what to feed young turkeys

^Vegetables

• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots (raw or cooked, also carrot tops)
• Cauliflower
• Corn (on the cob or canned, raw or cooked)

What are natural food sources for turkeys?

• Season: Turkeys, like all animals, select food sources that are most abundant and easiest to reach. ...
• Geography: A bird's location greatly influences the foods it can find. ...
• Age: Young wild turkeys can forage for themselves very quickly, and the hen will lead her brood to the best available food sources. ...

What is the best Turkey feeder?

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. ...
• Black Oil Sunflower Seeds These seeds are widespread in custom mixed feed rations. ...
• Flax Seeds These extremely protein-rich seeds are usually found in most custom rations. ...

More items...

What is the average feed conversion ratio for turkeys?

With an average butcher weight of 8.82 lbs. per bird, this calculates to an approximate feed conversion ratio of 7.9 lbs., carcass weight as choice feeding on the growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR), blood biochemical attributes, and immune competence traits of growing turkeys under intensive system.

What snacks do turkeys eat?

We are mostly caught up with the leftover food ... to eat with her. Nephew Steven also ate with us. We had a nice day together on Thanksgiving Day at sister Emma’s house. They had the table set for all of us. Her sons-in-law prepared a trash can turkey ...

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 do juvenile turkeys eat?

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 do baby turkeys need?

Turkeys need higher protein than Chickens. 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 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 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...

Do baby turkeys need niacin?

Using the broken-line technique to determine the minimum niacin requirement for maximum body growth at 21 days of age, and taking into consideration the dietary supplemental niacin needed to prevent leg abnormalities, it was estimated that the minimum dietary niacin requirement for turkey poults from Day 1 to 21 days ...

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.

At what age can 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 is the best bedding for baby 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.

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.

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.

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 snacks can turkeys eat?

Foods They Eat They forage frequently and will eat many different things, including: Acorns, hickory nuts, beechnuts, or walnuts, either cracked open or swallowed whole. Seeds and grain, including spilled birdseed or corn and wheat in agricultural fields. Berries, wild grapes, crabapples, and other small fruits.

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.

What can I feed my pet turkey?

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.

Can turkeys eat cat food?

Some cat food can have ingredients that aren't particularly good for birds — things they can't digest, their body can't fully process or is just too much for them. But it can depend on the food, the bird and how much it eats. Filling up on cat food also could stop them from eating the foods that are good for them.

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 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 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.

Is baby poultry grit bad for poults?

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.

What Do Baby Turkeys Eat?

If you have experience with chickens, this may come in handy when it comes to raising turkeys. Turkeys have a lot of things in common when it comes to nutrition. Of course, because protein requirements are greater, so is the dietary protein requirement.

What Do Baby Turkeys Eat in The Wild?

Turkeys are omnivorous, which means they will eat anything that comes their way. They’re also opportunistic feeders; this means they’ll try everything. They feed on a variety of foods, including acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, seeds, berries, grains, grapes, snakes, lizards, roots, grasses, spiders, caterpillars, snails, worms, and slugs.

How To Feed Baby Turkeys?

If you don’t know how to care for your turkeys, you may run into a lot of issues and waste money on feed. Although it appears easy, there are several various sorts of waterers and feeders to choose from, as well as different ones that may be appropriate for certain circumstances.

What Are The Natural Predators of Baby Turkeys?

We don’t think coyotes are the turkey’s worst predator, but they’re one of the most dangerous. Coyotes may be found throughout the United States, even in metropolitan areas where they adapt quickly and are among the world’s most opportunistic hunters.

How To Protect Baby Turkeys From Predators?

Turkeys are prey animals, like all poultry in a pasture-based system. If a flock isn’t adequately guarded, most predators will perceive it as an easy target. Coyotes, skunks, weasels, opossums, snakes, raccoons, rats, and mice are among the many species that prey on poultry.

How can I protect pastured turkeys from predators?

Turkeys, like all poultry in a pasture-based system, are preyed upon by predators. If the flock is not adequately protected, most predators will consider it a simple target.

Is it true that turkeys keep snakes at bay?

Turkeys are remarkably good at spotting snakes and forming groups around them. They may annoy a snake to the point that it moves away from the local area. Snakes are also hunted by cats and dogs.

Is it possible for turkeys to consume bananas?

