AET help Page
- Student Profile Tab
“Experience Manager (SAE)
Click on the Pencil “Plan”
next to your SAE project
Description - TAB
Plan of Practice
Purchase Livestock:
My SAE project is Market Turkeys which I will raise for exhibiting at the Ashland County Fair. I will purchase 5 Broad
Breasted White Hens from the Ashland Poultry Committee. The Ashland Jr. Fair requires all Market poultry to be
purchased through the poultry committee.
Housing:
Turkey Poults will be started in a warm environment that is 100 degrees under the heat lamp. The turkeys are
started on old scrap carpet and then transferred to wood shavings in 3 days. New bedding will be added every week
or when pen gets too dirty. The temperature for the turkeys will be reduced 5 – 10 degrees each week. When the
turkeys are fully feathered (about 5 weeks old) they will be introduced to outside conditions during the day. After a
few weeks of the turkeys getting acclimated to outdoor living. The turkeys outdoor living space will be (give size), which
is ample size since turkeys need >4 square feet space per bird.
Recommended minimum density, feeder, and drinker space for
turkeys
Recommended minimum density, feeder, and drinker space for turkeys
Age (weeks)
Density (sq ft/poult)
Feeder Space (linear
in./poult)
Drinker Space (linear
in./poult)
0 to 6
1 to 1.5
1
. 05
6 to 14
2 to 3
3
1.0
Over 14
3 to 4
3
1.5
Range pens
1 acre/250 birds
3
1.5
PennState Extension – Small-Flock Turkey Production
The turkeys will have a roost available for them to use. The roost will build leg muscles and help prevent breast
blisters.
The turkeys will have plenty of shade to keep cool.
Manure Handling:
When the turkey project is completed, I’ll remove the manure and wood shavings and place them in our compost pile.
After 2 years sitting in the compost area, we will use the decomposed material in our family vegetable garden.
Feeding & Water:
The turkeys will be started on Turkey Starter (27% protein), the antibiotics in the starter mix help the turkey poults get
st
Description – TAB cont.
Feeding & Water:
The turkeys will be started on Turkey Starter (27% protein), the antibiotics in the starter mix help the turkey poults get
started in life. After the 1st bag (50#) is finished, the turkeys will be switched to 27% protein mix. The turkeys will
have feed always available to them from a hanging feeder. The feeder will be raised as the turkeys grow. Ideal height
is having the feeder tray at the height of the turkeys back. When the turkeys are >2 months old, scratch grains &
sunflower seeds will be mixed into their feed to encourage greater feed consumption. The turkeys will also receive
ground oyster shells as grit. This helps them to digest their feed in their gizzard. I’ll purchase the feed from Meyer
Hatchery, they help guide my purchases for good turkey growth.
When our garden has surplus crops, we cut them into pieces and feed these to the turkeys as treats.
The turkeys’ water is supplied from hanging nipple waterers. I make sure that the water is clean and supplied with
fresh water. The hanging, nipple waterers are raised to that they are the same height as the turkeys back.
Expected Rate of Gain:
Market turkeys must be > 20 pounds to be sold at Ashland County Jr. Fair Auction. My goal is to have a >28 pound
turkey for Ashland Co. Fair. To help guide this growth goal, I’ll weigh my turkeys periodically and check their growth
compared to growth charts provided by my Ag Instructor. Some of my turkeys will need to be >17 pounds by August
1st to achieve a 28 pound turkey.
Training & Preparation for Show:
Turkeys are NOT typically trained to be shown, but I will have the turkeys used to being handled and friendly. By
feeding them treats and holding the turkeys a few times a week, they will be use to my presence. I will train the
turkeys on how to drink from the water nipples, and try to get them to roost.
Before the show I’ll wash the turkeys if they have dirty feathers. If I keep the pen clean with lots of good bedding, the
turkeys should have clean feathers and NO manure caked onto their breast.
Marketing Livestock:
I’ll contact potential bidders and inform them of the Ashland County Jr. Livestock sale that is held ____.
At the auction I will have a small gift bag of jelly and salsa that I helped my family can and give it to the buyer of my
market turkey. I will also send them a thank you note with a photo of me with my turkey at the fair. I will also find out
how the buyer wants the turkey processed from a form that Mr Bode will provide.
The remaining turkeys will be processed after the Ashland Co. Fair, near the end of September. My family will take
the turkeys to Spring Maple Enterprises (400 Base Line Rd., W. Shiloh, OH 44837 ; 419-896-2468).
My family will keep 2 turkeys, one for Thanksgiving and another for another meal. The remaining 2 turkeys will be
sold to coworkers of my father. They have offered $80 for each bird, and I will pay for processing.
