Wild turkey baskets are a perfect way to feed the birds. Plant trees, including grapes and cherry tree crops (If accessible), crabapples, hackberries, and other types of shrubs in your garden! These natural food sources will provide you money for free by providing fertilizer as well – it doesn’t get much better than that.
Full Answer
What is the best food for turkeys?
For adult turkeys, you can use a 16 – 20% protein feed. Most feed companies are, once again, going to brand this as a game bird feed. Gamebird and Turkey are pretty much interchangeable when it comes to commercially available feeds. This food will be the staple of your turkey’s diet for the rest of it’s life.
What should I Feed my 5 week old Turkey?
If at 5 weeks old you still have half a bag of high protein turkey starter, just feed it till it is gone and switch when you buy a new bag. At about 13 weeks or so, your turkeys can start eating a regular turkey or game bird feed. At this stage, you can start feeding a lower percentage protein.
What do Turkey chicks eat when they hatch?
When a turkey chick initially hatches, it absorbs the yolk into its abdomen. The yolk can provide all the nutrition the chick needs for a day or two but then, turkey chicks should be offered a properly formulated starter feed.
What to feed day old poults?
(Turkey starter is the 28% feed that you give day old poults, it’s made to be their first feed.) The older the poults are the less exact you need to be with their feed if they are outside and supplementing their ration with grass and bugs. It still needs to be close, but a little bit off won’t be a huge deal.
What should I feed my 16 week old turkey?
Poults should be fed 28% protein turkey starter until 8 weeks of age. 24-26% protein turkey grower crumbles should be fed after the first 8 weeks until they are approximately 6 months of age. At that time, they can be switched to 16% – 18% lay pellets, crumbles, or mash.
How long should turkeys be fed starter feed?
A turkey starter crumb with a protein content of between 22 – 24% is ideal and most starter type feeds can be fed from hatching until the birds reach 5 – 8 weeks depending upon the manufacturers recommendations.
What is the best feed to feed turkeys?
FEED turkeys cracked or whole kernel corn, sunflower seeds, oats, wheat, or non-medicated commercial poultry or turkey rations. FEED turkeys daily by broadcasting food at a rate of 2 large handfuls (or 1/2 cup) per turkey per day.
At what age can turkeys eat grass?
Poults can be allowed limited access to pasture at six weeks of age.
When should I start my turkey grower?
Feed Homestead Turkey Starter (Medicated) to turkey poults for the first 6 weeks. ... In some situations young turkeys may begin feather pulling or even become cannibalistic. ... After 6 weeks, the turkey should be fed Homestead Turkey-Grower (Medicated) .More items...
Is grower feed good for turkey?
It is ideal for turkeys when they have attained four weeks of age. Produced as a fine mash so that feed wastage is minimized, digestibility is improved and there is less feed separation, ensuring a consistent intake of nutrients. Formulated with recommended high protein level necessary for efficient live weight gain.
What should you not feed turkeys?
Here is some food that you should not feed to turkeys:Low-Quality chicken feed.Dairy foods.Onions.Raw meat.Chocolate.Processed foods.Fruit pits and seeds.Tomato and eggplant leaves.More items...
Do turkeys eat alfalfa pellets?
Adding timothy hay pellets can also provide roughage without a lot of calories. As these birds are bred to be large, food intake should be restricted with extra greens (pasture, alfalfa, grain sprouts, lettuce, cabbage, swiss chard) and roughage. Turkeys also love fruit, but it should be given in limited quantities.
Do turkeys eat bird seed?
Foods They Eat Seeds and grain, including spilled birdseed or corn and wheat in agricultural fields. Berries, wild grapes, crabapples, and other small fruits. Small reptiles including lizards and snakes. Fleshy plant parts such as buds, roots, bulbs, succulents, and cacti.
Are mealworms good for turkeys?
Because of mealworms' low nutritional content, most rehabbers moisten and coat the mealworms with a nutritional powder formulated to meet the needs of young birds. But please be assured that providing mealworms to birds does them no harm.
Can turkeys eat carrots?
