A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Bantambird]

For what it's worth, almost all the feed I buy is non-GMO.

I get my scratch as a 3 grain scratch for $7.75@50lb
10.5% protein - A mix of coarse ground corn, wheat, and barley.

The layer mash is $12.25@50lb. 15% protein - coarse ground mash feed with corn, wheat, and roasted soybeans, with minerals, probiotics, and extra calcium.

This is the price list for the non-GMO

Layer Mash: $12.25/50lbs~$470/ton
Soy Free Layer Mash: $13.50/50lbs~$520/ton
Chicken Grower: $13.25/50lbs~$510/ton**
Soy Free Chicken Grower: $14.25/50lbs~$550/ton**
Chick Starter: $14.00/50lbs~$540/ton**
Soy Free Chick Starter: $14.75/50lbs~$570/ton**
Three Grain Scratch: $7.75/50lbs
Hog Grower: $12.25/50lbs~$470/ton
Soy Free Hog Grower: $13.50~$520/ton*
Show Pig Feed: $13.50/50lbs~$520/ton
Pig Starter: $19.50/50lbs~$760/ton
Gestation: $13.00/50lbs~$500/ton
Lactation: $15.50/50lbs~$600/ton
Turkey Grower: $14.50/50lbs~$560/ton**
Stock Feed: $9.50
Dairy Feed: $11.75*
Sweet Feed: $9.75/50lbs~$370/ton

*These select feeds are not kept on stock; a 1000lb order minimum is required.

**Seasonal

I am super jealous. I really want soy free, but that would run almost 30 dollars for 50#. DH is soy sensitive, so I'm sure it would help him if the birds didn't eat soy, but at least he isn't allergic, so he can handle it. I've mostly been feeding everyone turkey grower with a hopper of oyster shells on the side, since the whole flock runs together and there are thirteen poults in the group that are around 8 weeks. They get to forage anything else that's around the yard and horse pastures. The turkey grower is 14$ per50#.

 

[Mama Runner]

View attachment 1145080 We won't say who... but i am pretty sure some spoiled birds gonna have some 'simmon poops tonight and for a few days.... picked up three gallons today and have one in the fridge to render. Got my work cut out for me today i spose.

Ok, what are those how do you render them? I have them all over my forest floor and have not had the time to look them up

 

[Mama Runner]

Dinner resting after a hard day of chasing HVAC repair man all day.

 

[rjohns39]

I am super jealous. I really want soy free, but that would run almost 30 dollars for 50#. DH is soy sensitive, so I'm sure it would help him if the birds didn't eat soy, but at least he isn't allergic, so he can handle it. I've mostly been feeding everyone turkey grower with a hopper of oyster shells on the side, since the whole flock runs together and there are thirteen poults in the group that are around 8 weeks. They get to forage anything else that's around the yard and horse pastures. The turkey grower is 14$ per50#.

Soy is complicated. There are three methods of including Soy in feed. 1) Whole roasted and cracked, 2) Expeller pressed, and 3) (the most common) solvent processed. Most people who have a problem with soy don't really have one with soy but more accurately with the solvent. Then there's also the roundup component. I'm kind of a purest here. I don't think we (humans) need to eat round up (even second hand) or poisonous solvent. The next question is about fat... Expeller processed can come full fat, partial or no fat. So you have to decide what you think is best for your birds. I feed my birds Whole roasted soy, aka full fat, that is cracked. My choice.

 

[Bantambird]

Soy is complicated. There are three methods of including Soy in feed. 1) Whole roasted and cracked, 2) Expeller pressed, and 3) (the most common) solvent processed. Most people who have a problem with soy don't really have one with soy but more accurately with the solvent. Then there's also the roundup component. I'm kind of a purest here. I don't think we (humans) need to eat round up (even second hand) or poisonous solvent. The next question is about fat... Expeller processed can come full fat, partial or no fat. So you have to decide what you think is best for your birds. I feed my birds Whole roasted soy, aka full fat, that is cracked. My choice.

I have to be very frugal. I would definitely get no soy with fish meal if I could afford it here, but Montana isn't the right place for that.

 

[Mama Runner]

For those of you that are newer to this thread, we have developed a consise way to describe our Turkey's temperaments:

LAPPERS: Enjoys being held. Wants attention.
TOLORANTS: Also wants attention but doesn't want to sit in your lap. But doesn't struggle if being held.
LURKERS: Always around but doesn't care to be touched.
BELLYBUTTONS: Jerks.

What do we call the ones who still try and perch on your shoulder and dig their talons in to try and steady themselves?

 

[rjohns39]

What do we call the ones who still try and perch on your shoulder and dig their talons in to try and steady themselves?

I think we need a new category: "painful lappers" I really wish I could count how many times I put a shirt in the laundry with turkey poop down the back

 

[duluthralphie]

What do we call the ones who still try and perch on your shoulder and dig their talons in to try and steady themselves?

Those are definitely lappers. No one said having a lapper was completely safe.

 

[rjohns39]

I have to be very frugal. I would definitely get no soy with fish meal if I could afford it here, but Montana isn't the right place for that.

Go to the fertrell site and see who makes feed near you. You might be surprised.

 

[sfgwife]

Ok, what are those how do you render them? I have them all over my forest floor and have not had the time to look them up

Persimmons. Your bird would love them most likey. Never pull them from the tree. They are bitter as horrible! You can use a seive like the first pic or a renderer like the second. Mine is the second pic. But i have done it with a wooden spoon and a fine mesh strainer. We make bread and puddin with ours. They sell for bout $8 a two cup bag also round here. Today i got 26 cups and still have the gallon bag in the fridge i forgot to do. :/. My tree is still givin me loads and i have five more to pick up from that a friend showed me on his property. I think i may freeze a lot whole for my turkeys for winter... cause i really dont wanna pay ten bucks for a watermelon lol! Persimmons only fall in the fall. On the ground they are sweet. Some people say only collect after the first frost.. but mine taste just fine here. And i am not sure any will be left to fall after our first frost. The trees are usually a black lookin gnarly lookin bark.

An old wives tale... take a seed and cut it in half widthwise (through the thin middle so you have two thin halves) and if it is a spoon you will be shovelin snow, a knife just super cold amd a fork very wet rainy sleety winter. The last pic was after several seeds were cut here... all were spoons.