How to Keep Turkeys Healthy: Essential Care Tips

Turkeys are impressive and enjoyable birds, but they require ample space and dedicated care to thrive as pets. In the UK, turkeys are considered livestock, so check local council regulations before keeping them in town areas to ensure compliance. They also tend to be noisy, especially males called stags, so neighbours should be informed to avoid disturbances.

1. Understanding the Commitment of Keeping Turkeys

Keeping turkeys is a year-round responsibility. Unlike smaller poultry such as chickens and ducks, many find turkeys intimidating because of their large size and loud calls. Males can sometimes display aggressive behaviour toward unfamiliar people, so handling them gently from a young age is important. If you travel frequently, arranging reliable care for your turkeys can be more challenging than for other poultry.

2. Creating Ideal Turkey Housing: The Garden Shed Setup

A spacious, well-ventilated shed measuring approximately 8ft by 6ft suits up to six turkeys for sleeping. However, this is only for resting; turkeys need a larger secure outdoor area to roam during the day. Ensure the shed has high air vents near the roof to provide fresh air circulation, which helps prevent respiratory diseases.

Perches should support the bird’s chest to avoid foot and leg damage while roosting. Prevent turkeys from accessing the shed’s roof outdoors to protect them from predators like foxes and harsh weather. At night, turkeys must be kept safely indoors in a dry, draught-free environment as their night vision is poor and they are vulnerable to attacks.

Use high-quality, dust-free shavings for bedding, such as those used for horses. Keep bedding and housing regularly cleaned to minimise harmful bacteria, which can cause fungal and respiratory diseases.

3. Securing the Outdoor Space for Free-Range Turkeys

If you let turkeys free-range, secure the area with fencing at least 6ft high because turkeys can fly over low fences. Once settled with adequate vegetation and nutrition, they are less likely to try escape unless startled. Regularly check your garden for toxic plants, removing anything that could be harmful.

4. Nutrition: Feeding Turkeys for Health and Growth

Young turkeys, or poults, require a high-protein diet to support rapid growth—starter feed should contain 28-30% protein. Never feed them chick crumbs made for chickens as they contain insufficient protein and often harmful antibiotics. Many keepers supplement poult feed with chopped hard-boiled eggs, providing extra protein and nutrients.

From around 6 weeks, poults can transition to grower pellets with slightly lower protein amounts and by 12 weeks to adult turkey pellets or mixed corn. Fresh water should always be available, ideally supplemented with vitamins and electrolytes for young birds to strengthen their immunity.

Turkeys also benefit from safe fresh treats such as apples, plums, sweet corn, sunflower seeds, and cabbage. Avoid sugary treats and never feed mouldy or rancid food, which could cause illness. Grit must be provided constantly for digestion, but oyster shell should be avoided as it can compact in the crop.

5. Preventing and Managing Diseases in Turkeys

A common and serious illness is Blackhead disease, caused by a worm carried by chickens. If you keep chickens alongside turkeys, regular worming every six weeks is essential using licensed products like Flubenvet, which targets the harmful Heterakis worm.

Maintain cleanliness and biosecurity to reduce risks of diseases. Medicated starter feed can help prevent coccidiosis and similar illnesses in poults. Observe your birds closely for any signs of distress or illness and consult a vet promptly if concerns arise.

6. Encouraging Natural Foraging and Exercise

Allow turkeys access to grass and insects as part of their diet, which supplements commercial feed and provides stimulation. Pasture grass about 4-6 inches tall provides optimal nutrition. Keep the environment safe from predators and remove any toxic plants or berries.

7. Practical Tips for Handling and Routine Care

• Handle poults gently and minimally in early life to reduce stress.
• Encourage eating by gently tapping on food and water surfaces.
• Know your turkeys’ personalities; stags may act territorially, so respect their space.
• Communicate with neighbours about turkey keeping to maintain good community relations.
• Prepare for year-round care; turkeys do not have seasonal resting periods.

Conclusion

Despite their large size and boisterous nature, turkeys can be entertaining and rewarding to keep when given proper care from the start. They are great watchdogs, alerting you to strangers, and turkey eggs make excellent baking ingredients. With secure, well-maintained housing, a nutritious diet, and attentive health practices, your turkeys can stay healthy and happy companions.

For those considering acquiring turkeys or other birds, exploring turkeys for sale from reputable sources ensures responsible ownership and ethical breeding.