Inventory:
I will wash the feeder & waterer when I’m finished with this project. I plan on raising Market Turkeys next year, so I’ll
be prepared with these current supplies. The remaining feed will be used for my mom’s laying hens, since the protein
will deteriorate with time, and will not be useful next year.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals:

Need 5 (ex. Weight, Profit, Placement, Health, Behavior, Skill)
Two of my Market Turkeys will weigh > 27 pounds Friday before Ashland Co. Jr. Fair Weigh-in. (Minimum
weight is 20 pounds, and most champion turkeys are 28-30 pounds)
AET help Page
- Student Profile Tab
“Experience Manager (SAE)
Click on the Pencil “Plan”
next to your SAE project
Time Investment -TAB
Project Hours: I will work in my project and compile hours of experience on the
approximate schedule throughout the duration of the project.
During School Week: ________ hrs/day
Weekends: _______ hrs/day
Summer Hours: _______ hrs/day
Additional People Involved: In my SAE, there are additional individuals who assist in
carrying out the care and management of my project. They include:
-_________________
-_________________
-Mr. Bode – my agricultural instructor / FFA advisor
Plans for additional learning: I may need additional assistance and information in order to
conduct my project successfully. During the project, I may seek the following for assistance
(list individuals, seminars, workshops, internet and printed resources)
Ex. Mr. Bode, the greatest Ag Instructor that I’ve ever had, will guide me through questions that I have with this project.
Ex. By using Ashland Counties, OSU extension website, I will find up-to-date information on my project and current requirements
for my project. Additional information for my project is available through www.ohioline.osu.edu a website run by Ohio State
Extension that educates rural Ohioans.
Potential schedule conflicts include: While this project is ongoing, I am involved in the
following activities or events that may conflict with the care, management and success of
this project. Because of these commitments, I will have to learn to manage my time and
resources to complete this project.
Ex. I participate in Mapleton JV Volleyball, we practice 3 hours per day, Monday- Saturday; and have 2 games scheduled per week.
Home Game days require me to stay after school till about 8:30. Away Game days require me to stay after school till about 9:30.
Ex. I work at Dorlo’s Pizza as a waitress. My work schedule at Dorlo’s Pizza is…
Sometimes I can switch days/shifts, or I’m asked to switch days/shifts with other employees.
AET help Page
- Student Profile Tab
“Experience Manager (SAE)
Click on the Pencil “Plan”
next to your SAE project
Financial Investment - TAB
Turkey Entrepreneurship Agreement
Kind, Size, Duration:
For the school year 20___-20___, my SAE will consist of 3 head of Market Turkeys that will
begin on May 1st and terminate on September 30th, 20___.
Student Responsibility:
I will furnish and assume _100__% of the cost of the animal,
_ 30 __% of the feed cost, _ 0 __% of any operating costs, _ 50 __% of any other cost,
Remember…
and assume _ 100 __% of any labor involved in this project.
The “Student Responsibility” _25_%
+
“Other Party Responsibility” _75_%
WILL = 100%
Other Party Responsibility:
The other party (who?) will furnish and assume _ 0 __% of any of the cost of the animal,
_ 70 __% feed cost, _ 100 __% of any operating cost, _ 50 __% any other cost
and assume _ 0 __% of any labor involved in this project.
Student Returns:
I will receive _ 100 __% of all returns from the Fair Turkey in this project and receive _0__% of
the other Turkeys. I’ll be responsible for _0__% of any losses in this project due to natural
causes and _100__% of any losses due to neglect.
Other Party Returns:
The other party will receive _0__% of all returns from the Fair Turkey in this project and
receive _100__% of the other Turkeys to be used as food for the family. The other party will
be responsible for _ 100 __% of any losses in this project due to natural causes, and _0__% of
any losses due to student neglect.
Agreement Termination:
This is all by mutual agreement between all parties.
AET help Page
- Student Profile Tab
“Experience Manager (SAE)
Click on the Pencil “Plan”
next to your SAE project
Capital Investment - TAB
If YOU own:
- BARN
- LAND
- Equipment > $1000: Tractors, tillage equipment, Grooming Shoot, etc.
- BREEDING LIVESTOCK
complete this page with Mr. Bode’s assistance.
If you do NOT own the above items (this is 90% of Ag Students), type:
I do NOT own any Capital Investment, my parents provide facilities
for my livestock as explained under the Financial Investment Plan.
I do NOT own any Capital Investment, my parents provide Land &
Equipment for my Plant (list crop) SAE as explained under the Financial
Investment Plan.
Or
I am ½ owner of _____ grooming shoot.
All other Capital Investment, my parents provide facilities for my
livestock as explained under the Financial Investment Plan.
Learning Objectives - TAB
Find BLUE (
Click Here )
- Copy
- Paste on this page
- DELETE NONrelevant items for your SAE
AET help Page
- Student Profile Tab
“Experience Manager (SAE)
Click on the $ in circle “Budget”
next to your SAE project
Turkey - Budget Page
“Sold”
“Fair Auction”
“Parents pay, you work for”
“Freezer”
“Traded”