Read more
"Written by a backyard homesteader with a small flock of charismatic heritage-breed turkeys, An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Raising Backyard Turkeys is all about raising turkeys on a small scale, with a focus on eggs, meat, and personal enjoyment"--
List of contents
Preface
Chapter 1: Why Raise Turkeys?
Definition of a heritage turkey; history of heritage breeds and broad-breasted varieties; why should you raise turkeys; picking the right breed to raise (either heritage or broad-breasted).
Chapter 2: What to Expect when Keeping Turkeys
How many eggs do turkeys lay; comparison with chicken eggs; recipes for enjoying turkey eggs; time to maturity for harvest; keeping turkeys for fun. How many eggs do turkeys lay; comparison with chicken eggs; recipes for enjoying turkey eggs; time to maturity for harvest; keeping turkeys for fun.
Chapter 3: Turkey Behavior
Turkeys are not just big chickens; wild instincts; vocalizations and noise; flock dynamics; tom to hen ratio; dominance and tom turkeys.
Chapter 4: Shelter and Space Requirements
Can turkeys live with chickens; coop design basics and do turkeys need a coop; outdoor roosts and runs; how much space do turkeys need; free ranging and predators.
Chapter 5: Nutrition and Care
Nutritional requirements for adolescents and adults; foraging; treats; seasonal care considerations in summer and winter.
Chapter 6: Raising Poults from Day 1
Where to purchase poults; setting up the brooder; nutrition; important differences for brooding poults compared to chicken chicks; poult behavior; when and how to transition poults outside.
Chapter 7: Natural Brooding and Raising the Next Generation
Courtship behavior; broody hens; nesting locations and requirements; broody hen and poult safety; is interspecies hatching (turkeys hatching chickens or vice versa) a good idea; introducing young poults to the rest of the flock.
Chapter 8: Healthcare
Heritage turkeys are generally very hardy with minimal health issues; respiratory issues; leg and feet issues; parasites; reproductive issues.
Glossary
About the author
Stacy Benjamin is a poultry enthusiast, a gardener, a beekeeper, and an environmentalist who raises chickens and heritage-breed turkeys at 5R Farm in St. Helens, Oregon. Benjamin writes about raising poultry for
Backyard Poultry and
Countryside magazines and shares her popular turkeys on Instagram under the handle @5rfarmoregon.
Summary
From an expert in homesteading, this accessible guide shows you how to nurture happy, healthy turkeys right in your own yard.
Written by a backyard homesteader with a small flock of heritage turkeys, An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Raising Backyard Turkeys focuses on eggs, meat, and personal enjoyment. Poultry expert Stacy Benjamin will show you how to:
-Raise your own poults
-Understand turkey behavior and breeding habits
-Provide proper shelter and nutrition
Includes full-color photographs.
Foreword
The essential guide to raising a small flock of backyard turkeys, from a trusted homesteading expert.
