View Single Post
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 16-09-2009, 03:55 PM
Cascara's Avatar
Cascara Cascara is offline
Pet Forums Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 183
Cascara is on a distinguished road
Re: would like to get turkeys for christmas

Quote:
Originally Posted by piggybaker View Post
I I didn't know they needed heat!!!! might have to rethink this one, even when they are older do they need heat?
Well I don't know whereabouts you are in the world, we are down in the South West of England and it gets very, damp, wet and cold (-5c) here at night. Way below what growing turkeys need. We suddenly realised why the huge warehouses worked, (UGH!) so many turkeys in together produced a lot of heat and that with the airconditioning kept them warm so they didn't produce thick early feathers that were tough and hard to pluck. When they are fully feathered though they are more able to withstand the cold, but presumeably you might not want to let them get that old, and at this time of year starting so late, they won't be feathered before the cold hits.

After last year we decided it was actually more economical to raise turkeys earlier in the year because as they grew older they could come off heat and bask in the summer sun, then slaughter them, eat some and freeze some for Christmas. We had to insulate the barn with plastic sheeting and then straw bales to try and conserve the heat as some of them were so huddled together they were in danger of suffocating trying to get under the heat lamps. Turkeys are very frail and sensitive creatures.

I realise that wouldn't help you though wth the empty pig pens though. Geese are hardier but really need grass.
Reply With Quote