Small banana slices are by far the turkey’s favorite nibble. They will, however, eat any kind of bread, raisins, and grapes. Acorns are quickly picked up and eaten when they are in season. Turkeys’ diets need to be supplemented with more protein.

What methods do you use to keep turkeys out of your yard?

Making sounds (try flailing your arms and shouting or blowing a whistle), opening an umbrella, tossing tennis balls, or dousing the turkey with water from a hose or squirt gun are all effective ways to frighten turkeys away. A leashed dog may also be used to scare away a turkey.

What are the names of the baby turkeys?

A tom or gobbler is a male turkey, a hen is a female turkey, and a baby bird is a poult or chick. A juvenile male turkey is known as a jake, while a young female turkey is known as a jenny. A flock of wild turkeys is known as a flock, whereas a rafter of domesticated turkeys is known as a rafter.

What do turkey farmers feed them?

Turkeys are omnivores in their native habitat. In a factory farm, however, turkeys are given a consistent diet of antibiotic-laced corn-based grain feed. The first three weeks of life for industrially produced turkeys are spent packed inside a brooder with hundreds of other birds.

Is it possible for turkeys to swim?

Wild turkeys can also run at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour and, after completing the triathlon, are capable swimmers. Tucking their wings in tight, spreading their tails, and kicking help them move through the water. Wild turkeys have the ability to fly short distances at a high rate. They are also capable of running and swimming.

What can I do to get turkeys to come to my yard?

Clemson Extension Forestry and Natural Resources experts suggest field corn, oats, ryegrass, and sorghum in addition to chufa and clover. From autumn through winter, turkeys will graze on field corn; sow at least an acre to provide adequate corn for other wildlife foragers, such as deer.

Why should you be mindful about feeding turkey chicks?

While turkeys are disease and sickness-resistant, appropriate feed management may help your birds get off to a good start and stay healthy for the rest of their lives.

Buying commercial turkey feed for turkey chicks

Purchasing bags of commercial turkey feed is typically the simplest and most cost-effective approach for small flock owners to guarantee their turkeys are getting the greatest nutrition. There is no need to worry about providing commercial turkey feed for the turkey chicks that you have at home.

What foods can you give to your turkey chicks?

For the long-term health of your flock, make sure you have a good range of grains and a good mix of minerals and vitamins. Turkeys require more protein than other poultry, and they can also benefit from micronutrients that chickens and ducks may not be able to absorb.

Dried peas

Peas are an excellent substitute for maize in summer diets. They’re one of the first things that turkeys of all ages consume, and they’re high in protein for growing birds. Peas are also a low-cost option for huge quantities of specialized feed.

How to Feed Turkeys for Maximum Growth

If you’re growing meat turkeys and need a rapid boost of healthy weight increase, there are many feeds you may use to assist your birds to reach harvest size quickly. Turkeys, in general, require significantly more protein than other fowl, particularly while they are young and developing.

Can you give fermented feed to baby chicks?

Fermenting your commercial or homemade mixed turkey rations allows you to benefit from lactic acid fermentation. It’s a simple and efficient approach to make digestion easier for your flock, resulting in bigger birds that require less feed.

Our Top Pick – Best Turkey Feed

Our top pick for the best turkey feed is Nutrena Country Feeds for turkeys. Not only does it contain the right mix of nutrients, but it is also multipurpose. You can feed it to a variety of birds and even animals as well.

Top Turkey Feed Brands

There are several brands of turkey feed. Here is the list of the most popular turkey feed brands:

8 Best Turkey Feeds

The ideal turkey feed should contain all the required nutrients and also they shouldn’t be heavy on budget. Let’s take a look at the top turkey feeds.

How to Choose the Best Turkey Feed

Before buying turkey feed, there are a few things you need to consider. Of course, the price will be a significant factor, but you also need to consider the nutrients your turkeys need. Have a look at some of the things you need to remember when buying turkey feed.

How to Know you have the Correct Feed

Most people tend to think birds such as turkeys can eat almost anything. That isn’t entirely true since some foods could be detrimental to the health of your turkeys, especially their chicks.

The Bottom Line

Like any other birds, Turkeys need all the nutrients they can get to grow into strong, healthy adults. Whether you are keeping them as pets, for food or as gamebirds, you need to ensure they have all the nutrients they need by giving them the best turkey feed.