What Is The Best Food For Turkeys?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Turkeys need a high protein diet when they are young as they grow and gain muscle quickly. To support this growth, feed a complete feed with 30 percent protein, such as Purina ® Game Bird + Turkey Startena ® until the birds are 8 weeks old.

What food attracts wild turkeys?

Turkeys love acorns and pecans , as well as dogwoods, huckleberries, blueberries, and other fruits found in the understory. Planting food plots: Follow these tips to establish food plots as a supplement to natural forage. Food plots can also be used to increase turkey sightings and harvest success.

What should you not feed turkeys?

  • Low-Quality chicken feed.
  • Dairy foods.
  • Onions.
  • Raw meat.
  • Chocolate.
  • Processed foods.
  • Fruit pits and seeds.
  • Tomato and eggplant leaves.

Can turkeys eat chicken layer feed?

Mature Chickens and Turkeys

Feed containing 16% protein is fine for hens and turkeys. Although, if you’re raising turkeys for meat you’ll probably need a higher protein feed. As for getting along, problems should be few and far between. Especially if they’ve been introduced to each other from a young age.

What to 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.)

How can I make my turkey grow faster?

Turkeys need a high protein diet when they are young as they grow and gain muscle quickly. To support this growth, feed a complete feed with 30 percent protein, such as Purina ® Game Bird + Turkey Startena ® until the birds are 8 weeks old.

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. ... For easy consumption, it is best to cut plant foods into smaller pieces.

How do you befriend a turkey?

  1. Food. Turkeys are omnivorous and will sample a wide variety of foods. ...
  2. Water. Ground bird baths are the best way to provide turkeys with water. ...
  3. Shelter. ...
  4. Nesting Sites. ...
  5. Empty Feeders. ...
  6. Damage and Mess. ...
  7. Injuries.

How do you get turkeys off your property?

Scare away problem turkeys

It’s easy to scare turkeys away by making noises (try waving your arms and yelling or blowing a whistle), popping open an umbrella, throwing tennis balls , or dousing the turkey with water from a hose or squirt gun. A leashed dog may also be effective in scaring a turkey away.

How do you seduce a turkey?

The male puffs up his chest , pulls in his neck, and highlights his fanned tail, which he slowly moves toward the female turkey’s gaze. He drags the tips of his wings on the ground between purposeful, tango-like steps, as the nearby female circles him until hopefully, she sits down.

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 months do turkeys lay eggs?

Egg laying is mainly in March and April with peak hatching occurring in early May. Mating activities for the Rio Grande starts in March and nesting activity is high near the end of April. With the incubation period of 28 days, most poults are present in the last week of May or early June.

Are turkey eggs good eating?

Is there any reason why we can’t eat turkey eggs? No. They are completely edible . They have a similar creamy consistency to duck eggs and a speckled complexion like quail eggs.

What are good treats for turkeys?

  • Kale.
  • Lettuces (avoid iceberg)
  • Cabbage.
  • Cucumber.
  • Zucchini.
  • Summer squash.
  • Cooked sweet potato.
  • Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries.

What is the best age to butcher a turkey?

  • The best age to butcher a Broad Breasted Turkey is 16-20 weeks, for heritage breed turkeys it’s 24-28 weeks.
  • If you are looking for growth, broad breasted turkeys are your top choice.

What is the best bedding for 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.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.