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Turkeys on the move

written by

Eileen Napier

posted on

October 26, 2018

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Turkeys that are raised on pasture--that is living, breathing, actively growing grasses--are happier, healthier, and tastier.  No questions about it.  We are dedicated to raising our birds this way, BUT the logistics of getting the birds out to the fields can be tricky.  They don't come when they are called, and they certainly don't sit and stay.  

It takes some creativity, and ingenuity, and every year we get a little more efficient with the task.

We want our birds out on the grass, BUT we've got to keep them protected from the hungry critter that live out there, too.  We use pasture pens (aka. chicken and turkey tractors) that do the job.  When the birds get big enough, we take them out of the pens, one by one, and move them to the turkey orchard.  Pictured below, Savanah and Georgie are two summer interns who have quick hands and a knack for this work!

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We've tried all kinds of methods for getting the birds out to the pastures.  Any good grass farmer has a fleet of various pet carriers to help move poultry from one end of the farm to the other.  Below, Max (the yellow lab and the farm's well-respected livestock manager) has thoroughly inspected the turkeys' new digs.  He's also happy to have his kennel re-purposed.

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Not too many seasons into this, we ditch the pet carriers for a high-volume poultry porter.  There is something particularly funny about seeing the turkeys moving around the farm commuter-style.  They wait patiently for their stops, saying very little to each other en route, mostly keeping to themselves and taking in the scenery.    

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When they reach their destination, they don't disembark and head briskly to their work.  It takes a farmer to show them one-by-one where to go.  Pictured in the turkey orchard below, Savanah and her bird friend pause for a smile.

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Once the birds are in the turkey orchard, we let them do their thing.  They love to run, stretch their wings, graze anything that they can catch, and GROW!  They are real modern-day dinosaurs, and they move across the pasture like a scene from Jurassic Park.

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Eventually the birds grow big enough to butcher, and the whole process happens in reverse.  The birds are brought in one-by-one.  Some are easy to catch.....

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....others are more elusive.  We've streamlined this step over the years, of course.  We no longer go out with a net prepared to run wind sprints chasing after birds.  Turkeys like to roost at night, and in the dark, they happily stay in place while you pick them up to take them to their ride.

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A small sized truck makes a nice ferry to the livestock trailer.  If you are nice you choose a lid with windows so the birds can have a better view.

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Turkeys are VERY social and like to interact.  We get to know them pretty well each year, and moving them around the farm is always an adventure that gets tuned up with each new season.

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We sell pasture raised turkeys seasonally. Check our online store for availability.  

Find our pickup locations and delivery schedule by clicking here.  

Thanks for choosing to buy meats from farmers who treat their animals with kindness and their land with respect.

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If you've ever tried shopping for a quarter beef or half hog and wondered, "How much is that and how long will it feed my family?"...you’re not alone! For many households, especially those with growing kids, buying meat in bulk from a local rancher sounds great… until the logistics get fuzzy. At Ramstead, we’re here to make bulk buying make sense. This is your go-to guide for understanding portions, freezer space, and how to plan for your family’s real-life needs without overbuying or overthinking it. Scroll down to find the family size that most closely matches yours, and read the details to find your best fit bulk order size. 🥓 Family of 2: 2 Adults or 1 Adult + 1 Teen Let’s assume: You each eat ~0.6 lbs of meat per meal You cook meat 4–5 times per week That’s 1.2 lbs per meal, and here are your planning needs: Weekly total: 5–6 lbs Monthly total: 20–25 lbs What Should You Order? For smaller households, we offer bulk portions that allow you to save while you stock up without overrunning your freezer space: 1/8 Beef (36 lbs): 2 months 1/4 Pig (26 lbs): 1.5 months Whole chicken (~4.5 lbs each): Plan for two meals per bird plus leftovers 🧠 Smart 3-month bulk combo for 2: 1/8 Beef (36 lbs) 1/4 Pig (26 lbs) 2–4 Whole chickens or as needed for extras ✅ Total Meat: 70 - 80 lbs 🧊 Freezer Space: 4–5 cu. ft. 💡 Great for smaller families who cook 4–5 nights a week and want variety across ground beef, steaks, roasts, chops, bacon, and sausage. 👉 Visit Our Bulk Menu Page 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family of 4: 2 Adults + 2 Young Kids Let’s say your family eats pasture-raised meat 4–5 times per week. Adults eat about 0.6 lbs of meat per meal Young kids eat about 0.3 lbs per meal That’s about 1.8 lbs per meal for the whole family: Weekly total: 8 lbs Monthly total: 24–35 lbs What Should You Order? You have options depending on how often you want to restock: 1/4 Beef (72 lbs): 2–3 months 1/2 Pig (55 lbs): 3–5 months 20 Whole chickens (at 4.5 lbs each): 2.5–4 months 🧠 Smart 3-month combo for your family: 1/4 Beef (72 lbs) 1/4 Pig (26 lbs) 2–4 Whole chickens, or as needed to fill in ✅ Total Meat: 105 - 110 lbs 🧊 Freezer Space: 6–7 cu. ft. 💡 This combo covers three months easily, with cuts to please both picky eaters and weekend cooks. Think burgers, meatballs, bacon breakfast, and slow-cooked roasts.👉 Visit Our Bulk Menu Page 🍔 Family of 4: 2 Adults + 2 Teenagers Teenagers can easily match or surpass adult appetites. Each person (adult or teen) eats ~0.6 lbs That’s 2.4 lbs per meal for the family: Weekly total: 10–11 lbs Monthly total: 40–46 lbs What Should You Order? Here are some popular portions and how long they’ll last your family: 1/4 Beef (72 lbs): 1.5 months 1/2 Beef (145 lbs): 3 months Whole Pig (109 lbs): 2.5 months 30 Whole chickens (at 4.5 lbs each): 3 months 🧠 Smart 3-month bulk combo for you: 1/4 Beef (72 lbs) 1/2 Pig (55 lbs) 3–8 Whole chickens or as needed for fill in ✅ Total Meat: ~140 - 155 lbs 🧊 Freezer Space: ~8–9 cu. ft. 💡 This is a robust combo for hearty teen appetites. You’ll have plenty of ground beef for weeknights, roasts for Sunday dinner, bacon for big breakfasts, and sausage for quick protein boosts. Pro-tip: Add whole chickens as needed for sports seasons when appetites are at their peak!👉 Visit Our Bulk Menu Page A Final Note As you can likely guess, the amount of time these portions last your family will vary based on demand. This guide is a great starting point to help you understand what it takes to feed our most common family combos with a typical meat-eating schedule. We hope this helps with your planning, and if you have specific questions or want to know more, as always, please contact us.  We are real humans here 😆, and we’re happy to help!

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