Turkeys love to pick at natural plants. They will consume all sorts of leaves and grasses. You can also feed your turkey various vegetable plants like lettuce, cabbage, carrot leaves, and much more.
What kind of fruit do turkeys eat?
Other planting suggestions include black cherry trees, blueberries, wild grapes and dogwood. Wild turkeys consume cacti fruits in arid areas and like many species of wildlife, will even consume poison ivy berries too.
When can turkey poults go outside?
Make sure they are fully feathered and at least eight weeks old before moving poults to their new outdoor housing. You can give them access to outdoors but still provide the lamp at night for a week or two, and then finally move them to their new, grown-up turkey roosts and pen.
Can baby turkeys eat medicated chick starter?
Turkeys may be started in much the same way that we recommend you start baby chicks. Start them on a medicated 28% Turkey Starter for the first 8 weeks.
Why are my baby turkeys dying?
Baby turkeys often die because they are not getting enough protein, they are too hot or cold (or there is a fluctuation in temperature), there is a lack of shade, they aren't getting enough water, or because predators get to them.
What do you feed turkeys to fatten them up?
Corn tops the list of grains fed to turkeys for fattening. Oats can also be fed, especially if cannibalism or feather picking is a problem, since the high fiber content of this grain is generally recognized as one means of reducing feather picking (in chickens as well as in turkeys.)
What to feed a turkey to fatten it up?
This can come in the form of a starter or grower feed. For fattening up a turkey, using a 30% protein gamebird feed will likely give the best results.
What to feed a turkey to gain weight?
Consider adding corn and oats to your turkey’s diet in larger quantities. Corn is especially good for weight gain but typically results in birds putting on fat and not muscle. Even so, it is good to offer different types of food to encourage the bird to eat more.
What do turkeys eat?
In the wild turkeys eat insects, fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, plants, and small vertebrate animals. Acorns are a particular favorite during the wintertime when other food sources are scarce. Wild turkeys will use their feet, like chickens do, to scratch up worms, snails, and seeds to the surface.
Why are turkeys considered commercial birds?
Because turkeys (and chickens) are commercial birds, turkey growers and universities have put millions of dollars into research to ensure that they grow strong and healthy. For meat birds, rations are typically formulated so they grow to their maximum potential but not so fast as to cause issues with their health.
How to get turkeys to be more friendly?
Feeding your turkey treats by hand is a great way to get your birds to become more friendly and used to you. They will learn that not only do you not hurt them, coming close to you usually means they get some kind of yummy treat!
When to start feeding chickens a low protein diet?
At around 5 weeks of age you can start feeding a lower protein feed. Typically, this type of feed is found in feed stores called a “grower” feed. Traditional chick starter (the kind sold for chickens) also has this protein level if you are unable to find a turkey or game bird specific product at your feed store.
When can turkeys start eating game bird feed?
At about 13 weeks or so, your turkeys can start eating a regular turkey or game bird feed. At this stage, you can start feeding a lower percentage protein. As far as commercial poultry feeds go, typically the lower the total percentage protein in the feed, the less expensive it is.
What to feed a turkey?
Here are some common snacks often offered to turkeys: 1 Watermelon#N#This is an excellent summertime treat to offer your turkeys as it can help keep them hydrated even on the hottest days. All parts of the watermelon are safe to feed your turkeys, including the flesh, seeds, and rind. 2 Apples#N#Most turkeys love apples and will enjoy pecking at them cubed or sliced. Seeds should be removed if possible, but small amounts of seed ingested on occasion are not dangerous to your birds. Applesauce is a great snack option for young birds as well! 3 Peas#N#This is probably going to be the table scrap your turkeys enjoy the most! Peas are a healthy snack to offer your birds and can be offered dried, cooked, or frozen. You can even mix peas into your regular feed ration for extra protein! 4 Spinach#N#If you really want to offer spinach to your turkeys as an occasional treat or snack, doing so in small amounts is fine. Spinach can block the absorption of calcium, leading to bone density issues over the long term if fed in abundance.
What is the best food for turkeys?
