The giblets (the turkey’s heart, liver, and gizzard) are nutrient rich, but offer them in small amounts to babies (no more than 1-2 teaspoons of cooked giblets per week). The giblets are very high in vitamin A and rich in B-vitamins, folate, choline, iron, and selenium.
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 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.
When can turkeys eat regular 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 do you do when baby turkey chicks grow up?
Growing is a hard job for little chicks, help them during this time by keeping them warm, dry, and give them the proper feed, to aid in proper digestion and elimination. Three diseases to watch for as your turkey poults grow are coccidiosis, blackhead, and airsacculitis.
What do you feed a 12 week old turkey?
Feed for Turkey Poults For their first 12 weeks, poults should be given a 28% protein feed. After 12 weeks, they can be fed a 20% protein feed and you can begin to add grains such as corn and oats to their feed as oats are a great bone strengthening supplement for poults.
What is the best food for baby turkeys?
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.
At what age can turkeys eat grass?
Poults can be allowed limited access to pasture at six weeks of age.
At what age can baby turkeys 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.
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...
What snacks do turkeys like?
They enjoy nuts, acorns, seeds (including many wild weed seeds), corn, grain, and peas. They eat berries, flowers, bulbs, foliage, and fruit. Domesticated turkeys have different needs than chickens or ducks and should be fed either a turkey formulated feed or a wild or game bird feed to meet their needs.
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.
What vegetables can turkeys eat?
Types of Turkey Feed Turkeys like to eat the growing tips of the grass. They will also enjoy any kitchen or garden scraps: lettuce, tomatoes, sweet corn, summer squash, and so on. Access to leafy greens can also discourage development of a bad feather-picking habit.
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.
What is the best bedding for turkeys?
Like all poultry, turkeys require a bedding material that is absorbent, comfortable, and of appropriate size. Wood shavings work best, but other acceptable materials include peanut hulls, corn cobs, and peat moss. However, wood shavings need to be larger than sawdust to prevent accidental ingestion.
At what age can you tell if a turkey is male or female?
Wait until the chicks are eight weeks old, when the males will develop larger feet and shanks and have fewer feathers on their heads. The females will appear more gracile. Wait until their first breeding season. You don't have to be an expert turkey observer to realize who's who during a mating.
Can turkeys handle cold weather?
Northern-range turkeys have been resilient through frigid winters, although they aren't invincible. If food is available during winter, turkeys can often survive extended periods of extreme cold and snow. However, deep snow and limited amounts of food can greatly decrease the turkeys' chance of survival.
What do turkeys feed their babies?
The poults will need a 28% protein starter for the first 6-8 weeks. We recommend looking for specialized turkey or wild game bird feed. After that, you can change them over to a feed with an 18% protein.
What are turkeys favorite food?
Preferred foods of wild turkeys Generally, turkeys thrive in and near mature forests that produce abundant amounts of mast, the fruits and nuts of woody plants. In the spring, they tend to eat leaves and grasses, and in the fall, they feed more on fruits, berries, seeds and insects.
Can you feed baby turkeys chick starter?
FEEDING POULTS: Personally, I feed turkey poults a mixture of ½ medicated chick starter (20% protein) and ½ unmedicated game bird starter (28% protein) until they are 6 weeks old and then 20% medicated chick starter until they are 18 weeks old.
What do wild baby turkeys eat?
What do baby turkeys eat in the wild? For the first month of their lives, baby turkeys eat mostly protein foods like mollusks, insects, and small reptiles. After this critical month of life, babies are just as omnivorous as adults. They start eating more seeds, vegetables, roots, fruits, grains, and nuts.
What is the best feed for a turkey poult?
Day old turkey poults need a 28% feed. The key to raising healthy poults is to give them the correct feed! For your day old poults, use 28% feed or a gamebird starter which will be a 30% feed. Poults need a much higher protein feed than most other young birds and the appropriate day old poult feeds are noticeably more expensive than ...
What do turkeys eat?
Our adult turkeys run around the barnyard and eat grass and bugs and occasionally eat some shelled corn. We don’t feed them anything special, since they can roam about and get what they need by grazing.
What to do if your turkeys look lackluster?
Just watch the condition of your birds, if they look good, you’re doing it right! If your turkeys look a bit lackluster, up their feed amount and possibly increase the protein in the feed , especially if you notice they are molting.
What is 12% turkey feed?
Once your turkeys get to adult size, they are fine with a 12% feed as a maintenance ration. 12% non medicated poultry feed should be really easy to find at most any feed store. Notice that 12% is a maintenance ration, not a breeding/laying ration.
Can you feed turkey poults outside?
Do your best, but just don’t switch feed all of a sudden, ease them into it. Once your poults can go outside, read Space Needed To Raise Turkey Poults, keep feed available to them. Poults will eat whatever snacks they want to outside and eat the turkey feed they need, as well.
Does turkey feed change as it grows?
Protein % needed will change as turkey grows. You’ll notice in the table at the beginning of the article, the percent protein in the feed changes as the poults grow. This is normal for any feed ration.
Can you use turkey starter for poults?
Short answer: Don’t do it. The only acceptable substitute for turkey starter is gamebird starter. I can see why you think of broiler feed right off, it is a higher protein feed, as far as chickens go, but it’s not enough for your poults! Use the turkey starter, if it’s available in your area.
