What do you feed a Midget White Turkey?
If you are raising your Midget Whites for meat, you can keep your turkeys on their flock raiser until butchering time. However, if you have turkey hens laying eggs, it is best to put them on game bird laying feed during laying season.
How many Midget White Turkeys are there?
We do not have any information about how many Midget White Turkeys exist now, but it is likely to be barely over 200 in number, and that is if they managed to breed the small flock successfully. Basically, this is a breed of turkey that you are unlikely to ever see ‘in the flesh’. As the name suggests; this is a very small breed of bird.
What fruits and vegetables can turkeys eat?
1 Grains 2 Fruits 3 Vegetables 4 Nuts. Peanuts, commercial food grade only. Not garden peanuts. Note: Commercially purchased nuts should be rinsed in water to remove salt. 5 Dairy. Fruits, nuts, and berries, from the safe list above, make excellent treats for turkeys. ...
What can I Feed my Turkey to make him eat?
That being said, you can definitely supplement with some common foodstuffs. Try sprinkling vegetable scraps around the yard, or toss a handful of mealworms into the dirt in order to encourage your turkey to “forage” on even a small farm.
What do turkeys like for treats?
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 Midget White turkeys friendly?
Midget Whites are a rare heritage breed classified as “Critical” by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. In recent years, Midget Whites have developed a reputation as a friendly, small-flock turkey with excellent food qualities, perfect for raising in backyards and on urban homesteads.
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 do you feed turkeys?
Adult turkeys will get as much as 50% of their intake from pasture or range grass. Range grass is grass that is four to six inches long. 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.
Are turkey eggs good eating?
Turkey eggs are totally edible: Those who have backyard turkeys report their eggs taste remarkably similar to chicken eggs. They are slightly bigger, the shell slightly tougher, and the membrane between the shell and the egg slightly thicker, but otherwise, not too different.
What is a white turkey called?
Royal Palm turkeyTraitsSkin colorwhite with bands of metallic blackClassificationAPAHeritage breedturkey Meleagris gallopavo2 more rows
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.
Can turkeys eat grapes?
"The turkeys eat a lot of grapes," Mr. Garro said. "They eat whatever they can find -- like cows. They taste better in the fall.
How can I increase turkey growth?
Egyptian research has found that feeding turkeys mainly or totally in the afternoon can be used as a good strategy for improving growth rate, feed utilisation, carcass and meat quality in birds reared in hot climates.
What fruit can 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.
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.
Do turkeys eat sunflower seeds?
Sunflower, milo, and millet are all enjoyable types of seeds to put out for wild turkeys. Nuts- Acorns are a chosen favorite for wild turkeys. But in the wintertime, acorns can become scarce.
Are white turkeys friendly?
It is important to note that the Midget White turkey does not have any genetic relationship to the Beltsville White and that the two breeds are distinct and should be managed separately. These diminutive turkeys are unusually friendly and will approach people and pets without much concern.
What are Midget White turkeys used for?
Despite the fact they are small, Midget Whites are well-reviewed birds for their meat quality. These turkeys have very broad breasts and produce a good amount of sought-after breast meat. Many turkey keepers rank the meat of Midget Whites above meat from other, more popular meat varieties.
What is the smallest turkey?
Six pounds is about the smallest turkey you'll find, she said. Those will be hens, which typically weigh eight to 10 pounds. “It's like a big chicken,” Lafferty said.
How long do broad breasted white turkeys live?
Quick Facts about Broad Breasted White TurkeyBreed NameBroad Breasted White TurkeyTom (Male) Size30-40+ poundsHen (Female) Size14-20 poundsColorWhiteLifespan2-5 years6 more rows•Jan 20, 2022
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.
How many more turkeys can a midget white turkey produce?
This means that (in theory) a Midget White Turkey can potentially produce around 40 more turkeys. We suppose that the turkeys that are left are closely related, and thus the fertility rate is a little bit lower.
How many Midget White Turkeys are there?
A small flock, but a flock nonetheless. We do not have any information about how many Midget White Turkeys exist now, but it is likely to be barely over 200 in number, and that is if they managed to breed the small flock successfully. Basically, this is a breed of turkey that you are unlikely to ever see ‘in the flesh’.
What is the smallest turkey?
