Turkey poults in Ghana: a Christmas countdown for farmers

The Christmas countdown: month by month

Turkeys are a slow, seasonal business, and the farmers who do well treat the calendar as seriously as the feed. A turkey takes many months to reach a good selling weight, so a poult ordered in November is too late for the coming Christmas. Here is the plan we give to farmers who call us.

The date today is 18 October, so if you are reading this now and hoping for this year's Christmas, be honest with yourself: a poult started now will not reach a full festive size in time. You can still raise a small batch for New Year or later sales, or begin planning properly for next year. The sensible move is to book your next season's poults early and use the time to prepare housing and find buyers.

For the same calendar logic applied to broilers, which are much faster, see our guide on when to buy chicks for Christmas. Turkeys follow the same idea but need months more lead time.

What you are buying: poults, pricing and box size

A poult is a young turkey. Our poults are sold in boxes of 10, not 50, because they are more expensive, more fragile and usually bought in smaller numbers than chicks. The starting price is GH₵ 65 per poult, so a box is GH₵ 650. Prices are confirmed in writing at order and include nothing hidden; we also confirm the delivery cost before you pay.

The price may look high next to a GH₵ 3 cockerel or a GH₵ 20 broiler. The logic is simple: a turkey is a large bird sold at a much higher price, and a grown turkey needs far more feed, space and care than a chicken. The cost of a poult is a small part of the final cost of raising a turkey to market. What you are buying with a poult is the chance to produce a high-value festive bird.

• Box of 10: the minimum order, GH₵ 650 at the starting price.
• Larger orders: farmers can order several boxes, and orders of 1,000 or more are quoted individually.
• Replacement: poults dead on arrival are replaced free in the next hatch if you count on arrival and send a photo on WhatsApp the same day.

Ask for a price in writing before you pay. We accept mobile money, bank transfer and cash. We do not have online payment. If you want to compare turkey with other birds, the price list shows all of our starting prices, and the breeds page explains each bird.

Brooding poults: the first four weeks

Poults are among the most delicate young birds you will handle. They are slow to find food and water, easily chilled and prone to piling up in corners. Their first weeks decide the whole flock.

Heat

Give poults a warm brooder, warmer than for chicks in the first week, then reduce heat step by step as feathers come. Judge heat by behaviour, not just by a thermometer: poults that huddle tightly are cold, poults that avoid the heat source are too hot, and poults that spread evenly are comfortable.

Space

Poults grow quickly and need more room than chicks. Expand the brooder area each week. Round the corners with cardboard or mesh, because crowding in a corner can smother birds.

Teaching to drink

Dip each poult's beak in water on arrival. Use shallow drinkers with clean pebbles, and place bright objects near the feed to attract attention. A poult that does not drink in the first day or two may never start, so check carefully.

Litter and floor

Use dry, rough litter such as shavings. Smooth floors cause leg problems. Remove wet litter daily.

The general principles for brooder preparation are set out in our guide to preparing the brooder before chicks arrive. Add the extra care described above for turkeys. Poults are vaccinated at the hatchery against Marek's disease, Newcastle disease, Gumboro (IBD), infectious bronchitis and coccidiosis, where applicable to the batch, and we give you the batch record; follow your vet's schedule for boosters.

Feed and protein: what turkeys need that chickens do not

Turkeys need more protein than chickens, especially when young. A standard chick starter is often the minimum you can get away with, not the ideal. Poults that receive too little protein grow slowly, have weak legs and feather badly.

Ask your feed supplier for a turkey starter. If none exists nearby, discuss the best available ration with a vet or livestock officer, and consider adding protein sources such as soya or fishmeal to a home mix. Do not guess; poor feeding is the biggest hidden cost in turkey farming.

• Provide clean water at all times; turkeys drink a lot.
• Offer green leaves such as chopped vegetables, which turkeys enjoy and which help with minerals.
• Keep feed dry and free from mould.
• Use grit when birds are on grain.
• Do not change feed suddenly.

We cannot give a single feed figure for all farms, because prices and ingredients vary by region and season. What we can say, from our first-hand experience at the hatchery, is that farmers who invest in the starter stage rarely regret it, and those who save money there usually lose birds. Message us on WhatsApp at +233 24 915 1503 if you want a second opinion on a feed plan.

Housing and keeping turkeys healthy

Turkeys need clean, dry, well-ventilated housing with plenty of space. They are big birds, and an overcrowded pen leads to stress, fighting and disease.

For growing birds, aim for a simple house with a roof, strong wire or walls on the sides, perches for roosting, and a dry floor. Keep the area well ventilated, since turkeys suffer in stuffy heat. Provide shade and cool water in the hot season. If you let them range, make sure the area is fenced and safe from dogs, snakes and thieves.

