Raising 1,500 Turkeys on Pasture [COMPLETE GUIDE]

Raising 1,500 Turkeys on Pasture [COMPLETE GUIDE]
Welcome to the COMPLETE GUIDE to raising turkeys on pasture, led by Heifer USA Livestock Specialist Christine Hernandez. Whether you’re a total beginner or a poultry farming pro, get ready to learn EVERY STEP of pastured turkey production. From choosing a brooder design to mastering the daily prairie schooner shift and managing day ranging, this video will teach you everything you need to know to get started raising turkeys. 🦃
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⏰ TIMECODES ⏰
0:00 - Overview
0:49 - How to build a turkey brooder
4:34 - Brooder Equipment
10:02 - Poultry Feed Formulation for Turkeys
14:29 - Brooder Ventilation
15:39 - Peat Moss for Deep Litter Method
17:25 - Corner Protection
18:22 - How to order Turkey Poults
19:48 - Caring for new poults
23:43 - Using Grit for Turkeys
25:19 - Daily Brooder Chores
29:20 - Expanding Brooder Space
33:20 - Weighing Turkey Poults
37:48 - Moving to Pasture
43:15 - Turkey Schooner Design
48:17 - Watering Fountains
49:13 - Cold Weather Preparation
50:39 - Sick Pens for Turkeys
52:05 - Daily Turkey Schooner Chores
57:21 - How to weigh mature turkeys
58:27 - Record Keeping for Pastured Turkeys
59:23 - Day Ranging on Pasture for Turkeys
1:06:54 - Loading and Processing Turkeys
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Heifer USA trains farmers, gardeners, and homesteaders in regenerative agriculture, combining sustainable horticulture and market gardening with ethical, regenerative livestock management, implementing proven methods to improve soil health. We offer virtual training through livestreams, workshops, and long-form video tutorials. Subscribe to be notified every time we publish a new video with information to improve your farm, ranch, or organic garden!
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[@helloworld-ow9tf]

I order your birds and I don't know why I'm watching this but I find this really entertaining 😄

[@achillesbuchanan2095]

What a great video. You are a natural teacher. I wasn’t thinking that I’d ever watch an hour+ video on raising turkeys! Thank you.

[@kennieloo6357]

Can’t tell you how perfect the timing of this video was. I was just thinking about raising turkeys and this video is sooo helpful to get me started!

[@dexterking9959]

Excellent mini documentary I never knew it takes this much just to raise turkeys 👍

[@HeiferUSA]

It takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to raise turkeys! Thanks for watching :)

[@zachb8012]

Well, my dude, she does raise 1500 of them 3 times a year. The logistics are wildly different than raising a flock of like 3 turkeys with your back yard chicken flock.

[@Rbucks306]

I disagree with using Peat moss as a base. I tried it and the fine powder travels over everything and into the water and powders their food. I am sure into their lungs. I love everything else you mentioned. Thanks

[@Bootman899]

This was awesome! Thank you so much!

[@auroraasleep]

Thank you so much! This was very helpful.

[@matthiaseze5717]

Can I come over and work with you. I love everything about how you are raising torckey.

[@georgetadic6174]

You explain everything so well. Very informative and interesting!

[@serbandinu406]

Awesome ♥ Many thanks!

[@BearMeat4Dinner]

Great video as always!

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks, Ian! Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@kirumirabrian2228]

thanks for the nice educational knowledge and advisory information you have given to us and l have learnt alot as beginning farmer.

[@HeiferUSA]

We're glad to hear that! Best of luck!

[@davidthomas9310]

Awesome dear and hope you're having a great day

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks for watching!

[@damdekmyhome]

Perfect video

[@ziauddin7948]

excellent methods & techniques employed to raise the Turkeys in brooder & pasture # but i would use Solar powered electric heaters instead of propane gas burners , & rice husk for brooder floor which is easily removed & replaced by fresh rice husk & comfortable for chicks & does not cause contamination even if chicks spread it to drinking water or food # ❤️❤️👍

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks for the tips!

[@user-nt7dx6po9y]

آموزش شما بسیار جالب و عالی بود. از شما ممنون و سپاسگزارم.

[@Zumbagirl517]

Must have been hard to give them up! Also glad you gave them plenty of space to explore and get sunshine!

[@HeiferUSA]

It's encouraging to know we've given our animals the best possible life on pasture! 💙

[@neturefarming0067]

I'm watching your videos from varanasi india

[@manglagardens]

Nice video thanks

[@HeiferUSA]

You're very welcome!

