what to feed domestic turkeys

Here are some common snacks often offered to turkeys:

• Watermelon This is an excellent summertime treat to offer your turkeys as it can help keep them hydrated even on the...
• Apples Most turkeys love apples and will enjoy pecking at them cubed or sliced. Seeds should be removed if possible, but...
• Peas This is probably going to be the table scrap your turkeys enjoy the...

Full Answer

Do domestic turkey breed naturally?

Our turkeys breed naturally…organically… without the use of artificial insemination as many of the larger breeds like the Broad Breasted White require. Once the hen is laying, there’s a good chance that your male is old enough to start doing his part as well.

How do turkeys eat without teeth?

Teeth or no teeth, turkeys have to eat food to survive. They just consume and digest food differently than human beings. Turkey’s diet and method of consumption are different, so, they do not chew like humans.

Are wild and domestic turkeys cooked differently?

As for cooking roasting a wild turkey does not taste the same as a domestic one. Because there is a difference in fat content and meat structure I cook them totally different. from smoking and sauteing to slow cooking for wild and roasting predominantly for the domestic. 9.

What do you feed a wild turkey?

Wild turkeys are back, but some people aren't too wild about sharing their neighborhoods with them. People have reported turkeys chasing them, attacking their cars, trashing their yards. You might even call them Public Enemy No. 1. But they’re not going ...

What is the best thing 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.

What can turkeys not eat?

It seems like you can feed anything to your backyard birds including poultry and 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 can I feed a wild turkey in my yard?

Offer Seeds and Browse: Turkeys browse on plant buds and shoots in the early spring and feed off fern fronds, club mosses, and weeds such as burdock, especially when there is a lot of snow cover and other foods are hard to find. Grasses, sedges and many wildflowers provide wild turkeys with seeds to eat.

Do turkeys need special feed?

Turkeys need different feeds depending upon their age, whether they are young poults or adults, and the time of year, mainly are they on a maintenance ration or are they in breeding season.

Do 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.

Can 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.

What is a wild 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.

Do turkeys eat oats?

Turkey also eat waste grains in harvested fields of corn, buckwheat, soybeans, oats, and grain sorghum, and they will use food plots, as well. Turkeys foraging in agricultural areas in the fall and spring eat mostly waste grains, wild plants, insects, and young grasses.

Can turkeys eat whole corn?

Whole corn is an excellent choice if you want to feed them. Cracked corn works good too but tends to get covered up quickly if it is snowing or blowing. I've found they also like alfalfa hay, strange as it might seem. They get right into it and eat the green leaves and flowers.

Can turkeys eat chicken starter?

Chick starter can be used to raise turkeys, with cautions: It does not have enough proteins or vitamins for good development. If chick starter is used, be sure to supplement with brewer's yeast at the rate of 2 cups per 10 lbs of chick starter.

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.

Can turkeys eat scratch grains?

Feeding Directions Purina® Scratch Grains can be fed to adult chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys to encourage natural pecking and feeding instincts. Scratch Grains is a grain supplement, not a complete feed and should not comprise more than 10% of the birds' diet.

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 to feed a turkey to grow?

You can add other foods to grower feed, such as grains, wheat, corn, soybeans, and rice. Once the turkeys have been eating pre-starter, starter, and grower feeds for about 15 weeks, it is time to start them on maintenance feed, which is also referred to as finisher feed.

Why do you let a turkey forage?

Letting your turkeys forage means that they will eat about 25 percent less commercial feed than tur keys that aren’t able to forage. This is better all around, because it is healthier for the birds, and much less expensive for you.

What to do if your turkey's milk is out of date?

One more thing that turkeys need in their diet is a lot of grit. In fact, they should have access to a constant supply as it helps them to better digest their food by breaking it down.

Do turkeys like lettuce?

The fields will need to rest during the winter months, so you will have to give them commercial feed during this time. Turkeys love greens, particularly lettuce, and it is important that you make sure they are getting plenty of greens in their diets. Turkeys can have lettuce up to three times daily.

Can turkeys eat alfalfa?

Keep in mind that turkeys shouldn’t have too much alfalfa, as this can cause their meat to have a bitter flavor. Ideally, your pasture will have a mix of feed sources, including winter wheat (must be at least six inches tall before turkeys can eat it), and plenty of legumes.

Do turkeys drink water?

Just after they are hatched, turkeys need help to eat and drink, and they don’t always know how to drink water or how to find their food. Sometimes you may have to manually dip their beaks into water or feeders until they figure it out. Newborn turkeys can’t feed themselves, so you will likely have to hand-feed them.

Is raising turkeys like raising chickens?

Conclusion. While raising turkeys is a lot like raising chickens, there are several differences, particularly with how they are fed. If you have decided that you want to raise turkeys for meat or eggs, it is important to make sure that they are receiving high protein diets, and that they get plenty of water to drink.

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 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.

Tips for Feeding Turkeys

Before we look at the different foods and treats that you can use to feed turkeys, let’s see some tips on how to feed them properly.

1. Tomatoes

Benefits: Tomatoes contains antioxidants, vitamins and fiber that are essential for the health of turkeys.

2. Rice

Benefits: Rice contains carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and proteins for the growth and well being of turkeys.

3. Quinoa

Quinoa is a staple food that has recently become popular with humans and some poultry owners due to its high nutrient content.

4. Raspberry

Turkeys love to eat most berries including and not limited to raspberries, strawberries, blueberries to mention a few.

5. Raisins

Raisins are basically dried grapes and naturally the nutritional value gotten from raisins is similar to that of grapes.

6. Radishes

It is not a surprise that radishes are safe for turkeys to eat as it is healthy and safe for them to eat.

What to feed a turkey?

The leaves from a tomato plant. Honestly, if you are raising domestic turkeys, then stick to turkey feed, plus a few fruits and vegetables regularly. You may also wish to give them some wheat or other type of grain. They will love it.

What do domestic birds eat?

This means that they will enjoy tucking into insects, berries, nuts, plants, etc. This, of course, does mean that if they are going to be wandering around your garden, you will probably want to protect any plants ...

What is the natural instinct of a turkey?

It is worth noting that the natural instinct for a turkey is to forage. They will be foraging almost constantly. As a result, a lot of people do suggest that you set up various feeding bowls around the area the turkeys walk around in. This helps to play into their natural instincts.

Do turkeys need protein?

The thing with turkeys is that they are a bird that needs to have a lot of protein in their diet. Far more than any other type o domestic bird. While they can forage for protein to an extent, it can be difficult if they live on the same parcel of land. They may not have ready access to the same types of protein that a wild turkey may have.

Do domestic turkeys need turkey feed?

If you have a domestic turkey, then the bulk of their diet should be turkey feed. In fact, we cannot stress enough just how important it is that any type of feed you give them has been specially formulated for turkeys. The thing with turkeys is that they are a bird that needs to have a lot of protein in their diet.

Do turkeys like berry bushes?

They will love it. Ideally, you will also have berry bushes and nut bushes in your garden. This means that the turkeys will be able to forage for their food if they want. If you stick to this, then your turkeys should be fairly healthy.

Can turkeys eat anything?

Turkeys will eat just about anything, and they need to do that. They are large birds. Even if you give your own turkeys a decent diet, the chances are pretty high that they are going to go out there and forage even more. Generally speaking, your turkeys will know which foods they can and cannot eat.

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.

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.

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 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 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.