Many custom rations for turkeys include a variety of grains and seeds, including: Corn. While corn is not the most nutritious food on its own, it can be a great option for providing fat and overall energy. This can be especially useful in the winter, so corn is common in most winter rations.
Why do turkeys need extra food?
Providing a little extra food in addition to their normal ration can help save on feed costs while ensuring nothing goes to waste. Turkeys, like most poultry, will readily accept scraps and leftovers, but as their caretaker, it is up to you to know which foods are safe for your flock.
How to attract wild turkeys to your property?
Diversity is key when trying to attract wild turkeys to your property. Always be sure to plant multiple choices to help coax turkeys into the area. Additionally, consider seeding the area with ryegrass, oats, sorghum, or corn to provide a well-rounded and lush place for turkeys and other wildlife to visit.
How much protein do turkeys need?
As turkeys grow, their protein requirements change. Young turkeys require around 28% protein from the start to ensure they grow quickly and safely.
What do turkeys eat?
Their exact diet depends on the season and available food and their age and stage in life. Turkeys eat insects, snails, slugs, lizards, snakes, and grasshoppers. They enjoy nuts, acorns, seeds (including many wild weed seeds), corn, grain, and peas. They eat berries, flowers, bulbs, foliage, and fruit.
What to avoid feeding turkeys?
Regardless of how abundant these scraps may be around your farm, these are some of the most common foods to avoid feeding turkeys: Uncooked Beans.
Raising baby turkeys
The road to a mature tom (male turkey) or hen (female turkey) begins with raising baby turkeys, or turkey poults. Temperature and brooder setup for raising poults is similar to baby chicks. One big difference is poults need to be warmer than baby chicks during the first week to 10 days.
Raising adult turkeys
Adult turkeys thrive in spacious outdoor areas as a group of at least three to six birds. Some backyard flock raisers allow their turkeys to free-range with a predator-proof fenced area for nighttime protection.
Choosing turkey breeds
Both toms and hens can be raised for meat, with the main difference being bird size. One of your first choices will be whether to raise traditional or heritage turkey breeds.
What do turkeys eat?
Young turkeys need a high-protein diet like Purina ® Game Bird & Turkey Starter feed from birth to 8 weeks old, while your chicks need a chick starter feed, like Purina ® Start & Grow ® feed, from birth to 18 weeks old or so.
Raising turkeys with chickens
Raising turkeys with chickens can be a delicate topic. Some enthusiasts integrate the two species well while others have noted disease issues. Be sure to research comingling in advance and always follow a bird integration plan.
How to feed a turkey?
1. Grazing on pasture. Intake from pasture or range grass (grass from 4 – 6 inches long) accounts for 50% of their diets. Wild turkeys often forage near wooded areas. Therefore, you should provide them with ground feeding areas or platform feeders which is large, low enough to accommodate these large birds.
What is the best food for a turkey?
Plus, corn contributes to weight gain but typically results in birds gaining fat and not muscle. Oats have a protein level of 11 – 14% and are one of the best feed to turkeys. It is good to offer your turkeys a variety of grains to encourage them to eat more.
What do turkeys eat?
In the wild, turkeys forage regularly and will eat many various kinds of natural food such as insects, fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, plants, and small vertebrate animals. Turkeys often mainly rely on acorns during the winter season because other alternative food sources may be rare.
How to fatten up a turkey?
Some efficient methods that can be used to ensure a fattened, juicy meal are adding corn and oats to your turkeys’ diets, giving them high protein feed, and keeping feed located in one place . It is advised to use a 30% protein gamebird feed for fattening up a turkey.
Can turkeys forage in pasture?
Some farmers allow turkeys to forage freely through pastures and fields or sprinkle vegetable scraps, or toss a handful of mealworms in order to encourage them to forage. A simple tip you need to keep in mind is that your turkey can access fresh, clean, and available water at all times.
Do turkeys need more protein than chickens?
Turkeys can be a fun addition to a backyard flock if you are looking for company, nutritious meat, and eggs. Generally, a turkey needs more protein than a normal chicken. Check out my article below to know about turkey feed and effective methods to raise a fat and healthy flock. 1.
Can turkeys eat alfalfa hay?
