Pasture-raised and grass-fed Turkey raised here in North Carolina. We service the Triangle area, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill & the surrounding areas. Place your order today. Order your Thanksgiving Turkey here.
As Thanksgiving and the holidays approach, many people start thinking about getting a turkey for their festive meals. While frozen supermarket turkeys are convenient, nothing beats the flavor and freshness of a farm raised bird. But with the higher quality comes a higher price tag. So how much does a farm raised turkey cost compared to a store bought frozen one?
The Cost of Raising Turkeys on a Farm
To determine the retail cost of a farm raised turkey, we first have to look at what it costs to actually raise the birds on a small farm operation. There are a few main expenses involved:
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Purchasing poults – Poults are baby turkeys, usually sold by hatcheries when they are 1-2 days old. Farmers have to buy a minimum number of poults to get started, usually 15-25. The cost per poult can range from $5-10 depending on the breed.
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Feed – The biggest ongoing expense for raising turkeys is feed. Turkey poults start on a high protein starter feed and then transition to grower feed. Altogether, turkeys consume about 60-70 lbs of feed each. At average feed prices, this comes to $25-35 per bird for feed.
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Housing – Turkeys need special housing with roosting spaces and fencing. Farmers need turkey-specific coops and runs which can cost $200-500 to setup.
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Other costs – Things like bedding supplements processing fees, electricity, labor etc. These variable costs can add $50-150 per bird.
Adding it all up, the total cost to raise a turkey to processing size on a small farm comes out to approximately $90-120 per bird. That is just the farmer’s expenses – it does not include their profit margin and markup.
Retail Pricing of Farm Raised Turkeys
When farmers sell directly to consumers, they normally price their turkeys based on the weight of the processed bird. Here are some typical prices I found for farm raised turkeys being sold direct:
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A 20 lb broad breasted turkey (about 25 lbs live weight) costs $100-130.
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A 13 lb heritage breed turkey (about 18 lbs live weight) costs $130-160.
So if we take the middle of these ranges, we get:
- Farm raised broad breasted turkey (20 lbs) – $115
- Farm raised heritage turkey (13 lbs) – $145
These prices equate to $5.75 – $11.15 per lb for a whole farm raised turkey.
Let’s compare that to supermarket frozen turkeys. The average price for a frozen turkey is $1.15 – $1.50 per lb. So a 20 lb frozen turkey would cost just $23 – $30.
Clearly, farm raised turkeys cost a lot more than commercial frozen ones from the grocery store. You’re paying a premium for the freshness, higher welfare standards, and knowing exactly how the turkey was raised and processed.
Is the Higher Price Worth It?
Whether it’s worth the higher price depends on your budget and how much value you place on getting the highest quality bird possible.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you want to splurge on a farm fresh turkey:
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Shop early – Many small turkey farms sell out weeks or months before Thanksgiving.
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Buy the right size – Make sure not to overbuy since these turkeys don’t come cheap. Size your turkey to the number of guests.
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Freeze leftovers – Properly frozen, turkey leftovers can last for months and make additional meals.
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Share costs – Go in with family or friends on a large bird and split up the meat.
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Add sides – Round out the meal with cheaper homemade sides and desserts.
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Make stock – Use the carcass to make nutritious bone broth.
For many, paying double or more for a farm raised turkey is worth it for the memorable flavor and the feeling of continuing holiday food traditions. Supporting small local farms also provides satisfaction.
Ultimately, the additional cost comes down to your budget and personal preferences around food quality. A farm raised turkey makes a fabulous centerpiece for a special meal when you can swing the price.
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Pasture-raised and grass-fed Turkey raised here in North Carolina. We service the Triangle area, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill & the surrounding areas. Place your order today. Order your Thanksgiving Turkey here.
Get Started with Turkeys: Everything You Need To Know
FAQ
How much is a farm raised turkey worth?
For a 20 pound bird, you can expect to pay around $48.
What is the average price of a fresh turkey?
| Weights: | Servings per person (note these are a guide only): | Price: |
|---|---|---|
| 4-5 kg | Aprox. 8 people | £66.75 |
| 5-6 kg | Aprox. 10 people | £78.75 |
| 6-7 kg | Aprox. 12 people | £89.00 |
| 7-8 kg | Aprox. 14 people | £97.50 |
How much does a full grown live turkey cost?
- A 13 lb turkey can cost around $87.25
- A 14 lb turkey can cost around $93.75
- A 15 lb turkey can cost around $100.00
- A 16 lb turkey can cost around $106.75
- A 20 lb turkey can cost around $48
What is the average price of a turkey?
Although prices differ quite a bit, families can expect to pay around $31.16 for a 15-pound turkey on average, according to the study. And as you can probably imagine, turkeys are the most expensive in the states where imported goods cost an arm and a leg, like Hawaii and Alaska.
How much does a 20 pound turkey cost?
Most toms would weigh 25 pounds live, which would give you a 20 pound bird that would cost $100. A farm close to us, Tea Hills, list the price as $4.50 per pound, which would put the total cost for the turkey at $90. They also list the price of heritage breed turkeys at $6.99 per pound.
How much feed does it take to raise a 38 pound turkey?
On average, it takes 75-80 pounds of feed to raise a 38-pound tom turkey. Feed ingredients account for roughly two-thirds of the cost of raising a turkey. Modern production methods have shortened the time it takes for turkeys to reach maturity.
Do you save money raising your own turkeys?
Both these tables show that no matter which breed of turkey you choose to raise you will save a significant amount of money raising your own turkeys rather than buying them from someone else. Now you need to ask yourself, is the $50 bucks you save worth doing the work to raise your own turkeys?
How do American farmers raise turkeys?
American farmers are raising turkeys in scientifically designed, environmentally controlled barns that provide maximum protection from predators, disease and weather extremes. They are fed a balanced diet of corn and soybean meal mixed with a supplement of vitamins and minerals.
How many turkeys are raised in 2022?
Raising turkeys is around-the-clock work. In 2022, more than 210 million turkeys were raised on about 2,500 farms across the United States, with the majority being family farms. NTF is working to amplify the hard work done by the men and women across the turkey industry to support America’s robust food supply.
How much feed does a 14 pound turkey eat?
These turkeys are up to 2.8 pounds of feed per pound of gain, meaning they are a little less efficient now than when they were younger. Each heritage breed turkey will eat 72.93 pounds of feed from day old to 28 weeks. At 28 weeks you should have an 14 pound turkey, which will give you a feed to gain ratio of 5.2 to 1.