Vegetables
- Asparagus
- Beans, cooked
- Beets (the vegetable and the greens)
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
What is the best feed for turkey poults?
Turkey poults require the most protein during the first eight weeks of life, making a whole grain feed (28% protein) the best option. However, a broiler chicken feed consisting of 23-24% protein is efficient. Between nine and 24 weeks, you can decrease to 18-20% protein or offer a fermented feed. Blackhead Disease and Raising Turkeys with Chickens
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 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.
Can baby chickens eat turkey feed?
This percentage protein is fine for chickens but may cause your turkey chicks to grow slower than they would if they were on an appropriate feed. Feeding your baby chickens a higher protein turkey feed for the first few weeks should have no long term effects.
What do you feed day old poults?
Day-old chicks through 18 weeks old require starter feed, aka starter crumbles, containing 20% protein. Starter feed contains the highest percentage of protein a layer will ever consume, which makes sense given their astronomical rate of growth in the first few months of life.
What do day old turkeys eat?
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 do you feed a turkey poult?
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.
How do you take care of a day old turkey?
2:516:10How To Take Care Of A Baby Turkey - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTurkey just going there with red light. We will drink the water no tires yeah so hungry you know weMoreTurkey just going there with red light. We will drink the water no tires yeah so hungry you know we put turkey food out what is it sir kitty.
What do you feed newly hatched 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.
Can you feed turkey poults chick starter?
If you are unable to find "turkey feeds", start and grow your poults on a 20-22% Chick Starter (medicated) for the first 12 weeks. From that time on to the time of slaughter, provide them with an 18% Chick Grower ration.
How do you look after a turkey poult?
To ensure poults remain close to heat, water, and food, restrict them to a smaller brooder space for a few days. A rafter of young turkeys can become confused in a large space. This can cause them to starve or catch a chill. To minimize workload, construct a brooder that will accommodate the growth of the young flock.
How long do baby turkeys need a heat lamp?
A thermometer is highly recommended. This should be placed at chick level in the brooder. 95 degrees is the ideal brooder temperature for the first week of the poults' lives. After the first week, you can decrease the brooder temperature by 5 degrees each week until they are fully feathered (6-7 weeks).
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 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...
How do you save a baby turkey from dying?
First, move the bird to a cooler location and provide it with plenty of water. If necessary, you can also use a fan or mist the bird with cool water. By taking these steps, you can help prevent your turkey from succumbing to overheating. This can cause them to stop eating and drinking, and they may even die.
Are baby turkeys hard to raise?
Turkeys are not that hard to raise, but they differ a bit from chickens in terms of what they need, and raising them from poults (baby turkeys) is more time- and energy-intensive than raising chickens from baby chicks.
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.
Can baby turkeys eat bread?
Yes, turkeys can eat bread. Bread is good food for turkeys, nutritionally, and it's best to feed bread to turkeys occasionally but there are some toxic effects of feeding the moldy bread. Make sure to not put the moldy bread on turkeys and other poultry birds.
Do wild turkeys eat carrots?
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.
How do you look after a turkey poult?
To ensure poults remain close to heat, water, and food, restrict them to a smaller brooder space for a few days. A rafter of young turkeys can become confused in a large space. This can cause them to starve or catch a chill. To minimize workload, construct a brooder that will accommodate the growth of the young flock.
How to care for a turkey after it's born?
Caring for newborn chicks is the hardest. Immediately after the turkey was born, do not rush to feed it. During the first day, he can spend those food supplies that he still has. But do not forget to put a container of water. At the same time, it is not necessary to water the chicks, it is enough to show them where the drinker is. In order for the birds to develop strong immunity, we add vitamin C to the water. And for the turkey to drink such a drink with pleasure, sweeten it.
Why do turkeys linger longer than other birds?
And in turkeys, due to the anatomical structure, food in the intestines lingers longer than other birds. And if in chickens, for example, dirty or sour food quickly leaves the intestines and, perhaps, does not harm the body, then turkey poults will certainly have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Is a turkey a capricious bird?
A turkey is a rather capricious bird. If the food is not organized properly, the birds will not even gain average weight, not to mention the maximum weight. In no case should birds be given compound feeds of poor quality.
