broad breasted whites

[rjohns39]

I forgot to ask. What are you feeding your turkeys, how old are they and can you feed them separately from the chickens?

 

[Adavis8328]

Don't beat yourself up over it. I meet dozens of people each year that ended up unknowingly bringing home meat birds. The basic problem with them is they, unlike their heritage counterparts, over eat and develop muscle before the organs can catch up. If you slow their food intake and get them plenty of exercise hopefully you'll get a year or two, maybe three out of them. Also note worthy is that meat birds are among the cuddliest. Turkeys, next time out go for a heritage breed, are like big feathered dogs. If properly socialized they will love spending time in your lap and getting petted.

Full disclosure, I do raise birds for meat, but I also raise endangered breeds for layers who really do become pets.

You don't

Thank you for that information! And mine are the best! Idk if this is 'normal' but mine love to follow u, waiting for me to bend down and rub my hands under both wings and towards their tail feathers! They enjoy this SOOO MUCH so that they flop on the ground and make noises and spread their wings out so I can get every inch of their 'spots' and while I'm doing it to 1, the other will get so jealous, it will try to run off the 1 who's getting the loving! It reminds me of a dog having its belly scratched! I've never seen this before and I have NO IDEA if this is even a normal thing! but I keep my birds all together, so making turk turk and gobbles go on 'diets' is probably NOT going to impress them AT ALL but they just will have to get over that, it's for their own good afterall! And actually I just told the hubby who asked me yesterday, what was I going to do after they do pass away? I said I'd get another Turkey but definitely a heritage type next time around! He said yeah ok but no like with turk and goobles what r u doing with THEM once they pass away?! Ummm bury them next to the other pets? Like normal duh! he got in his feelings about how it was a waste of 30 plus lbs of good Turkey meat! And do you KNOW how much that costs!? After all these years together hes still not able to understand that I refuse to eat anything that I feed daily and bond with! Now I got a couple roosters that I SWEAR I just may eat just because they are TERRIBLE birds and it's not gonna break my heart to eat something hateful like that! Even tho they still have their testicles, I swear they are 1 spurring away from being dinner just out of spit!

 

[rjohns39]

@memphis Can you stop by and tell the tail of your divas and add a photo or two?

@OneMountainAcres can you share a pic of your girl with the girls? This is our new person with BBWs.

@R2elk Can you offer insights in keeping BBWs longer term?

 

[drumstick diva]

I know turkeys can act like a family dog.. One of our members had a turkey. When he was working on his car, the turkey stayed near as a spectator.

 

[Adavis8328]

I forgot to ask. What are you feeding your turkeys, how old are they and can you feed them separately from the chickens?

My turkeys are almost 6 months old and they eat medicated starter crumbles because my mother always has sworn by it, said that she always used it for the lifetime of her peacocks, her chickens, as well as all her ducks. Swears it 'keeps the coccidia at bay' so I have everyone on that and I also use layer crumbles both are 50 lbs and I mix it in a metal can with a drill and paint mixer and I add a little bit of oyster shells in with it all. I do feed grapes and watermelon as well as I'm in the process of almost finishing growing my mealworms for everyone because it was expensive buying them at the store, plus being alive, they are better for them vs freeze dried I was told any ways. But they dont get the treats daily, that is every few days and it's only a handful here and there, just enough for everyone to get a little bit of the treats. As far as feeding them separate, this is going to make me sound stupid, but I've never actually had a set feeding time for the birds because my mom never did growing up and because she didn't, I guess I didnt think I should or needed to. I felt like if I didnt put food down at ALL TIMES in a few spots in the pen, that maybe they would get hungry and I would be a terrible person for withholding their food. So I've never done that, and honestly, since u seem to really know ur stuff here, how would I do this? I can separate them of course, but would I feed like at what times do you think would be the BEST, and do I feed 1 time a day, 2 times? What's your opinion on the subject?

 

[Adavis8328]

I know turkeys can act like a family dog.. One of our members had a turkey. When he was working on his car, the turkey stayed near as a spectator.

