Wanting to get turkeys, but I'm at a toss up.

Okay, so I picked up my special turkey blend from the bulk store. Sorry, it didn't come with a tag so I can't get you ingredients, but I'll ask them to email me one asap. Anywhome, it's a 25% protein, and I'm mixing it with the flock raiser, BOSS, fresh cut grass ( as their run/pen is behind so their still in the 8x16 ), scrambled eggs when I have some to spare, bugs as I catch them, and whatever fruits/veggies that they get from the fridge. My neighbors just gave me a BUTT LOAD of greens for them I'm going to feed them in the morning. Also, my toms head has turned VIBRANT blue. He's strutting up a storm, trying to mount the ladies, and even built them a nest. But what I don't understand, is why the black is completely ignoring him. She wants to go to the chickens, constantly calls to the rooster. The tom shows no interest in her, either... Not yet at least. But she's not as red as the other hen, she's still pale. The other hen has turned pinkish red, and is showing signs of squatting. I'm really worried that my tom is a mute. He has YET to make a single sound. Not a gobble, not a pip, nada thing! ( Unless he pips like a hen? Is that possible? )

They're really perking up, feathers are starting to look better and everything. I've put quite a bit of weight on them and they look generally healthy, so I'm doing something right considering these birds were spur of the moment.

When do you think the blue will finally start laying? Or am I just missing the eggs? ( haven't felt around in the nest box, I just peek )

omegorchards said:

I firmly believe that poultry need to get most of their protein from animal sources. Birds don't get what they need when feed purely plant sources of protein. You can feed a plant protein based feed so long as you supplement with regular animal protein snacks. Fish powder is a great source as you can purchase this in bulk bags of 50 pounds. Since fish powder is very dry and birds generally wont eat such a powder you should mix it into a wet mash.

Farmtillurdead is right: you dont have to feed balanced feed daily. But over time you do need to make sure that your birds get their balance of feed. For me I provide a well balanced feed, the Q Bar Farms referenced earlier, during the winter because my birds arent getting much protein from their pasture. However, this feed is expensive and not necessary year round. In the summer I give my birds free choice hoppers, one of each containing wheat, oyster shell, oats and cracked corn. The birds recieve a wet mash 2-3x per week that is made of Q Bar feed, milk from my Jersey and diatam. earth. This program makes for a very healthy and vigorous flock. But the key is the pasture. Birds need pasture to thrive to their max potential.

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Could the fish powder be given when I give DE? What are the advantages of a flock on DE? Food grade only, correct? - Right now their pen is flooded, due to the flash flood of rain we just received. I put regular pine shavings in there, hope it's not going to be toxic to them. I know cedar can be. I want to put a product called 'sweet pdz' in the pen to help soak some up an soak up some of the odor.

lengel said:

I may be completely off base here but I have always provided my birds with a variety of options including fresh veg, grasses, grains, egg shells and commercial feed as backup. They get all of their protein from free range. I don't worry about specific content and believe that they'll eat what they need when they need it. My birds are very active and we've never had any significant health issues.

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I have no feasable way to graze my birds. I plan on putting a 12x12 green box in their run, or maybe even two or three as money allows... BUT! We're in the woods. Grass is a high commodity out here. I still have to clear the 3 acre section where they are, so only the patch that's already there ( which I see over grazing happening soon ) is all they're going to have. It's MAYBE a 50x50 patch of grass. They'll be getting a 50x50 pen, not all in that patch, to make room for future hatches.

Yes you can mix fish meal and DE together. I don't know the exact mode of action the DE has on my birds. It could be nutritional, it could affect parasites, who knows. But what I do know is the DE improves egg laying and egg shell strength significantly. Feather condition also seems to improve. I only feed food grade DE. I would try to prioritize your efforts going after food for your birds. Do only what you can do withing reason. Just a suggestion to ensure that you will keep making the effort. Catching bugs seem pretty hard to do.

Have you considered using soldier flies as a source of protein? I use them and you can learn more about them here: http://catawbacoops.com/soldier-fly-larvae-as-a-cheap-food-source-for-chickens.html . You can check out youtube to get idea for making your own rearing pods. Again, this is an EASY way to get your birds good quality protein.

omegorchards said:

Yes you can mix fish meal and DE together. I don't know the exact mode of action the DE has on my birds. It could be nutritional, it could affect parasites, who knows. But what I do know is the DE improves egg laying and egg shell strength significantly. Feather condition also seems to improve. I only feed food grade DE. I would try to prioritize your efforts going after food for your birds. Do only what you can do withing reason. Just a suggestion to ensure that you will keep making the effort. Catching bugs seem pretty hard to do.

Have you considered using soldier flies as a source of protein? I use them and you can learn more about them here: http://catawbacoops.com/soldier-fly-larvae-as-a-cheap-food-source-for-chickens.html . You can check out youtube to get idea for making your own rearing pods. Again, this is an EASY way to get your birds good quality protein.

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My main concern right now is definitely their feed program. That, and keeping them free of bugs of any sort ( other than those I give them )

What about maggots? Here is why I ask...

For my hens, when fly season peaks, I 'plant' four or five pods of soaked feeds ( corn, oats, whatever is cheap at the moment ) at the back of my property. Fly's are at an ABUNDANCE out here. My family has been doing this for generations... Any ways, each 'pod' is at a different growth level. Set a week or so apart so as you run out of one, the next pod is ready to feed out. A shovel full to each pen a day, or more depending on the amount of birds. They REALLY tear them up. It helps keep egg production ( in my layers ) peaking during these miserable months.

It sounds disgusting, and smells absolutely horrible, but my birds check those pods all year when they free range. I guess looking for more maggots. I generally fish out the bad feed and only provide them with the maggots, as I don't want them to have any sour side affects from soured feeds. I know for a fact my chickens LOVE them.

As for catching bugs? No. I check felled ( fallen? ) timbers through the woods and collect jars. Since I live in the piney woods, there's always a dead tree full of bugs. I also set up plots of rotting timber for the bugs to live in. Makes my life easier. Or I take my nephew to the neighbors grassy fields and they let him run down grass hoppers. It all depends on the time of year on the amount of bug collecting I do. Winter months is mainly moths off the front porch that attract to the lighting. Summer months they get June Bugs, Grub Worms, Pine Beatles, and whatever else I can get my hands on. I really enjoy collecting the bugs for them on top of my 'pods'.

On top of this, a friend of mine raises crickets and I get all of his dried out / dead bugs at the end of every week. He freezes the juicy ones for me, and during the summer I add them into the fresh fruits I buy for my birds and freeze. Watermelon and cricket ice cubes are another favorite.

I plan on picking up some DE in the next few days, I've honestly never used it on my chickens and IDK if I will now. Never taken the time to research it fully...

Another good source of protein is worms. Not smelly, good for the soil and easy to raise.

The maggots sound like an excellent source of protein. If you have the space to keep the smell away from people I think it would work very well. Harvey Ussery (spelling) describes a similar method in his book but he uses roadkill. I like the idea of a plant-based pod because the smell is probably WAY less than flesh rotting. I might copy your idea when things warm up. Thanks for sharing it.