A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[duluthralphie]

@MinnesotaNice I think $10.35 but I do not recall for sure. I get mash though and not pellets or granules. So there is some waste, but I wet it down and feed it back to them wet or dry it and bust it up.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I was just reading the Turkey care sheet again and do you all follow this feeding guideline:

"Poults should be fed 28% protein turkey starter until 8 weeks of age. 24-26% protein turkey grower crumbles should be fed after the first 8 weeks until they are approximately 6 months of age. At that time, they can be switched to 16% - 18% lay pellets, crumbles, or mash. Additional calcium (for adults only) in the form of crushed oyster shell is beneficial, especially if the turkeys free range or are fed table scraps."

Oh, and what about grit? Do you add it to their feed?

 

[GabrielBane]

So he has not had a molt to get in his adult feathers yet. They can change a lot in the first heavy molt, I think.

I'll definitely keep this in mind and will definitely report back as he molts out!

 

[duluthralphie]

If you free range they will find grit.

I feed the starter longer than that. I feed it until I get tired of feeding it. It is just too confusing for an old man like me to have 14 different types of feed around here. I do not really worry once they start to free range, They will find protein everywhere.

I do feed a breeders formula starting next month. higher protein and kind of like a layer feed. This time of the year I have pans of "gravel" the traction sand stuff you get at menards for next to nothing. I have that for all birds. I doubt I need it though on the free range layers and turkeys..


BTW if you want a cheap turkey just come here at Turkey Bedtime, and You can have the ones I will be shooting out of the trees soon....D,,,I mean darn birds!

 

[CherMoz]

Poults need a higher level of protein than chicks. Look for turkey starter.

Do poults require a higher protein feed or can they be fed non-medicated chick starter? I'm assuming they pretty much brood the same as chickens and everything else?

 

[R2elk]

I was just reading the Turkey care sheet again and do you all follow this feeding guideline:

"Poults should be fed 28% protein turkey starter until 8 weeks of age. 24-26% protein turkey grower crumbles should be fed after the first 8 weeks until they are approximately 6 months of age. At that time, they can be switched to 16% - 18% lay pellets, crumbles, or mash. Additional calcium (for adults only) in the form of crushed oyster shell is beneficial, especially if the turkeys free range or are fed table scraps."

Oh, and what about grit? Do you add it to their feed?

Their recommended feeding guideline will produce healthy turkeys but it isn't exactly the procedure that I follow.

I think the first two weeks is critical for the poults to get the high protein feed. Mine are typically in the brooder for two weeks at which time I feed them the 28% protein feed. I have fed them the high protein for as much as 4 to 6 weeks since it can sometimes take me that long to go through a 50 lb. sack but I have also switched them to 24% protein turkey/gamebird grower at 2 weeks when I remove them from the brooder.

Of course the majority of the poults I hatch are gone by the time they are 2 weeks old so it is only perhaps a half dozen or so that I continue to grow out each year.

I have not seen any difference in those that get the grower at 2 weeks versus the ones that get the grower at 4 to 6 weeks. Typically by the time they are a month to 6 weeks old they are getting to free range which also means they are getting the same feed as the adults. My adults get the same feed as the chickens which is 16% protein lay pellets with free choice oyster shell.

Since I live on a sand dune, I do not concern myself about grit. I use the free sand for bedding in the brooder so the poults etc. all have constant access to a fine grit (sand). I also feed 1/4" grass clippings to the little ones right from the start if the grass isn't covered by snow. The grass clippings are the only "treat" I feed in the brooder. If I did not have all this free sand, I would provide the appropriate size grit for the age class that I am feeding.

In the fall I often toss vegetables such as tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelon, cucumbers and pumpkins from the adjoining garden into the run.

 

[holm25]

Our poor Mabel had an accident today... I walked in the coop and found her laying on her back just barely kicking... I don't know how long she was like that... But when she was down it looks like a few birds decided to kick the crap out of half her face... Poor girl. Coop was opened around 7:30 and I found her like this at 1?
She stumbled around for awhile once I got her up and she is still a little wobbly but doing better. I've just been talking to her and rubbing her "chin" very lightly and she seems to like it... so we will see... Poor baby...

 

[holm25]

Ralphie i like Cuddles! He seems to have nice banding on his wings? That's a tough part in the Speckled Sussex right? I go over just about every SOP I can find so have read about the Sussex a little bit. But heard about the Bandung issues on the Sussex thread?

 

[Hardemans]

How bad will it get????
I have 7 toms and 7 hens. All free range. There were more of each but between blackhead, predators, and our table this is what we have left. The two oldest are a Blue Slate Tom and his hen. 2 years old. The rest are between 4 and 6 months old. The 4 month old toms have decided to attack the older tom. I have seen toms fight but that usually lasts an hour or so then peace in the valley. Not today. It is going on all day. Should I separate them? I figured if I did once released it would be all out war again.

We have raised turkeys for table but this is the first time building some breeding stock. No need to have them kill each other.

Any advice?
TIA

 

[duluthralphie]

Our poor Mabel had an accident today... I walked in the coop and found her laying on her back just barely kicking... I don't know how long she was like that... But when she was down it looks like a few birds decided to kick the crap out of half her face... Poor girl. Coop was opened around 7:30 and I found her like this at 1?
She stumbled around for awhile once I got her up and she is still a little wobbly but doing better. I've just been talking to her and rubbing her "chin" very lightly and she seems to like it... so we will see... Poor baby...

That looks like the work of Guineas. They do that for no reason this time of year. Coffee called me today and she had a young hen nearly killed by her guineas. They went so far as to surround her in an isolation cage.

I am becoming less and less of a fan of Guineas, Sorry R2elk, as much fun as they are to watch their bad habits are starting to rub me wrong. I lost a rooster to the young ones last week. I think, no way to tell for sure.