One important rule is to keep turkeys apart from chickens. Chickens can carry a parasite that causes blackhead disease, which can be devastating in turkeys. Do not run them on the same ground as chickens, and do not share feeders and drinkers. If you already keep chickens, use a separate house and separate boots and tools. Ask your vet about prevention and follow their schedule.

• Remove dead birds at once, and ask a vet if several fall ill.
• Clean and disinfect drinkers weekly.
• Provide perches low enough for young birds to use.
• Keep visitors out of the pens when possible.
• Isolate any sick bird immediately.

Worked cost example: 20 poults for Christmas

This example uses our starting prices. Put in your own feed, labour and selling prices to see whether the plan works for you.

The poult cost for 20 birds is GH₵ 1,300, or GH₵ 65 per bird. If 18 survive, divide your total costs by 18 to see your cost per turkey, then compare it with the price buyers will pay at Christmas. Because turkeys eat so much over the months, feed will probably be the largest cost line by the end.

The decision is simple: only raise as many turkeys as you have buyers for. A farmer with 20 turkeys and 20 confirmed orders is in a better position than a farmer with 100 turkeys and no orders. That is why we advise starting with one or two boxes in your first season, then expanding once you know your market and your costs. Compare with the cheaper start in our cockerel chicks if you want a lower-risk festive bird.

Where turkeys sell, and how to find buyers early

Turkey is a premium festive bird in Ghana. Demand peaks in the weeks before Christmas and again, to a lesser extent, around Easter and for weddings, parties and corporate events. Buyers are usually households, caterers, hotels and restaurants, and traders who resell in towns.

Because the price is high, buyers are fewer than for chickens, and finding them takes planning. Do not wait until the birds are ready. Start talking to potential buyers as early as September.

• Households and churches: many families buy one bird for Christmas dinner. Take bookings and deposits where agreed.
• Caterers and event planners: they order several birds for parties; they value reliability and uniform size.
• Restaurants and hotels: they may want dressed birds; ask what weight they prefer.
• Traders: they buy bulk but pay less; they can help you clear surplus at the end.

Selling live is simplest, because there is no processing cost. If you plan to sell dressed birds, check where you can have them processed hygienically and how you will keep them cold. Make sure you describe the weight honestly; buyers return to farmers who tell the truth about size.

Lean on social media and WhatsApp. A clear photo of your flock, a price and a collection date will usually attract orders from your town. If you also produce other birds, mention them: a customer who buys a turkey may also want a mature cock or live broilers, and our own live broiler (about 2.5 kg) sells from GH₵ 110 as a reference.

Turkeys compared with guinea fowl, Sasso and broilers

Many farmers ask whether turkeys are worth the extra trouble. The honest answer is that they suit some farms and not others.

If you are new to poultry, we suggest learning on broilers or Sasso first, then adding turkeys when you are confident with brooding. Keets from guinea fowl need similar careful handling. Our article on which chicks to start will help you decide the sequence.

Experienced farmers often run turkeys as a seasonal side line: one or two boxes each year, timed for Christmas, with the rest of the farm producing steady income from faster birds. That spreads risk and uses the festive price premium without committing the whole farm.

Common turkey mistakes and how to avoid them

From supplying farmers, we hear the same stories. Here are the mistakes that cost the most.

1. Starting too late. Ordering poults in October for Christmas leaves birds too small. Plan for July or August.
2. Using the cheapest feed. Low-protein feed stunts poults and weakens legs.
3. Mixing with chickens. Blackhead and other diseases pass to turkeys easily. Keep them apart.
4. Crowding in the brooder. Poults pile up and suffocate. Give space and round the corners.
5. No buyers. Raising birds without bookings leaves you selling cheaply at the last minute.
6. Ignoring the batch record. Give it to your vet and follow your vet's schedule.
7. Poor arrival-day handling. Collect immediately, keep boxes shaded and warm, count on the spot and move poults straight to a heated brooder.

If you avoid these seven, you will be ahead of most beginners. Call or message us if you are unsure about any step; free advice before and after delivery is part of our service.

Ordering turkey poults and getting them to your town

Send a WhatsApp message to +233 24 915 1503 with your town, the number of boxes of 10 and the date you want. Or use the order form. We reply with a written price and delivery cost before any money changes hands. Pay by mobile money, bank transfer or cash.

Poults are packed in ventilated boxes and sent by trusted transport to your town station, or you can collect them at our farm in Opeikuma, Kasoa, by appointment. They can travel up to about 48 hours on their yolk reserves, and we deliver to all 16 regions. See the delivery page for more detail. Book early so we can confirm availability for your date.

On arrival, count the poults at once. If any are dead, send a photo on WhatsApp the same day; we replace them free in the next hatch. Then move the box to your warm brooder, show each poult the water and check again after an hour.

If you are comparing suppliers, our page on where to buy day-old chicks in Ghana lists what to ask any hatchery.

Questions farmers ask