A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[casportpony]

And I cannot lie!

and of course that song makes me think of the movie "Fear of a Black Hat" and the song "Booty Juice".

to keep this on topic, here is one of my hens and her pea baby:

 

[R2elk]

https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/midget_white_turkey_1.html
https://www.meyerhatchery.com/produ...A5WSessionId=acdfc93da7194fc28aac9384c79ba672

maybe someone should tell them? Pet peeve of mine is hatcheries doing this sort of thing. They do the same with peafowl.

And the Spanish Black turkey.

 

[rjohns39]

@rjohns39 @duluthralphie @R2elk and anyone else who may have an opinion.

I picked up my non-gmo chicken feed today and had a chance to talk to Josh. Asked him about whether he was going to make any "all flock" feed and told him about not wanting to use his Turkey feed as a sole food choice as I am not interested in fattening up anyone. I've been mixing it with the 3 grain scratch to cut down the 24% protein to approx 14%.

He told me the best idea would be to buy his broiler feed @19% and cut it with a bag of 3 grain scratch, giving me a protein percentage of approx 15%.

Trying to figure which way to jump once winter gets here and they won't have much "free range" to forage on.

What do you guys think?

This will sound weird to most folks--but yup, you want to be around 15-16%... That said, for heritage breeders, my nutritionist recommends feeding, free choice, mix of 4 parts whole wheat and one part grit.

Edited to Add: that's in addition to their regular ration.

 

[R2elk]

@rjohns39 @duluthralphie @R2elk and anyone else who may have an opinion.

I picked up my non-gmo chicken feed today and had a chance to talk to Josh. Asked him about whether he was going to make any "all flock" feed and told him about not wanting to use his Turkey feed as a sole food choice as I am not interested in fattening up anyone. I've been mixing it with the 3 grain scratch to cut down the 24% protein to approx 14%.

He told me the best idea would be to buy his broiler feed @19% and cut it with a bag of 3 grain scratch, giving me a protein percentage of approx 15%.

Trying to figure which way to jump once winter gets here and they won't have much "free range" to forage on.

What do you guys think?

Scratch was never meant to be a feed. It is meant as a treat thrown on the ground to get the poultry scratching around on the ground and in the process picking up grit. My opinion is that using scratch to cut the protein percentage is not ideal. You are mixing in a low protein, high fat item that probably exceeds the recommended no more than 10% of the total diet for treats.

I just did a quick search for homemade feed recipes and found lots and lots of recommendations that I would not feed to my poultry. Good luck.

 

[memphis]

My whole flock is on 18%. Plus free ranging all day. They seem fine. They get BOSS treats at bed time. I chose they easy way out & just buy it at the feeed store.
Up in Missouri again. Hauled my baby Speckled Sussex with me. My turkey sitter is reporting she found Daisy sitting in the baby pen.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

@rjohns39 @duluthralphie @R2elk and anyone else who may have an opinion.

I picked up my non-gmo chicken feed today and had a chance to talk to Josh. Asked him about whether he was going to make any "all flock" feed and told him about not wanting to use his Turkey feed as a sole food choice as I am not interested in fattening up anyone. I've been mixing it with the 3 grain scratch to cut down the 24% protein to approx 14%.

He told me the best idea would be to buy his broiler feed @19% and cut it with a bag of 3 grain scratch, giving me a protein percentage of approx 15%.

Trying to figure which way to jump once winter gets here and they won't have much "free range" to forage on.

What do you guys think?

I just feed an 18% chicken grower to everyone year round. Works fine.

 

[rjohns39]

Without knowing specific ingredients and quantity I can't calculate a good solution. I assumed (I know big word) that the feed guy knows these things and made his recommendation based on science. Yes big assumption (aka Ass-U-Me).

 

[Flashpoint]

Without knowing specific ingredients and quantity I can't calculate a good solution. I assumed (I know big word) that the feed guy knows these things and made his recommendation based on science. Yes big assumption (aka Ass-U-Me).

Well, I think he is a tad educated in agriculture, agribusiness, and rural development. Currently working on his Masters, but runs a 600 acre hog/sheep/hay/straw/feed operation.

I have no idea on how many lbs of this or lbs of that, but there are labels on the bags. All grain in non-gmo, no preservatives, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and I am sure more that I can't remember now.

 

[PolarBerry]

Back in my feeds and feeding class we got to play with some cool programs for formulating feed. We all had to make a chick starter and every group was assigned 12 chicks that were laboratory housed and we were to meet all their feed requirements cheaply and effectively. We had to do it by hand though. All of our chicks died from a virus so we never got to see whose group did best production-wise.

Also wish I still had my textbooks from that class now that I'm looking at making my own feeds one day. Oh well, there's always the internet now

Btw I studied Animal Sciences. Have had my hand up a cow or two...

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Regardless of the reasons for small families with a one meal turkey deal.....

View attachment 1142849!! HOUSE TURKEYS!!View attachment 1142850​

You mean your turkeys don't already try to follow you into the house? Every morning when I make breakfast with the back door open to just the screen, they are all supervising.

and of course that song makes me think of the movie "Fear of a Black Hat" and the song "Booty Juice".

to keep this on topic, here is one of my hens and her pea baby:

Is that a Royal Palm? If so, I hope one of my two is a Tom!

Back in my feeds and feeding class we got to play with some cool programs for formulating feed. We all had to make a chick starter and every group was assigned 12 chicks that were laboratory housed and we were to meet all their feed requirements cheaply and effectively. We had to do it by hand though. All of our chicks died from a virus so we never got to see whose group did best production-wise.

Also wish I still had my textbooks from that class now that I'm looking at making my own feeds one day. Oh well, there's always the internet now

Btw I studied Animal Sciences. Have had my hand up a cow or two...

Things you hear on BYC that would sound strange to other people.