A Complete Guide for Beginners and Small Farmers venturing in Raising Turkeys

Raising turkeys can be a highly rewarding venture for both beginners and small-scale farmers. Turkeys are not only a great source of meat, but they also offer a promising opportunity for income generation, especially during festive seasons like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Whether you're doing it for family consumption, income, or both, this guide will walk you through the essential steps to successfully raise turkeys, even with limited resources.

🧠 Why Raise Turkeys?

Many farmers are familiar with chickens, but turkeys offer several unique advantages:

✅ Benefits of Raising Turkeys:

• High meat yield – A single adult turkey can weigh 6–15 kg or more.

• Profitable market – Especially during December holidays, supplying hotels and local butcheries.

• Hardy birds – Adapt well to local environments when managed correctly.

• Feed-efficient – Particularly when allowed to free-range.

• Easy to manage in small flocks – Ideal for small landholders or homesteaders.

In addition to these benefits, turkeys can provide manure that enhances soil fertility and supports crop farming, contributing to a sustainable mixed farming system.

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📦 Choosing the Right Turkey Breed

Selecting the right breed depends on your goals: meat production, breeding, or both.

Common Turkey Breeds:

Breed	Weight Range (Adult)	Purpose	Notes
Broad Breasted White	10–15 kg	Meat	Fast-growing, commercial breed
Bronze	8–12 kg	Dual-purpose	Hardy and good for free-range
Beltsville Small White	6–8 kg	Small-scale	Good for backyard farmers
Local/Indigenous	Varies	Meat + Breeding	Adapt well to harsh climates

🚽 Tip: If you're a beginner, start with 5–10 poults (baby turkeys) to learn before scaling up.

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🛀 Housing and Space Requirements

Turkeys need more space than chickens. Proper housing protects them from predators, cold, and diseases.

Indoor Space:

• Provide 1.5–2 sq. ft per poult in the brooder.

• Adult turkeys need 4–6 sq. ft per bird inside the coop.

Outdoor Run:

• Allow 10–20 sq. ft per turkey for exercise and foraging.

Housing Essentials:

• Ventilation: Ensure airflow but avoid direct drafts.

• Perches: Turkeys love to roost. Use strong wooden bars or branches.

• Dry floor: Use sawdust, straw, or wood shavings. Change weekly.

• Fencing: Secure fencing keeps out dogs, foxes, and hawks.

Well-maintained housing helps reduce stress and disease risk, improving turkey growth and survival.

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🔥 Brooding Baby Turkeys (Poults)

Poults are very delicate in their first weeks. A warm, clean brooder is critical.

Brooding Requirements (0–8 Weeks):

• Temperature: Start at 35°C, reduce weekly by 2–3°C.

• Use a heat lamp or charcoal brooder.

• Provide clean water and starter feed with 28% protein.

• Place small stones or marbles in drinkers to prevent drowning.

⚠️ Watch for signs of cold (huddling) or heat stress (panting).

A clean brooder should be dry, draft-free, and disinfected before introducing poults.

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🥗 Feeding Turkeys at Different Stages

Nutrition is key to growth, disease resistance, and meat yield.

Feeding Chart:

Age	Feed Type	Protein %	Notes
0–8 weeks	Starter mash	28–30%	High protein for growth
9–14 weeks	Grower mash	20–24%	Supports muscle development
15+ weeks	Finisher mash	16–18%	For fattening before sale
Breeders	Breeder mash	16–18%	Includes calcium for eggs

Supplements:

• Crushed charcoal or grit aids digestion.

• Add greens and vegetable scraps (avoid onions, avocado).

• Provide clean, cool water at all times.

❄️ You can mix your own feed using maize, soya, sunflower cake, and fish meal if commercial feed is expensive.

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🧹 Common Turkey Diseases and Health Tips

Turkeys are hardy, but proper care is vital to prevent disease.

Common Diseases:

Disease	Symptoms	Prevention
Newcastle Disease	Sneezing, twisted neck, death	Vaccination, strict hygiene
Fowl Cholera	Swollen joints, diarrhea, lethargy	Dry housing, good sanitation
Coccidiosis	Bloody droppings, weight loss	Dry bedding, anticoccidials
Blackhead Disease	Drooping, yellow droppings	Deworming, avoid chickens

Vaccination & Health Tips:

• Give Newcastle vaccine at 1–2 weeks, booster at 4–6 weeks.

• Deworm monthly using piperazine or herbal remedies.

• Add garlic, aloe vera, or turmeric in water for immunity.

• Isolate sick birds immediately.

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🥚 Breeding and Reproduction

For long-term sustainability, consider raising your own breeding stock.

Tips for Successful Breeding:

• Keep 1 tom (male) for every 5–8 hens.

• Hens lay 10–20 eggs per clutch.

• Turkeys prefer natural mating in open spaces.

• Incubation: 28 days (natural or incubator).

• Use nesting boxes with straw in quiet areas.

• Keep poults separate for the first 8 weeks.

Careful selection of healthy breeders ensures strong offspring and improves flock productivity.

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💰 Marketing Your Turkeys for Profit

Turkeys sell well, especially around holidays. A mature bird can earn you KES 3,000–10,000 depending on size and season.

Where to Sell:

• Local markets

• Restaurants and hotels

• Holiday pre-orders (Christmas, New Year)

• Neighborhood butcheries

• Direct to households

Tips for Success:

• Market 4–6 weeks before holidays

• Use Facebook or WhatsApp groups to advertise

• Offer both live and dressed meat options

• Package neatly and label if selling dressed turkeys

Adding value by cleaning and packaging birds increases trust and repeat customers.

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📊 Small-Scale Budget Estimate (10 Turkeys)

Item	Estimated Cost (KES)
10 turkey poults	2,000–3,500
Brooder setup	1,000–2,000
Starter + grower feed	5,000–6,000
Waterers & feeders	800–1,200
Medication/vaccines	500–800
Housing (basic)	3,000–5,000
Total	12,300–18,500

🚀 Sales of 10 turkeys @ KES 5,000 each = KES 50,000 gross income

💰 Potential net profit: KES 30,000+

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🧼 Hygiene and Daily Management Tips

Cleanliness is key to a healthy, productive turkey flock.

Daily Tasks:

• Clean feeders and drinkers

• Replace wet or soiled bedding

• Check for signs of sickness

• Provide fresh feed and water

• Observe flock behavior

Weekly Tasks:

• Disinfect the coop

• Rotate pasture if free-ranging

• Monitor weight gain

• Update health and expense records

Maintaining a routine ensures early detection of problems and steady growth.

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📝 Final Thoughts: Why You Should Try Turkey Farming

Turkey farming is a low-risk, high-reward poultry business for smallholders. With proper planning, affordable feed management, and good hygiene practices, beginners can build a successful turkey venture even on a small piece of land.

Whether you want to start with just a few birds or gradually expand, this guide gives you the confidence and knowledge to start smart. Turkeys are not only profitable—they are also fun, curious birds that bring life to any farm.

🖬️ "Start small, learn fast, and grow wisely." Your journey into turkey farming can begin today!