[@jensenchavez265]

Do you raise your batches back to back or do you have a rest period? How much total pasture space is devoted to each batch? How many seasons do you wait before moving turkeys on the same ground again?

[@faizullahbhatti1485]

Very Very nice video thanks God bless you 🙏❤ and your family 👪 ❤I l like this farming too please

[@mauriceblank9617]

Im Like your skooner and your Outdoor poltry. Im intrestet in the construktion from the skooner. How you build the ground and hiw you geht stabiliti that you can put IT with the Traktor. I want Experiment with your method in gernany

[@LilmissJ111]

I am curious, do you have any thoughts on in ground heating.

[@ianalleyne4529]

Hey guys love what you do, I’ve really learned a lot from this channel and I thank you so much for this information ❤I just wanted to know if I used this same design for chickens , how many chickens would be ideal for this design?

[@heirloomn.heritage7004]

Yes, similar. Spacing is less. And depending on your outside temperatures, most chicks will feather out by 3 to 6 weeks & can graduate to pasture.

[@fidelsseecoomar3279]

Thanks for all your priceless excellent information. Is room #1&2 elevated with a wood floor or its all deep bedding also how high is the ceiling, by the way because of you I retired as a physician to become a livestock farmer.

[@baimbakamara3956]

99¹9

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks for watching! Rooms 1 and 2 have concrete floors with deep bedding. The outdoor portion is slightly lower than the two indoor rooms, so we provide a ramp for the poults to move between inside and outside areas. The ceiling is about ten feet high. Congratulations on your new career path! Please let us know how things go!

[@CML3327]

I know the average profit there per chicken is $3.00-3.50, but what about pig and turkey? Could you give me/us an idea of what you profit per animal for those two species? I understand it is different for each farmer, but I feel like I can use your number and adjust it based on my situation.

[@2daughtersfarm]

Have you noticed an respiratory issues with the peat, being that it's more dusty?

[@FARMYINUS]

Your farm is like a university where the ideas are taught, Most questions have been answered, Thanks, May I know if every Hen will lay if healthy, Thanks once again,

[@heirloomn.heritage7004]

Sounds like these are fast-growing meat turkeys. Not meant to breed...especially males will get too heavy to walk (& breast heavy) & to mate.

[@heirloomn.heritage7004]

broad-breasted white 21:00. White feathering decreases visible feathers at plucking.

[@kazeemadeyemi9077]

Do you have Turkey farming courses from start to finish i can apply for online

[@taylorwales2348]

Are you selling the turkeys to the processor? Or are you paying to get the birds processed and then selling meat direct to customers?

[@muhamaadSomrat]

I need a turkey egg, that's why I'm emailing you, how do I buy an egg because I want to start a turkey forum

[@faizullahbhatti1485]

Hi Good morning 🙏

[@HeiferUSA]

Hello! Welcome to our channel!

[@cardermcgrewgaming]

Where do you get your non gmo feed? I’m also in Arkansas and haven’t found non-gmo in the state.

[@HeiferUSA]

Send us an email [e-mail]

[@user-bc5cb1rm6e]

Hey so insiparing

[@HeiferUSA]

Awesome! Thanks for watching

[@BastenSidabukke]

Bagus sekali video ini dari penjelasan dan gambarnya sangat ringan dan sederhana. Kak bagaimana saya mendapatkan bibit kalkun dari sana. Apakah kamu bisa memberikan beberapa saran kepada saya dimana saya bisa memesan online tujuan ke Indonesia.

[@Bubba30303]

Would you recommend a sand base?

[@HeiferUSA]

We have not tried that!

[@benparker9624]

What is the name of the hatchery in va?

[@mannyfulltimefarmer6864]

New subscriber from the Philippines. I have been growing turkey for consumption only, but as i saw your growing 1,500 maybe i can upgrade my turkey but i found it defficult rearing the chicks just last december i hatched 20 chicks 6 dies at about 3weeks old this is the second time i notice that when i leave the water together with the feeds i notice that they donot know how to control drinking water they over drink??? Please what should i do to increase survival of my chicks the last time 10 chicks dies this is the reason i am not able to increase my turkeys. Thanks for any info you can provide.

[@HeiferUSA]

We put all the advice we can into our videos. There could be many reasons for your mortality rates. Just keep at it and you will improve!

[@brandynjackson8894]

How do you buy the turkeys?

