Raising turkeys on the homestead may be something you’ve tossed around for quite awhile, but for some reason you haven’t been able to commit to bringing them to the property. Turkeys aren’t small like chickens and they aren’t independent as ducks, but there’s something about having them on the homestead that seems homesteady, and I’m here to tell you that they have been a great addition for us.
Whether you’re a seasoned homesteader or just beginning to grow your own food, turkeys offer a rewarding experience. They are personable, resilient, and excellent foragers. And with the right approach, they can be surprisingly easy to manage.
Tips for Raising Turkeys on the Homestead: A Practical Guide for Beginners
In this guide, we’ll walk through practical, beginner-friendly tips for raising turkeys on the homestead, from choosing the right breed to housing, feeding, health, and processing. This article includes actionable advice, natural solutions, and homestead-tested practices to help you raise healthy, thriving birds.
Read more about Raising Turkeys on the Homestead—including turkey breeds, raising turkeys for meat, feed options & supplements, butchering for meat, incubation and hatching turkey eggs, brooding poults, turkey housing, common turkey diseases, zoning laws, and more from Ann Accetta-Scott at A Farm Girl in the Making here.
Benefits of Raising Homestead Turkeys
1. They grow large and feed families well.
A single turkey can feed a large family—often with leftovers. Even medium-sized heritage breeds dress out nicely, while broad-breasted varieties can provide a freezer’s worth of meat.
2. Turkeys are exceptional foragers.
They reduce feed costs, clean up pests, and graze on grass and weeds. They thrive on pasture, making them ideal for natural, low-input systems.
3. They’re personable and curious.
Turkeys become friendly quickly and often enjoy human interaction. Many homesteaders find them far more endearing than chickens.
4. Turkeys align with a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Whether you’re raising them for meat, breeding stock, hatching eggs, or selling poults, turkeys contribute to long-term food independence.
Tip #1: Determine Your Purpose | Why Do You Want to Raise Turkeys on the Homestead?
There’s many things to consider prior to bringing in turkeys, but the main thing to think about is why do you want to add them to your property.
Are you looking to become self-sustaining and raise them for meat purposes or do you simply love the idea of having a pet turkey?
Once you distinguish why you’d like to raise them, then you are able to decide on how many to bring to the homestead.
Tip #2: Choose the Right Turkey Breed
Your first decision will be choosing between heritage breeds and broad-breasted turkeys.
Heritage Turkeys
Heritage turkey breeds —such as Bourbon Red, Narragansett, and Royal Palm—are ideal if you want a sustainable flock or plan to breed your own turkeys.
These breeds are strong foragers well-suited to pasture systems. They have a natural mating ability and rich flavor. However, heritage breeds do typically have a slower growth rate and smaller dressed weight compared to broad-breasted varieties
Broad-Breasted Turkeys
Broad-Breasted turkeys are the typical production breeds. These breeds provide more meat in a shorter amount of time than heritage breeds. This sounds great, however, turkeys of these varieties do not live long and they struggle to breed naturally. This makes them a less ideal option for homesteaders who want a sustainable meat source that they can breed year after year.
Tip #3: Determine How Many Turkeys You Want to Raise
Turkeys thrive with a clear flock hierarchy. Keeping too many males together can cause fighting.
The ideal ratio for calm flocks is 1 tom per 8-10 hens.
If you’re raising multiple batches for meat, keep birds of similar age ranges together to reduce bullying.
Tip #4: Get Off to the Right Start | Turkey Poult Brooding
Young turkeys—called poults—are more delicate than chicks. The first 6 weeks are critical. To give your birds the best start:
- Buy from a reputable hatchery or breed & hatch them yourself.
- Use a warm, clean brooder.
- Learn to identify and prevent starve-out.
Moving turkeys outside
Turkey poults can’t go outside as early as chicks. They must be fully feathered and able to handle outdoor temperatures.
General guidelines for moving poults outside:
- Short outdoor visits at 4–5 weeks
- Full-time pasture at 6–8 weeks, weather depending
Start with warm, sunny days and avoid damp or cold conditions.
Tip #5: Feed Your Turkeys Efficiently
Turkeys require significantly more protein than chickens.
Recommended protein levels:
- 0-8 weeks: 28% protein starter
- 8–12 weeks: 18-20% protein grower
- 12–20+ weeks: 16–18% finisher
Avoid feeding layer feed—its high calcium content can cause long-term kidney damage. Read more on feed and supplements.
Turkeys eat a lot, but once they hit pasture, feed costs drop dramatically.
Tip #6: Give Turkeys Plenty of Foraging Space
Turkeys are big, active birds. They need room to move or they’ll develop behavior and health issues.
- Set up the brooder with 1.25-3 sq. ft. per poult.
- Provide 6–10 sq. ft. per adult turkey in the coop.
- Offer 6-7 sq. ft. per turkey on pasture. If you are free-ranging, shoot for 100 sq. ft. per bird.
Tip #8: Prevent Common Turkey Health Problems
Turkeys are generally hardy once past the “poults stage,” but you should watch for common issues including:
- Coccidiosis
- Blackhead Disease
- Leg Problems
- Fowl Pox
Tip #9: Plan Processing Day Before Purchasing Poults
Turkeys take longer to raise than chickens, so planning matters. Before you purchase your poults or put eggs in the incubator, calculate the estimated processing date to ensure you will be able to put in the work at that time.
Processing age:
- Broad-breasted turkeys: 18–22 weeks
- Heritage breeds: 26–28 weeks
Have plenty of freezer space, ice, bags, and helpers ready ahead of time.
Raising Turkeys Is a Rewarding Homestead Skill
Raising turkeys on the homestead offers food security, deeper connection with your land, and the satisfaction of growing your own holiday meal. While poults require extra care early on, turkeys become extremely hardy and enjoyable to raise as they mature.
If you’re looking to expand your homestead, turkeys are one of the most rewarding additions you can make. And with these tips, you’re set up for success from the start.
Successfully raising turkeys on the homestead is quite easy to achieve. However, there are a few things to keep in mind prior to incorporating them onto the property.
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Original 2019 | Updated by Homesteaders of America 2025