Besides commercial feeds that contain high levels of protein , turkeys can be supplied with alfalfa hay as their main feed. In contrast, inadequate or excess protein may be detrimental to the health of turkeys. Plus, corn contributes to weight gain but typically results in birds gaining fat and not muscle.
What do baby turkeys eat?
Food. Baby turkeys need to eat turkey/gamebird starter mash or crumbles, a blend specially formulated for their growth and development. Layer or breeder mash, crumbles, or pellets should never be fed to poults, not even as an emergency ration.
What is the least wasteful form of food for turkeys?
Pellets are the least wasteful form, followed by crumbles and then mash. Feeders hanging or placed at the level of the birds’ backs will help prevent feed wastage. ~~Hen scratch or other whole or cracked grain mixes are tasty treats for turkeys. But, as with all treats, they should be fed in limited amounts.
How hot should a brooder be for chicks?
It should have a cooler area for chicks to find their level of comfort. For the first week of life, the brooder should be at about 95 degrees. Poults will let you know if the brooder is too hot or too cold. Too hot, and the birds will crowd as far from the heat as possible.
What is the best ration for a poult?
A good emergency ration is a 50-50 blend of rolled oats and cornmeal, whirled in a food blender to a mash or crumble consistency.
How big should a brooder be for a poult?
It should be scrubbed and disinfected between uses. Brooders should be large enough to allow the poults to get away from the heat source –3’x4’ is a good size for a few poults and will allow plenty of room for the first couple of weeks.
Why should turkeys not be roosting?
Broad-breasted varieties or other meat birds should not be given roosts because it can cause crooked keels and breast blisters. 3”-4” of bedding should be provided for broad-breasted breeds of turkey. ~~Turkeys are happiest when they have more room.
How many watts of infrared light bulb for poults?
Clamp to the side of the box and have the bulb and hood hanging over the side. For a greater number of poults, a 250-watt infrared bulb can be used. Infrared bulbs get very hot – they should be kept a minimum of 18 inches away from flammable items (such as wooden or cardboard walls, and wood shavings).
What is the best feed for a turkey?
Turkeys need high protein feed. Start your turkey poults out on a 28% protein feed. Ideally, you’ll be able to find a feed made specifically for turkeys, but that’s not always the case. We always use game bird starter, then game bird grower for turkeys.
How much should a 16 week old turkey eat?
Your turkeys will eat 64 pounds of feed by 16 weeks. At 16 weeks old your broad breasted turkeys will have eaten 64 pounds of feed each for toms and nearly 46 pounds of feed each for hens. These 16 week old toms will weigh 25 pounds, yielding a 20 pound carcass.
How much does a poult eat?
A day old poult eats nearly nothing, .04 pounds of feed per day per poult. Compare that to a 20 week old broad breasted tom eating 1.3 pounds of feed per day! By 14 weeks toms are eating 30% more than hens and by 20 weeks toms are eating more than twice as much as hens!
How much feed should a 20 week old hen eat?
A 20 week old tom will have eaten 101.72 pounds of feed and be 36 pounds, yielding a 28.8 pound carcass. Hens at 20 weeks will have eaten 64.37 pounds of feed and be 24.14 pounds live, which will yield a 19.31 pound carcass.
How much do heritage turkeys eat?
The heritage breed turkeys will eat 73 pounds of feed over a 28 week period. Poults start out at just over a half pound of feed eaten for the entire first two weeks and gradually increases to each bird eating over a half a pound per day! Heritage Turkey Age. (in weeks) Total Pounds Of Feed. (per poult for 2 weeks) Daily Pounds Of Feed.
How much food do turkeys eat per day?
If these turkeys are getting 50% of their diet from pasture, they are actually eating .93 pounds of food per day, with only .62 pounds of that food being the turkey feed you gave them.
What is the feed to gain ratio for turkeys?
As the turkey gets older, closer to butchering weight, the feed to gain ratio goes up to 2.8 to 1. This feed to gain ratio is for turkeys that are kept in a roomy pen, but not free range. If your turkeys can do a lot of roaming around, that takes extra energy, which takes more feed.
