A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

Ralph anything new on the Porter genetic site? I'm in & out of meetings today, haven't had time to check.

duluthralphie said:

speney said:

Hi everyone I was wondering if I could have some help? My aunt just called me n asked if I could take an abandoned turkey she said it's a hen and has been in the middle of town for a few weeks if the township gets her they will just put her down and be done with it. My aunt and her friends are going to try and get her to me in the next few days. I'm sure she is under nourished and god knows what else I didn't expect this so my question is how do I prepare quickly I have chickens and I ferment there feed can she eat that and what kind of housing and anything else I may have missed? Also she will be quarantined for a while.

Click to expand...

She will need turkey feed.  Game feed especially if she is undernourished and in the condition you describe.  They need more protein than a chicken.  The feed stores have a game feed of around 22-27% protein.

Otherwise quarantine and treat like any other new member to your flock.  I am not sure if fermented feed would work or not. I do not feed fermented feeds. They will get along fine together (chicks and turks).. The only thing to beware of is blackhead, depending on your area, soil type and parasites.

Click to expand...

Turkeys can definitely eat fermented feed. They do require a bit higher protein. I just feed all of my birds the higher protein. Minimum 18% protein for mature birds, 22-24% for poults & growing birds. You can use distiller's grain, cat food or dog food to raise protein levels.

I am sure anything can eat the fermented feed. I just said I do not do it for my own reasons. I have seen so many threads torn apart over the "fermented feed debate". I just like to avoid it.

I have to have different protein level feed for all the different birds I have ( or in my mind I do)...

I feed the Cx's and toads a different level of protein than I do my layers and Creamettes.

I feed chicks higher protein, poults and keets the highest protein I can find.

I have not found a good feed for my breeding hens locally. So I mix my own, actually give them two choices, Chicken layer and higher protein game bird feeder and I supplement anything that lays eggs wit oyster shells.


I also have granite chips and traction gravel available during the winter for my birds.

I am seriously considering setting up a fodder system in my basement also.

And of course, I over treat them all with corn/boss/oats mixtures. with household leftovers and scrapes.


I guess I really do not care what or how anyone feeds as long as the birds are healthy. One like the found one above I would be giving yogurt, hard boiled egg yolks and high protein started to until it got its strength back.




To be totally honest my turkeys will eat anything I throw at them! As I have said before Dogs with feathers,,,lol

memphis said:

It's going to be great weather here this weekend! Can't wait!! Already have daffodils up. Hoping to work out in the gardens, which ought to thrill my nosy turkeys.

Aurora...you owe us fuzz ball photos!

Oldhen...looked like you have sweetgrass turkeys & I thought I saw a mottled in one of your pics. What all do you have in your flock? The blue Tom was stunning. Would love to see more pics! Scovie...pictures not required . (FYI, Holm loves his quackers & we tease him about them unmercifully)

Click to expand...

I have lots of pictures to take, will get busy here in a minute, thanks, I have a mix of colors.

I'm going to freak people out, but I raise my poults on non medicated chick starter, I tried game bird initially but had a Tom with a bad leg. The difference I see is the poults grow a little slower, but in the end they end up the same size and quite rowdy, they do get some range time too.

In dogs, you aren't suppose to feed large breeds higher protein because it makes them grow too quickly and gives them leg deformities, my theory is it can be applied to turkeys too that sometimes grow too quickly and end up with leg problems, I haven't tried it with broad breasted breeds, it would be interesting to see if it improves their lives as opposed to just improving weight gain.

I also cut my chicks protein down after eight weeks, by adding scratch, to slow down their maturity so they don't start laying too early.

oldhenlikesdogs said:

I'm going to freak people out, but I raise my poults on non medicated chick starter, I tried game bird initially but had a Tom with a bad leg. The difference I see is the poults grow a little slower, but in the end they end up the same size and quite rowdy, they do get some range time too.

In dogs, you aren't suppose to feed large breeds higher protein because it makes them grow too quickly and gives them leg deformities, my theory is it can be applied to turkeys too that sometimes grow too quickly and end up with leg problems, I haven't tried it with broad breasted breeds, it would be interesting to see if it improves their lives as opposed to just improving weight gain.

I also cut my chicks protein down after eight weeks, by adding scratch, to slow down their maturity so they don't start laying too early.

Click to expand...

I have no problem with that! I do that with my CX's for the same reasons.

If I had Broad breasted I would feed them chick starter. Same reason. BB I want to slow down, Heritage I want to speed up. So no fits here. I applaud you..

oldhenlikesdogs said:

I'm going to freak people out, but I raise my poults on non medicated chick starter, I tried game bird initially but had a Tom with a bad leg. The difference I see is the poults grow a little slower, but in the end they end up the same size and quite rowdy, they do get some range time too.

In dogs, you aren't suppose to feed large breeds higher protein because it makes them grow too quickly and gives them leg deformities, my theory is it can be applied to turkeys too that sometimes grow too quickly and end up with leg problems, I haven't tried it with broad breasted breeds, it would be interesting to see if it improves their lives as opposed to just improving weight gain.

I also cut my chicks protein down after eight weeks, by adding scratch, to slow down their maturity so they don't start laying too early.

Click to expand...

I feed about 20-22% protein to all of my birds.Broilers & broad breasted grow more slowly & heritage breeds grow more quickly. I prefer to have stronger legs & slower growth rates on my meaties & quicker growth on my slow growing heritage roos that will go to freezer camp.

SilkieSensation said:

I feed about 20-22% protein to all of my birds.Broilers & broad breasted grow more slowly & heritage breeds grow more quickly. I prefer to have stronger legs & slower growth rates on my meaties & quicker growth on my slow growing heritage roos that will go to freezer camp.

Click to expand...

That makes sense, We all grow for our own needs,

I slow down the growth of my meaties, Turkey and CX's to give them a longer life span so I can get them larger. I have never had a leg problem since I started doing this.

I feed them twice a day as youngun's and once a day when they can get outside and free range. I feed them at night and only what they can eat in 15-20 minutes which on these little vacuum cleaners fills their crops. In the morning I make them work for their food.. I use a 15-16% on my broilers. On MY Heritage turkeys like I said 24-28%.

On the broad breasted I am around that 20% mark. same reasons. Heritage roos just exist until they don't.

I need pics of the Tizzles!!

holm25 said:

I need pics of the Tizzles!!

Click to expand...

Go to Silkies Profile page and threads she started.. Or look in her gallery. They are amazing! He is amazing.