption by yourself and your immediate family provided it's done humanely. Turkeys, however, are more difficult to dispatch than smaller poultry and there are more restrictions on the methods that can be used, particularly for birds over 5kg. See the [Humane Slaughter Association](https://www.hsa.org.uk/) for more information. It's advisable to get training and the help of an experienced person if you wish to slaughter the birds yourself at home.
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-### Paperwork and regulations+==== Paperwork and regulations ====
  
 You have to register with [DEFRA](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-on-farm-welfare) and standard regulations apply if you keep more than 50 birds (including other types of poultry). There are no regulations for people keeping fewer than 50 birds other than the general rules and regulations covering animal welfare. You have to register with [DEFRA](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-on-farm-welfare) and standard regulations apply if you keep more than 50 birds (including other types of poultry). There are no regulations for people keeping fewer than 50 birds other than the general rules and regulations covering animal welfare.
-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [PoultryKeeper](https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-turkeys/beginners-guide-to-keeping-turkeys/) - beginners' guide to keeping turkeys - [PoultryKeeper](https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-turkeys/beginners-guide-to-keeping-turkeys/) - beginners' guide to keeping turkeys
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [[guin:Guinea fowl]] - [[guin:Guinea fowl]]
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-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • trky/turkeys.1773695046.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/16 21:04
  • by Simon Grant