What is the best feed for a day old poult?
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 would be fine for chickens.
What is the best feed for a turkey?
The best feed for turkeys is a 28% unmedicated turkey starter for day old poults, which will be gradually transitioned to a 12% unmedicated maintenance ration for adult turkeys.
Why do you want to keep track of the poults age?
The reason that you’ll want to keep track of the poults age and reduce the protein percentage of the feed is that higher protein feeds are expensive and lower protein feeds are less so.
What is starter feed for poults?
As the name “starter” suggests, it is the first feed your new poults need. It will be a bit higher in protein than the grower and come in smaller pieces, called a crumble, so it’s easier for the poults to eat.
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.
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 instead of broiler feed?
Sometimes it can be hard to source a higher protein feed for your poults, and it’s easy to think well what about using a broiler feed, instead? Short answer: Don’t do it. The only acceptable substitute for turkey starter is gamebird starter.
What is poultry feed?
Poultry feeds are formulated and tested to grow poultry efficiently and provide them everything they need in order to avoid problems. A nutrient balancer like the one fertrell sells for turkeys would be a very good idea (not sure if it contains soy or gluten).
What do game birds eat?
Early on, you can use a lot of mealworms or crickets. Gamebirds eat a lot of animal protein as young poults. There are charts in the following link for nutrient requirements of turkeys at various ages. https://extension2.missouri.edu/g8352. Sorghum, quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth are other gluten free grains.
Can you take a ration to a feed mill?
Then take the ration formula to a feed mill near you and see if they can process it, only problem is it will probably be cross-contaminated from the regular milling process. You could purchase a mill of your own to process your ration free from contamination but this could be more expense than you are willing to incur.
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 is the best feed for turkey fat?
For fattening up a turkey, using a 30% protein gamebird feed will likely give the best results.
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.
What happens to turkey chicks as they get older?
As your turkey chick (poult) gets a little older, the protein requirements decrease.
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!
What is the best grain to feed a turkey?
Oats have about 11 – 14% protein and are a great grain to feed as well. Giving your turkey a variety of grains to access will help encourage them to eat.
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.
How to keep turkey poults warm?
A good brooder will have several things – it will keep the poults safe, have either bedding to absorb wastes or a wire mesh floor to allow droppings to pass through, and a heat source. A brooder can be as simple as a cardboard box with one to three inches of wood shavings for bedding, or as complex as a commercial metal box brooder. For a few poults, cardboard has the advantage of being cheap, disposable/recyclable, and sanitary. A wooden or metal brooder is more appropriate for larger numbers of poults, or if you raise many batches of poults per season. 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. Turkey poults grow rapidly, and will need a larger brooder after a few weeks – they should never be overcrowded. For the first few days, place paper toweling or an old cloth towel over the litter, so the poults learn to eat food, not 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. Poults should never be brooded on newspaper – its surface is too slick and can cause leg problems.
What is the best grit for turkeys?
Turkeys have no teeth – they need grit in the form of small rocks to grind their food. Baby poultry grit consists of very small stones, like coarse sand, similar to parakeet grit. It should never contain oyster shell or other forms of calcium – excess calcium is very detrimental to poults. Most store-bought small grit preparations already have oyster shell in them. You can “make” your own chick grit by purchasing a bag of decomposed granite from a building supply store. Wash the granite in a large tub, rinsing out fine sand and mud, and letting it dry. Save the larger pieces for adult poultry, and sprinkle a bit of the smaller grains on the turkey starter as if you were salting food. If poults are given no additional food other than turkey starter, they don’t NEED grit but it may help in certain situations (see below).
Why do poults have vent pasting?
This is caused by a variety of problems, such as a brooder that is too cold. If pasting does occur, carefully pick off the dried droppings (warm water helps) so the vent does not become blocked.
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.
How to get turkey poults to eat?
To get turkey poults to eat and drink, take advantage of their curiosity. Make the feed and water very easy to get to and interesting enough to attract the poults’ attention.
How to keep poults out of heat?
The easiest way to do this is to keep the feeders and waterers out of the heat circles. The poults venture out of the heat circle to eat and drink, but have plenty of space to sit and relax in the heated area when they are full.
