Trio of turkeys

Avian flu has been particularly virulent in the UK this winter with numerous recorded outbreaks. It continues to be a legal requirement to keep all captive birds confined and to have a range of biosecurity measures in place to help reduce the risk of infections spreading. This includes keeping different species separately housed. We normally do this anyway with chickens, ducks and turkeys kept in their own quarters, although the chickens ordinarily are able to free range widely over the holding. Matters are a little simplified by the New Year as usually the turkeys are gone. But not this year. 

Each year, at the end of May, we buy in a dozen or so day old Norfolk Black turkey poults (that is to say, turkey chicks). We grow them on for the next six months at which point, at Christmas, they are distributed out in an oven ready state. Mid to late December is a busy time.

When I collect the poults, from an organic traditional breed turkey producer based in Rutland, they are literally a day old or sometimes even less. Turkeys are quite vulnerable when young and the hope is to get them through the first four weeks of life successfully and thereafter they grow into robust, surprisingly hardy birds. Thankfully it is several years since we have had any early losses. It is always sad to lose one of your stock but it has to be said there is a cost implication, too, as the turkey poults cost us a little under £10 each so securing even a modest supply involves some outlay.

This year we decided to hold a trio of turkeys back: two hens and a stag. Our aim is to hatch our own poults. Being young hens they should start laying about March time onwards. Hopefully, by June we should know whether the regular trip to Rutland is required.

The lucky three