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...
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.
Should I Feed my turkeys the night before processing?
Ideally, your turkeys would be held off of feed the night before processing. Take out their feeder and pen them off in a secure area so you’ll have an easy time of catching them in the morning. You are taking out the feeder in case the birds get out of the holding pen!
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.
How long do you raise turkeys before butchering?
Butchering, Processing, And Cooking Turkey With that being said, at 16-22 weeks they should be weighing at around 12-14 pounds. A heritage breed turkey will mature at 25-30 weeks. So when you have determined they have reached the appropriate weight, you will pull your turkeys out and butcher them.
How many weeks do you have to feed a turkey?
at 17 to 18 weeks. Smaller weights can be achieved by raising the turkeys for a shorter period of time.
What feed do you give 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 do you feed farm 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.
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 is the best turkey to raise for meat?
Many small flock owners raise commercial-type turkeys because of their high breast meat yield, fast growth, and high feed efficiency. The most popular varieties for small flock production are the commercial varieties Broad-Breasted Bronze (also called Bronze) and Broad-Breasted White (also called Large White).
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 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.
What do you feed turkeys in the winter?
Winter Feed for Turkeys In addition, I suggest a late day feeding of corn, wheat, or both. Corn adds calories and fat to the diet and gives the turkeys something to burn to keep them warm at night. Wheat generates a lot of heat as it is digested, and so is an excellent winter feed.
Is corn good for turkey?
Since wild turkeys are a ground-feeding type, sprinkling cracked corn in an open area of dirt is a sufficient way to attract them. Seeds- Another easily attainable food source, seeds provide even more nutrition for wild turkeys. Mixing seeds and cracked corn makes a great spread out meal.
What kind of grains do turkeys eat?
In addition to chufa and clover, specialists with Clemson Extension Forestry and Natural Resources recommend field corn, oats, ryegrass and sorghum. Turkeys will forage on field corn from fall into winter; be sure to plant at least an acre to allow enough corn for other wildlife foragers, such as deer.
Can turkeys eat meal worms?
About ten percent of an adult wild turkey's diet consists of small animals, including insects such as stink bugs, grasshoppers, and ground beetles, as well as snails, slugs, worms, spiders and other invertebrates.
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 to kill a turkey?
There are several methods you can use to kill a turkey, including cutting its head off with an ax or slicing through the main artery.
How long does it take for a turkey to be ready for dinner?
This is a typical commercial breed of turkey and is ready for the dinner table in just 4 months.
How to clean a turkey carcass after it has been killed?
After your turkey has been killed, you should wash the carcass to remove any feces, dirt, or debris. Press lightly on the stomach to force out any remaining feces from the vent. Then, remove the head if you did not sever it completely with the axe. 2.
What is the best breed of turkey to raise?
Best Breeds of Turkeys to Raise for Meat. Some of the most common meat turkey breeds include: Of these, the Broad Breasted White (or Giant White) is probably the most popular. This is a typical commercial breed of turkey and is ready for the dinner table in just 4 months.
How long does it take for a heritage turkey to grow?
A homegrown heritage turkey is some of the best-tasting meat you’ll ever enjoy – it’s nothing like a store-bought turkey! Turkeys grow quickly (in only 16-20 weeks, in many cases). You can butcher your own turkeys at home without having to rely on an outside processing facility, too.
How long to scald a turkey?
Add a few drops of dish soap to help the water get into all of the feather shafts. Dunk the turkey in the hot water for around 30-60 seconds.
How to pluck a turkey by hand?
If you’re using a mechanical plucker, go ahead and put your turkey inside (most can only hold one bird at a time). 3. Eviscerating Your Turkey.
How to raise turkeys?
Raising turkeys is not difficult. Most likely, you will start raising the birds from poults purchased from breeders or farm-supply stores in the spring. Here you can choose between a heritage breed or a breed tailor suited for meat production, such as a broad breasted white. You will need to carefully care for your new poults the same as you would care for chicken chick hatchlings. Heating lamps, and a dry and warm facility, are necessary for this stage. Water and feed are equally important. After the birds have feathered out, you can move them outdoors.
How long does it take for a turkey to grow?
It has typically taken me four months to grow a turkey to a 13- or 14-pound bird, and six to seven months to grow a bird that weighs in over 19 pounds. Sure, others report faster or slower results, but this is what I have come to expect. You may experience different results with the growth of your fowl, and that is normal. If you just free-range, expect your birds to weigh less and take a little longer to reach a good weight. However, a free-ranged bird is very tasty.
Why is raising a turkey the best?
Especially during the holidays because their price will spike as almost every single family in the US buys a turkey for dinner. Raising turkey will also save you money because you won’t need to buy one for the holidays. It might seem crazy if you’ve ...
How much space do turkeys need?
One turkey needs at least 6.25-feet of space. They also need roosts to sleep.
How much does a Royal Palm turkey weigh?