How to catch a poult in a feeder?
How do you make this happen? Put something attractive in the feeder and waterer troughs that will catch the poults attention but can’t hurt them, like marbles, smaller multi colored stones or tender pieces of young grass.
How to know if your poults are comfortable with the brooder?
You’ll know your poults are comfortable with the brooder temperature when they arrange themselves in a nice circle around the outside of the heat circle.
How to tell if your poults are too cold?
If your poults are huddled up in the center of the heat circle, all piled up, your poults are telling you they are too cold. Lower the heat lamp and consider adding another lamp to the brooder.
What temperature should a brooder be?
As far as the brooder itself goes, having the correct temperature is key, you’re shooting for 90-95 degrees. Brooder temperature is crucial because poults that are too hot don’t eat and neither do poults that are too cold.
Is turkey poult different from other poultry?
So you’ve decided to up your game to raising a few turkeys this year, nice! Turkey poults are super but also a bit different than other young poultry, especially for the first few days.
What to use for turkey poults?
Use pine shavings —never cedar—for the bottom of the brooder. 2 (Once poults are three weeks old, some farmers like to use clean sand.
How to keep poults from standing in the feed?
Place them so that the poults can get to them easily without getting either chilled or overheated. Hanging feeders can prevent poults from standing—and pooping—in the feed or knocking it over.
How hot should a brooder be before a poult?
Raise the heat lamp a few inches each week (and lower the temperature roughly 5 degrees Fahrenheit) until the temperature in the brooder is 70 degrees.
How old do turkeys have to be to move to a new home?
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.
How long does it take for turkey starter to work?
A game bird or poultry starter that has around 28 percent protein works for the first 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the feed can be lowered to 20 percent, but any lower and your turkeys won't grow as big as they could. Whether you choose medicated or not is your choice—many small growers like to use unmedicated feed.
How much room do you need for a poult?
You'll want at least a 10-by-10-foot space for a dozen day-old poults, and as they get bigger they will need more room. 5 As your poults grow, you may need to make the brooder bigger so they aren't crowded.
When to add a roost to a turkey?
Add a Roost. By three weeks of age, you can add a roost to your brooder. 6 Teaching turkeys to roost early helps when they're eventually moved to roosts later. Plus, they will sleep warmer and more comfortably.
What is the best feed for a turkey?
Turkey poults require the most protein during the first eight weeks of life, making a whole grain feed (28% protein) the best option. However, a broiler chicken feed consisting of 23-24% protein is efficient.
How to keep turkey poults close to heat?
To ensure poults remain close to heat, water, and food, restrict them to a smaller brooder space for a few days. A rafter of young turkeys can become confused in a large space. This can cause them to starve or catch a chill. To minimize workload, construct a brooder that will accommodate the growth of the young flock.
Why do birds rest under the brooder?
Birds resting away from the heat beam indicate the temperature within the brooder is too hot. Poults resting comfortably under the lamp indicate the heat within the brooder is perfect. For safety reasons, secure the lamp to prevent it from being knocked down. Infrared heat lamps are the main cause of coop fires.
How long do chicks stay with their brooder?
Chicks can then be removed from the brooder and raised separately or remain with the poults until ready to move into their separate coops.
Why do people separate turkeys from other birds?
Many people house turkeys separate from other poultry due to their size and fear the birds may contract blackhead disease. This disease is common in chickens and turkeys but often leads to death when a turkey contracts it.
How long do you need to brood a hen?
Brooder heat is necessary for the first four to six weeks of life. This time will vary based on where you reside. A good rule of thumb is that, once a bird is fully feathered, a heat source is no longer needed. Two available heat sources include an infrared bulb or a heating plate designed for brooders. Both work well; however, a heating plate is a safer option, and it resembles a broody hen’s body temperature. A heating plate temperature never has to be regulated; simply adjust the legs’ height as the poults grow. This allows them to come and go from under the heat source comfortably.
What to use for brooder bedding?
There are multiple options for brooder bedding, with pine shavings as the most common. Straw is also a favorite among poultry keepers and is available chopped (designed for brooders) or in bales. Other options include peanut hulls, chopped cardboard, and crushed corn cobs.
