Feeding turkeys is not that dissimilar to feeding chickens in that turkeys require a starter ration, then grower ration and a maintenance diet once they are mature. However turkey poults have a much higher protein requirement than chicks and most poultry feeds will be unsuitable for turkey poults and may even lead to growth problems.

It is critical that turkey poults feed and drink as soon as possible after hatching and it is always a good idea to observe that all poults know where to find their food and water. A turkey starter crumb with a protein content of between 22 - 24% is ideal and most starter type feeds can be fed from hatching until the birds reach 5 - 8 weeks depending upon the manufacturers recommendations.

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Once turkeys start to lay, you may want to collect eggs to eat, or to incubate using an incubator, or by using a broody hen or turkey. A frequent question is what happens if the eggs are left in the nest, will the hen stop laying once she has compled a clutch of eggs?

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A turkey hen can lay an egg every other day during the laying season (which varies according to your latitude) around mid March to the beginning of September. This provides you with around 90 eggs per year although it can vary between varieties and individual birds a little.

A garden shed is ideal for turkeys to live in. For example a trio of turkeys in a small 6 x 8 foot shed would be fine. Try to allow enough extra space to be able to keep them in during the day if the weather is bad.

Heritage or Standard Turkeys are very hardy and are happy to go outside in cold weather but do need shelter from the wind, rain and snow. In the summer months they also need shade and at all times, like other poultry, they need to be protected from predators, especially foxes.

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