Turkeys. The Midget White turkey is the smallest turkey breed around. In fact, it is so small, that people often mistake the Midget White turkey for a chicken! Of all the turkey breeds, not all are desirable for home meat production. Let’s take an in-depth look at this breed, and how this turkey will look in your backyard or on your table, shall we?
When was the Midget White Turkey invented?
The Midget White Turkey is one of the newer breeds of heritage turkeys. It was developed at some point in the 1960s in Massachusetts by Dr. Robert Smyth. (Photo by TheKarenD) The intention of this breed was to create a meat turkey, but one that would take up a lot less space (and thus be cheaper to feed) than other breeds.
Is a midget white turkey good for small families?
Being the smallest turkey breed makes the Midget White an ideal for small families. (Photo by TheKarenD)
Do turkeys lay eggs all year round?
Although, it is not going to lay them throughout the year, just like most turkey breeds. Obviously, since this is a smaller breed, the turkey eggs are going to be smaller than most other turkey breeds. They are going to be closer to a larger chicken egg in size. (Photo by TheKarenD)
Is the Midget White Turkey a larger egg?
They are going to be closer to a larger chicken egg in size. Since this breed of turkey is a prolific egg layer, it is even more surprising to us that it has been on the edge of extinction for a while. This is especially odd since (apparently) the Midget White Turkey has about an 80% fertility rate.
What are the characteristics of a midget white turkey?
Midget White Characteristics. 1. Size and Weight. Living up to their title of the smallest turkey variety around, Midget White Turkeys are certainly not as big as one might imagine when picturing a turkey. A full-grown Midget White hen weighs less than some full grown chickens.
What is the biggest thing a midget turkey breeder needs to be diligent in breeding for?
Breeding. As a Midget White turkey breeder, the biggest thing you will need to be diligent in breeding for, is size. Many breeders tend to get hung up on other aspects of Midget White breeding and end up with larger birds than normal for this variety.
What are the similarities between Beltsville turkeys?
In addition to their similarities in size, Beltsville Small Whites have similar meat and egg production qualities. 2. Broad Breasted White. Since Midget White turkeys were modeled after Broad Breasted Whites, these two varieties certainly hold many similarities.
How many eggs do midget whites produce?
Egg Production. Egg production from Midget Whites is approximately 60-80 eggs per year. Of course, this isn’t much compared to a chicken’s annual egg production, but it’s enough to hatch a few batches of poults per year to keep your flock going.
What are petite turkeys known for?
One thing these petite turkeys are known for is their docile and friendly dispositions. These birds will even walk right up to you rather boldly and unafraid. Midget White hens also make fantastic mothers and are good at nurturing their young.
How many turkeys can you pasture?
For most turkeys, a minimum of a half acre for every dozen turkeys is recommended. However, for Midget Whites, you can pasture up to 18 full grown turkeys on a half a cre. 3. Health Issues and Care. Midget White Turkeys are not any more susceptible to common turkey illnesses than the next variety.
How much does a broad breasted turkey weigh?
Broad Breasted White turkeys weigh up to 20 pounds more than a Midget White and grow quicker. If you want a slightly more commercial variety for your turkey meat, Broad Breasted turkeys might be the way to go.
How to start a flock of Midget White Turkeys?
Starting Your Own Flock. To start your own flock of Midget White turkeys, you can order eggs, started birds or breeder adults. Our eggs are sold by the dozen and hatch after roughly 1 month. You can order started birds, which are 2 months old, and can be out on their own without caretaking by you or the hen.
How long does it take for a turkey to mature?
They reach full maturity after another 5 months. Breeder adults will reproduce and raise their young independently. It takes a total of 7 months for a turkey to reach full maturity after hatching. Midget Whites have an average lifespan of 5 to 7 years. View fullsize.
Who owns the Midget White?
Mike Omeg, Owner of Mike's Midget Whites. Mike Omeg actively manages his own flock of happy, hormone-free, free-range Midget White turkeys. He takes the best individual birds - the perfect Midget Whites - and breeds them using very selective criteria for body type, temperament, hardiness and meat quality. Mike improves the genealogical line of his ...
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History
The Midget White is a breed of domestic turkey named for its white plumage and small stature. The breed is the smallest standard variety of turkey, and with toms at roughly 13 lbs and hens 8-10 lbs, it weighs only slightly more than the largest chickens.