basic turkey questions

[ozarkmomma]

Thinking about raising a few turkeys to process in the fall/winter. Do they eat the same food as chickens? How long do they take to get big enough to process? Anything else I should know?

thanks

 

[kuntrygirl]

I feed my turkeys 30% protein but you can feed them as low as 24% but I would suggest nothing lower than 26%. 30% protein may not be sold in your area. As far as how long before they will be ready to process, I have no idea. I have never processed any of mine. Sorry.

You may want to check out this thread. It has a lot of information about turkeys.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=92240

 

[ColbyNTX]

28%30% protien feed. A broad breasted white or bronze will be ready in 4-6 months and a heritage will be 8-9 months.

 

[MissTurkey4]

If you buy a Broad Breated Whites, they will be ready is about 20 weeks. They eat 28-30% protien turkey game bird starter for the first 6 to 8 weeks. Then a 20-22% grow/developer. The last few weeks I feed a finisher or just add some cracked corn.

It is way to late in the year for heritage turkeys to be ready for this year in my opinion.