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Cost of raising backyard turkeys?
Understanding the potential costs involved in raising backyard turkeys for meat is crucial for budgeting and deciding if it's economically viable for you. Costs include initial setup, poults, feed (the largest ongoing expense), bedding, processing, and potential veterinary care.
📅 Created: 4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
- Initial Setup Costs (Coop, Brooder, Fencing)4
- Solution: Budget for the one-time costs of infrastructure.
- Explanation: Building or buying a coop ($100-$1000+ depending on size/materials), brooder setup (heat lamp, container, feeder, waterer - $50-$100), and fencing ($100-$500+ depending on area/type) are significant initial investments.
- Notes: Costs vary widely based on DIY vs. pre-made, new vs. used materials.
📌 budgeting 🛠️ Coop materials/coop, brooder components, fencing materials4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - Poult Costs4
- Solution: Factor in the cost per turkey poult.
- Explanation: Poult prices vary by breed and hatchery. Broad Breasted might be $8-$12 each, while heritage breeds could be $10-$20+ each. Shipping costs from hatcheries can also be substantial.
- Notes: Buying locally can sometimes save on shipping. Minimum order quantities often apply.
📌 budgeting 🛠️ None4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - Feed Costs (Largest Expense)5
- Solution: Estimate feed consumption and cost over the turkey's lifespan.
- Explanation: Turkeys eat a lot, especially Broad Breasted breeds. A single Broad Breasted turkey might consume 75-100+ lbs of feed to reach market weight. Heritage breeds consume less overall but over a longer period. Feed costs vary ($20-$35+ per 50lb bag). Calculate total feed needed per bird x cost per pound.
- Notes: This is the single biggest ongoing cost. Bulk buying or local mill purchases might save money.
📌 budgeting 🛠️ Feed price information, consumption estimates4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - Bedding Costs3
- Solution: Include the cost of coop bedding.
- Explanation: Pine shavings or straw are commonly used for bedding in the coop and brooder. Regular replacement is needed for cleanliness. Cost depends on bale size and frequency of changes.
- Notes: Deep litter method can reduce frequency but requires management.
📌 budgeting 🛠️ Bedding material (shavings, straw)4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - Processing Costs4
- Solution: Decide on DIY or professional processing and budget accordingly.
- Explanation: DIY processing requires equipment (kill cones, scalder, plucker - optional but helpful, knives, packaging) which has an initial cost ($100-$1000+). Professional processing costs per bird ($10-$25+ depending on location and services like cut-up/packaging).
- Notes: Factor in time for DIY processing.
📌 budgeting 🛠️ Processing equipment (DIY) or funds for professional service4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - Potential Veterinary/Medication Costs3
- Solution: Keep a small contingency fund for unexpected health issues.
- Explanation: While prevention is key, illness or injury might occur, potentially requiring vet consultation or medication (like Corid for coccidiosis).
- Notes: Access to vets experienced with poultry can be limited and costly.
📌 budgeting 🛠️ None4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
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