They do not get big fast, but they are able to breed naturally. Here are some of heritage breeds: Royal Palm: Toms weigh about 18-20 pounds, hens about 10-14 pounds.
How long can you keep a turkey in the refrigerator?
If you are going to cook your turkey immediately be sure to let it rest in the refrigerator for about 24 hours.
How long does it take for a heritage turkey to mature?
A heritage breed turkey will mature at 25-30 weeks. So when you have determined they have reached the appropriate weight, you will pull your turkeys out and butcher them. How you choose to butcher them is totally up to you. You will butcher turkeys the same as you do chickens.
What is a baby turkey called?
Just for your own knowledge, a baby turkey is called a poult or a chick. In this particular setting, I’m going to refer to it as a poult. First, you will need to purchase your poults. There are a few things to take into consideration when making your initial purchase. 1.
How many people do you need to hold a turkey?
The only difference is they are heavier and therefore, harder to control and much harder on your back. So you need two people to hold your turkey. You might find this step by step tutorial on how to butcher your turkeys very informative.
What is the best food for a turkey?
Rape and alfalfa, as well as lettuce, cabbage, and most any other garden greens, all provide good food for turkeys. As much as 25 percent of the ration can be greens, which can enable you to compete price-wise with the commercial grower. The turkey pen is another place to make good use of excess milk from your goat herd.
How much feed does it take to grow a turkey?
It takes about four pounds of feed to grow a pound of turkey. For the home flock, so little feed will be used that it will hardly pay to mix the meat scraps, minerals, and other ingredients needed for a balanced ration. It will be more economical to buy prepared feed.
Why do turkeys go wild on July 4th?
Turkeys are easily frightened – an acquaintance of mine who raised turkeys commercially went wild every Fourth of July because the fireworks in a nearby village invariably sent thousands of birds piling up in corners where they would suffocate unless he waded in and un-piled them.
What is the best medicine for turkeys?
One of the remedies used by commercial growers is phenothiazine. However, taking steps to prevent the disease when you’re raising backyard turkeys, such as having a raised sunporch, is a more acceptable control measure for organic homesteaders.
What breed of turkey is easier to dress?
Later the white breeds became popular (white poultry of any kind is easier to dress) and still later, smaller turkey breeds were developed, which helped promote the turkey as an “everyday” meat.
Can you raise turkeys in the same place as chickens?
In spite of the common belief that turkeys cannot be raised in the same place with chickens, it is possible. When raising backyard turkeys, the secret is to keep the turkeys in cages raised off the ground, on sunporches.
Can you feed turkeys inside a chicken pen?
This way, the pan can be filled and cleaned from the outside. Feed ers for your turkeys can be regular chicken feeders that will fit inside the pen, or a simply constructed wooden trough that can be filled from outside. Obviously, the feed should be protected from rain. Two inches of feeding space per bird is recommended.
What is the best turkey for growth?
If you are looking for growth, broad breasted turkeys are your top choice. Nothing else will compare in terms of the amount of meat you’ll get for the money you put into the poult and the feed. If you are raising turkeys just for a great meat animal, go for the broad breasted birds.
How long can you keep turkeys in the hatchery?
Of course, you can raise turkeys anytime of the year that they are available from the hatchery, as long as you have a place to keep them warm and safe. If you are going to raise the broad breasted turkeys, you’ll have more options with the dates, since you will only have them for 4-5 months.
How old is a turkey to butcher?
The best age to butcher a Broad Breasted Tur key is 16-20 weeks, for heritage breed turkeys it’s 24-28 weeks. Congratulations! Home raised turkey will really up your skills and confidence, not to mention your holiday meals! We’ll dig into some of the things you need to know to get the well grown turkey you want for the dates you need!
What is the breed number of a broad breasted white turkey?
24.14. These numbers are for Broad Breasted White turkeys, not heritage birds. Of course, you can raise a heritage breed for meat as long as you are okay with a smaller carcass that will take longer to finish.
What are the characteristics of a broad breasted turkey?
Broad Breasted turkeys have been heavily selected for the traits that make them stellar confinement turkeys, fast growth, tons of breast meat and white feathers. While all of these traits are impressive, they come at a cost of Broad Breasted turkeys needing more exacting feed and not being able to naturally breed.
How long does it take for a turkey to grow?
Turkeys are processed at 16 weeks. Most of the meat turkeys that you would be growing for meat are Broad Breasted Whites or Bronze, since these are buy far the fastest growing turkeys available. The choice to process at 16 weeks up to 20 weeks (or even longer if you want a massive bird), is based on how big of a bird you want to cook ...
How much does a Heritage turkey weigh?
Heritage turkeys vary in mature weights. Some of the heritage turkeys grow to 30 pounds (Chocolate toms) but do not have a market weight listed. Others toms are at 16-23 pounds market weight (Royal Palms and Bourbon Reds) with a mature weight of 22-33.