Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How much feed does a turkey hen need to reach market weight?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Poultry farming
Young chickens in an organic poultry farm.
To reach market weight, a hen turkey typically consumes approximately 16 kg (35 pounds) of feed over a period of 12β14 weeks. This allows the bird to reach a market weight of 6β9 kg (14β20 pounds).1
Modern poultry farming practices have significantly improved efficiency, reducing both the time and the amount of feed necessary to produce a pound of meat compared to historical standards. While commercial turkeys are often raised in environmentally controlled rearing houses, they can also be managed on open land using rotated pastures and self-feeders.1