Many people interested in poultry farming often think only of chickens, forgetting that a whole world of exciting birds, like turkeys, geese, ducks, and guinea fowls, awaits exploration.
I, too, started with chickens and kienyeji (indigenous) chicks. However, after losing a significant number of my kienyeji chicks raised under traditional methods, I realized the importance of diversifying my poultry ventures. In March 2013, I began keeping ornamental birds and turkeys to spread my risks and explore new opportunities.
After fencing off my two-acre farm in Busia and planting grass and trees to provide space and shade, I felt ready to start my turkey project. Despite hearing stories about the challenges of keeping turkeys, I was determined to try. Unlike my chicken project, I did not seek expert advice initially, a decision I would later learn came with valuable lessons.
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Starting Out
I began with five adult turkeys: two males and three females. For those unfamiliar, turkeys are native to America and are often associated with Christmas and other festive occasions. Some breeders even keep them for exhibition purposes.
Having bronze and pure white turkeys roaming freely in my compound was a breathtaking and relaxing sight, especially with children running around the farm.
Egg Production and Brooding
One important point to note is that turkey egg production is seasonal and cannot compare with chickens. While hens can lay 200–300 eggs per year, turkey hens produce significantly fewer. Lightweight breeds may lay 85–100 eggs, medium breeds 50–70, and heavy breeds about 50 eggs annually.
I was fortunate to collect 20 eggs after a year, even though the seller had indicated that my hen had started laying.
Brooding presented another challenge. Unlike chickens, turkey hens are generally poor mothers. To successfully hatch my eggs, I used a broody hen to incubate them. Turkey eggs take 28 days to hatch, not the 21 days typical of chicken eggs.
Broody hens rarely leave the nest, only coming off to eat or drink. Rather than suppressing their brooding instinct, I let the hen hatch the eggs naturally. The result? Twelve healthy turkey poults, which I moved to a specially prepared brooder house.
Raising Turkey Poults
Turkey poults, despite being small, appear like tiny giants compared to chicks. In the brooder house, I installed a light bulb to maintain warmth. The temperature during the first week should be between 32°C and 38°C, gradually reducing by 2°C each week thereafter.
Feed is crucial. Turkey poults require a diet containing at least 24% protein, 2% calcium, and 0.9% phosphorus. During the first three days, I supplemented their diet with milk and hard-boiled eggs. Insoluble grit, granite or flint, is also essential from day two, as it helps develop a strong gizzard, which improves digestion and overall growth.
The poults thrived until the eighth week, when I made the mistake of allowing them to free-range with chickens.
Lessons Learned
Allowing young turkeys to roam in areas recently visited by chickens exposes them to blackhead disease (histomoniasis), a parasite carried by chickens. This oversight cost me dearly: out of five adult turkeys, one was killed by predators, and two likely succumbed to blackhead disease.
Preventative measures include adding anti-blackhead medication like dimetridazole to the feed. Herbal remedies, such as Herban, can also treat infected birds if symptoms are caught early.
Looking Ahead
Now wiser from my experiences, I plan to restart my turkey venture at my farm in Njiru, to turn it into a commercial enterprise. Turkeys can sell for as much as Sh5,000 each, making the venture both rewarding and profitable.
Raising turkeys comes with challenges, but with proper planning, care, and attention to disease prevention, it can be a truly enjoyable and lucrative addition to any poultry farm.
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