In our previous article, we discussed the merits of raising turkeys on a small scale in your backyard farm and the numerous benefits that you can derive by raising beautiful fowls. We also said that the best way to raise turkeys is through a free range system that allows them to forage freely and feed on the various insects, leaves, bugs, grubs, berries and the food leftovers on your backyard.
In this article, we are going to focus on how you can practice your turkey farming on a free range mode.
There are a lot of factors that you need to keep in mind when you are planning to venture into free range turkey farming. The most important factor that you should have is good stocksmanship. You shouldn’t be “farm blind” when venturing into free range turkey farming so you should devote a considerable amount of your time in acquiring knowledge and basic skills in turkey farming. This will allow you to quickly notice and fix issues that may be hindering the health and yield of your turkeys.
Even if you will allow the turkeys to roam free range, you need information on what to feed them, when to vaccinate them, the best medication for your turkeys, the best shelters, how to mate your turkeys and so on. When good information and knowledge is applied in an agricultural enterprise, you are able to minimize mortality and morbidity while boosting the productivity of your birds.
The food intake in a free range turkey farming model generally varies because the turkeys are not fed on formulated food rations but are allowed to roam about and eat anything they can their beaks on.
If you are planning to do free range turkey farming on a large scale and commercial basis, you can increase your turkey knowledge by taking an apprenticeship at an established turkey farm where you can increase your knowledge on the various aspects of turkey farming. This will give you the relevant hands-on experience on how best to handle turkeys.
Location of Your Free Range Turkey Farm
Once you have the right knowledge and experience, the next step is to plan how you are going to establish your free range turkey farm. Think of the best breeds of turkey that will best suit your production aims and income targets. Some turkey breeds are only raised as ornamental birds while others have great productive potential.
There are various turkey breeds that you can raise and each one of them has unique production characteristics. In the Philippines, the choice is generally between the native Philippine turkey that has been raised in the country for the centuries, the Broad Breasted Bronze turkey and the Broad Breasted White turkey and the Beltsville Small White Turkey. The latter three were introduced into the Philippines from the US during the American Occupation as well as during the Post-War years.
Turkey breeds such as the native Philippine turkey are more attuned to the local conditions and are generally more heat tolerant. Even the Beltsville Small White Turkey adapts really well to the local climatic conditions in the Philippines.
Some turkeys are small in size while others are much bigger in size; some produce a small number of eggs while others are good layers; some mature faster while others take much longer to mature; some turkeys are more fertile than others and so on. The type of turkey breed that you will choose to raise will ultimately depend on your turkey farming aims.
When choosing the location of your free range turkey farm, you will need to think of the type of turkey breed that you are planning to raise. Check if the land is large enough to allow for a healthy forage and whether there is a good fresh water supply.
The location that you choose should also have a good pasture supply that the birds will forage on. Turkeys are excellent foragers so you have to prepare for them good pasture where they can access all the leaves, grass, insects and grubs.
Check if there are other farms in the area. If there are, chances are that turkey farming is a lucrative business in the area. What is the availability of veterinary services in the area? Have there been turkey disease outbreaks in the area in the past? Is the land sufficient for the number of turkeys that you are planning to raise?
An acre of land is generally sufficient for anywhere between 200 and 250 turkeys so you need to ensure that you are maintaining an optimal stocking density for your free range turkey farm.
Apart from the range area where your turkeys will forage, there must also be a building that provides optimal shelter where the turkeys can retreat to in the evening. The building should also have nesting areas where your turkeys will lay eggs and where you will store the eggs. Other secondary factors that you can look at include market accessibility and ease of transportation of the turkey from the farm.
Financing Your Free Range Turkey Farm
Free range turkey farming is generally very affordable with a low barrier to entry. You don’t have to grapple with a costly feeding regimen, intensive veterinary care or sophisticated climate-controlled housing. Some of the costs to keep in mind when venturing into free range turkey farming include the following:-
- Cost of turkey housing
- Cost of pasture and pasture maintenance
- Labor costs
- Cost of medicine and routine inspections
- Turkey feeding costs
- Turkey farm fencing costs
- Cost of acquiring turkey chicks to be raised on your farm
- Cost of commercial permits for establishing a turkey farm