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 often should I change my brooder litter?
Keep the brooder clean – change litter at least once a week, more if you have many poults. Damp dirty litter and droppings can cause respiratory problems and infections.
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.
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.
What is a baby turkey called?
During the first 28 days after hatching, baby turkeys are called “poults”. A baby female turkey is called “jenny” and a baby male one is called “jake”. During this period, poults should be guided and protected by their mothers, as they are still too weak and easily become the prey of predators.
Where do baby turkeys sleep?
Wild baby turkeys sleep under the mother turkey’s wings on the ground during their first few weeks. About one month later, they will join their parents sleeping on a low branch at night, snuggling under their parents’ wings.
What temperature should a turkey incubator be?
Turkeys are small, thermophilic birds, therefore a heat lamp is essential for baby turkeys. The incubator’s temperature should be set from 95° to 98°F before the poults are placed inside. You should pay close attention to their behavior in the incubator. If they are cowering under the light, it means they are cold.
Why do turkeys have blood in their droppings?
One of the most common problems of turkey poults is lethargic, flustered skin with droopy wings and blood in droppings. This might be caused by coccidiosis, a type of protozoan that is contagious.
Why do turkeys pick feathers?
Causes of this include overheating, overcrowding, not enough protein, too much light, and so on.
How much should the temperature be lowered for a brooder?
If they are acting normally under the light, it means the temperature is perfect. The temperature should be lowered by 5°F per week until the temperature outside is the same as inside the brooder. To do that you just need to raise the heat lamp higher. Do not let the poults get wet or cold.
Why is raising a turkey so difficult?
Comparing to ducks and chickens, raising turkeys is a lot more challenging because they are more sensitive and fragile to nutritional and environmental mismanagement. Therefore, you must guarantee their sanitation, food, and disease prevention if you want your baby turkeys to develop safely.
How to feed a turkey at 3 weeks?
1. Boiled Eggs – during first 3 weeks. Baby turkeys need high protein than chicks. They need at least 28 percent protein during the first 6 weeks. Therefore, feed them with boiled eggs during the initial days. Boil Eggs Perfectly, peel them and mash well.
How to feed a baby turkey?
However, do not stop providing them with boiled eggs. What you can do is to feed them twice with boiled eggs and twice with the chick grit during the day. 4. Bring up Scratch and Oyster Shell.
How to get baby turkeys to eat boiled eggs?
Boil Eggs Perfectly, peel them and mash well. Lay a piece of clean cloth or paper on a smooth surface in front of the baby turkeys. Now sprinkle the egg pieces all over it and encourage the poults to eat. They can take few minutes in taking their first steps towards the boiled eggs and eating it.
How long do turkeys stay in the yard?
After 10 weeks, set you poults free in your lawn or backyard and let them enjoy the fresh greenery, including grass, kale and clover etc. However, make sure that your turkey area is nicely fenced in order to protect them from any possible predators. Posted by Kathryn Jan in Pets & Animals. Tweet.
Can you keep a baby turkey as a pet?
Keeping turkeys as pets is fun and an amazing activity. They are eye-catching creatures, and can add to the overall natural beauty of your lawn and backyard. Moreover, turkey’s eggs are rich source of protein; their meat is one among the rich and tasty meats. However, feeding the baby turkeys, also known as poults, is a more serious, ...
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.
What is a baby turkey called?
A baby turkey is called a poult . A turkey poult is a young turkey that is less than 4 weeks old. During this time, the turkey poult relies on its mother for protection and guidance. Now that you know the name of a baby turkey, here are the names of grown turkeys: Male Turkey: TOM or GOBBLER. Female Turkey: HEN.
What temperature should a turkey be before it is put in the brooder?
The temperature in the brooder should be set to 95°-98°F before the turkeys are placed in the brooder. Turkey’s are heat-loving little birds. So watch their behavior in the brooder closely. If they are huddled under the light, they are cold. If they are hugging the side of the brooder, it is too hot.
How big of a roost do turkeys need?
Turkeys love to roost just like chickens do. But they will prefer a roost that is something like a 2’x6′ laying flat on its side. They like a flat roost that a board on its side can give. And a roost can be made available at about 4 weeks of age and each young bird will need about 6 inches of roost space.
What do you do before you put a poult in the brooder?
Before the poults are placed in the brooder they need to be inspected carefully to note any abnormalities, sickness, or weaknesses. When the poults are placed in the brooder their beaks need to be dipped in the water and monitored carefully to make sure that they are drinking and eating adequately.
What diseases do turkey poults get?
Three diseases to watch for as your turkey poults grow are coccidiosis, blackhead, and airsacculitis.
How to prevent waste in turkeys?
Feeding turkeys their feed in the pellet form will be the best way to prevent waste. Turkeys are known to waste a lot of feed. And hanging feeders to the height of the turkey’s back will also help reduce spills and food waste. Gobble, gobble baby turkey!
Can turkeys go outside?
Preparing Turkey Poults for Outside Living and When They Can Go Outside. Like all young birds, turkeys are very prone to becoming chilled before their feathers are fully in. Before full-time-regular-outdoor-living, they need to be fully feathered and acclimated to the temperatures.