[@saxman432004]

Most farm stores sell Turkeys

[@Abdullah_M_T]

Hello my question please what are the best states to buy a chicken farm

[@HeiferUSA]

The best place to start a farm is one where you're able to purchase (or lease) enough land for your operation. We've been touring farms all across America to learn about regenerative agriculture in different states. Check out the Great American Farm Tour playlist here: kzbin.info/aero/PLMPMX18ik9irhmT8Hcmo6hL0kSLXDkakz

[@rayjil7435]

Where is the source of the water in the pasture?

[@HeiferUSA]

Great questions! We have in-ground water lines in our pastures, and we use multiple hoses (with adapters and connectors) to reach the turkey schooners.

[@ellybiliku4297]

i lost my turkey chics at 4th week they were growing normally until they started dying one by one. i had immunized them . what were the mistakes i made ? please experts advise

[@heirloomn.heritage7004]

Learn to autopsy. How did you find them dead? Varies...could be weak stock to contaminated feed (fungus), rats, bacterial, viral, draft...What breed? temperature in brooder at 4 weeks? What was their behavior up until then? Suggested reading, Storey's guide to raising turkeys.

[@qazifaheem100]

Dear can you guide me that why turkey not laying eggs in winter turkey lay eggs on June to august each year

[@heirloomn.heritage7004]

It's a guideline...they are seasonal layers...when nature has its abundant feed as chicks hatch. But, one of my heritage poults, hatched in March, just started laying in October.

[@gulsumdave5711]

As peat moss in a non renewable resource, have you trialed or considered any other options other than wood chip?

[@HeiferUSA]

That's a great question! We currently use wood chips as bedding. Please let us know if you have other suggestions!

[@gulsumdave5711]

@@HeiferUSA The reason I asked is that Christine said that you were trying peat moss rather than pine shavings, as the turkeys can try to eat the shavings, and I was interested to know if you had tried any other materials. One possible option could be coir, but I have to admit that I don’t know what the cost implications would be, or if the turkeys would try to consume it. Here in the UK coir seems to be one of the go to mediums to replace peat moss in horticultural seed and potting composts. The sale of peat for use in the amateur gardening sector will be banned by 2024 to protect peatlands and the natural environment.

[@allenchoo]

Where can I order your turkeys?

[@HeiferUSA]

Https://www.grassrootscoop.com

[@mr_s_khan96]

Can I go there to work, by the way I am from Uzbekistan but I need visa to go there. I want to work really on farm

[@edwinmoore4560]

Do you buy your chicks or hatch your own eggs

[@rayjil7435]

Super communication.🍉🍎🍒🍓

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks a million! Hope you enjoyed.

[@DirtbikerG63]

How big of a Turkey tractor would I need for 30 turkeys

[@heirloomn.heritage7004]

Depends on variety and end goal wt. What target weight are you aiming for? Processing loses about 5-7% body weight. Heritage breeds grow slower and range from 9-14lb female to 22-30lb+ for male/Tom's (at 6-7 months, larger Tom's after several years).

[@Spiked2005]

Loading the birds later in the day must cause some issues in delivery to a processing facility timing wise or do they stay in the trailer overnight and travel to the processing facility the following day?

[@HeiferUSA]

We usually load them up in the evening, take them straight to the processor and they overnight in the trailer until morning

[@user-vl8ev6bo9t]

How to buy your turkey?

[@HeiferUSA]

You can purchase pasture-raised turkeys from our farmers' cooperative at www.grassrootscoop.com! Pro tip: Use coupon code GRFC15 for 15% off your first order.

[@donpaccomedy5442]

How can I get little turkey

[@HeiferUSA]

Hatch an egg?

[@billysmith6899]

Turkeys choked on marbles. White bright light helps them wake up .

[@renantealcomendras1993]

Hi ma am do you need worker the farm,,

[@HeiferUSA]

To learn about training and volunteer positions at Heifer USA, click here: bit.ly/3MviGo7

[@katchilepooldevice2219]

Wow very fantastic Please my name Emmanuel Akaliga Akalibila I'm from Ghana I love animals growth, please if I may ask! Is there anything job opportunity at your company or farm I wil be glad to work with you if I'm in employ,thank you

[@anishparanthal]

India,kerala

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks for watching! Welcome to our channel!

[@DestinationJapan95]

Awesome video! Very informative! So you guys don’t process your own turkeys? Do you have a local butcher that handles that for you and then you sell the meat or are you just selling the turkeys directly to processors who then sell the meat?

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. We have lots more like it on our channel. We use a local poultry processor in Clinton, AR called Natural State Processing and we sell to our partners at Grass Roots Farmers Cooperative.