Storey's Guide to Raising Turkeys: Breeds, Care, Health

by Leonard S. Mercia

Turkeys are an excellent source of succulent meat, rich eggs, and nutrient-dense manure, and raising them is a rewarding and profitable activity for many farmers. Storey’s Guide to Raising Turkeys provides expert information on breed selection, facilities management, health care, and slaughtering. With helpful tips on acquiring organic certification, processing both meat and eggs, and marketing your products, you’ll have all the information you need to successfully raise your own healthy and productive turkeys.

Genres: Reference, Animals, Nonfiction, Green, How To

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2000

About the author

Leonard S. Mercia was an expert in poultry.

Mercia joined the Ohio Poultry Improvement Association as Assistant Field Manager after World War II. In 1954, he joined the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College as an Extension Poultryman, and he was a professor in the Animal Science Department until his retirement in 1983. He published two books, "Storey's Guide to Raising Poultry" and "Storey's Guide to Raising Turkeys."

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent reference. Not a good choice for a pleasure read, but it will definitely stay on my shelf as a reference book.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish that this book had some color pictures of the illnesses. I bought the books just in case I don't have access to the internet (I live out in the middle of nowhere). This book has a ton of great information, I do feel like it's missing some stuff. Luckily I have access to an experienced turkey breeder to answer any questions this book doesn't answer. Four out of five stars.

[Stephanie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent general resource to get a taste of what you might be getting into. Everyone recommends the animal specific titles as well.

[Josephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too scientific on the feed mixture. Maybe I needed to abridged version which would help me determine, most poultry requires more work than I would ever want to spend. Then I wouldn't have had to read the eye-crossing details about percentages of specific nutrients in feed for a laying turkey as opposed to a meat turkey, for example.
This also explains the illnesses which different birds are prone. Thus why some can't be raised together.
Not enough devoted to free range raising, but since that's probably not the norm, I guess I'm just in a minority.

[Unabridged_Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of the different categories of poultry and how to raise each. I had previously read Storey's Guide on how to raise chickens and can confirm with many of the other reviewers that you'll want to read the Storey's guide specific to the kind you plan on venturing into. This is more of an overview and will not fully support the science of and knowledge required to successfully raise these different lines of birds. Great starting point book, but don't stop here. I enjoyed the overview, and it was a great starting point!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this was the most interesting, straightforward book on poultry I could possibly imagine. Scientific and detailed, yet somehow not boring. I learned more than I ever thought I'd need to know about poultry and I'm confident that if I'm ever on Jeopardy and there's a Poultry category, I am so going to win that one.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

All around great book about raising poultry, sectioned by type - chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc. I have used this book as a resource for several years. It is one of the best. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because of it's tend towards industry rather than subsistence living.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic overview of turkey raising, updated from the earlier Raising Your Own Turkeys. Excellent diagrams of equipment and instructions for building housing, feeders, other necessary equipment.

[Amy R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book if you're starting out in the world of poultry. This will definitely be my go-to reference book!

[joy *the clean-reader extraordinaire* · Rating 3 out of 5]

good basic reference for guinea keets.

[Allison Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative.

[JoNel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I own three "Storey's Guide to..." books. They are all full of practical information. I refer to them often.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yep, decided against getting chickens. This book definitely helped make it absolutely clear how much work they are.

[Jemma Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite informative for general poultry raising, but I was looking for something more specific.

[Paul Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchased book, read and raised a few different type of chickens for years, trying to utilize information.