Same... mine will literally sit down and wait as I'm under the truck! And when I'm outside and I let them loose, hell have no furry like my 2 turkeys who cant see me! Cause if I have to walk in the house or etc OH DEAR GOD! they run around to door to door calling for me! If I leave my door open by accident, they WILL walk in this house as If they own it! The pit bull is always extremely confused when that happens!

 

[rjohns39]

My turkeys are almost 6 months old and they eat medicated starter crumbles because my mother always has sworn by it, said that she always used it for the lifetime of her peacocks, her chickens, as well as all her ducks. Swears it 'keeps the coccidia at bay' so I have everyone on that and I also use layer crumbles both are 50 lbs and I mix it in a metal can with a drill and paint mixer and I add a little bit of oyster shells in with it all. I do feed grapes and watermelon as well as I'm in the process of almost finishing growing my mealworms for everyone because it was expensive buying them at the store, plus being alive, they are better for them vs freeze dried I was told any ways. But they dont get the treats daily, that is every few days and it's only a handful here and there, just enough for everyone to get a little bit of the treats. As far as feeding them separate, this is going to make me sound stupid, but I've never actually had a set feeding time for the birds because my mom never did growing up and because she didn't, I guess I didnt think I should or needed to. I felt like if I didnt put food down at ALL TIMES in a few spots in the pen, that maybe they would get hungry and I would be a terrible person for withholding their food. So I've never done that, and honestly, since u seem to really know ur stuff here, how would I do this? I can separate them of course, but would I feed like at what times do you think would be the BEST, and do I feed 1 time a day, 2 times? What's your opinion on the subject?

I've asked @R2elk to offer thoughts for you. Let's wait for his opinion as he's kept BBWs alive far longer than I have. When you say starter, do you mean Chick starter, Game bird starter, or turkey starter? I wouldn't add Oyster shell to their feed or mix layer and starter. I'd offer the oyster shell on the side, if they need it they'll take it. But let's wait for better input from R2.

 

[R2elk]

My turkeys are almost 6 months old and they eat medicated starter crumbles because my mother always has sworn by it, said that she always used it for the lifetime of her peacocks, her chickens, as well as all her ducks. Swears it 'keeps the coccidia at bay' so I have everyone on that and I also use layer crumbles both are 50 lbs and I mix it in a metal can with a drill and paint mixer and I add a little bit of oyster shells in with it all. I do feed grapes and watermelon as well as I'm in the process of almost finishing growing my mealworms for everyone because it was expensive buying them at the store, plus being alive, they are better for them vs freeze dried I was told any ways. But they dont get the treats daily, that is every few days and it's only a handful here and there, just enough for everyone to get a little bit of the treats. As far as feeding them separate, this is going to make me sound stupid, but I've never actually had a set feeding time for the birds because my mom never did growing up and because she didn't, I guess I didnt think I should or needed to. I felt like if I didnt put food down at ALL TIMES in a few spots in the pen, that maybe they would get hungry and I would be a terrible person for withholding their food. So I've never done that, and honestly, since u seem to really know ur stuff here, how would I do this? I can separate them of course, but would I feed like at what times do you think would be the BEST, and do I feed 1 time a day, 2 times? What's your opinion on the subject?

I would never feed chick starter to turkey poults or pea chicks. In the case of BB turkeys it is especially harmful because of the insufficient levels of lysine, methionine and niacin for proper development. It can hasten leg problems in BB turkeys.

I do not feed medicated feed of any kind to any of my turkeys and have no trouble with coccidiosis. Amprolium is the active ingredient in most medicated starters. It works through the use of a thiamine blocker. Niacin and thiamine are both B vitamins that are critical in proper development of the leg joints.

At 6 months old, your turkeys should be on an adult feed. I recommend using an All Flock or Flock Raiser because either will contain the appropriate levels of nutrients for adult turkeys. Oyster shell should be available free choice separate from the feed.

The total for all treats added together should be no more than 10% of the total amount of feed that is given. More harm has been done to poultry through excessive treats than through any other way.

Medicated feed should never be mixed with any non-medicated feed. The medicated feed has the correct amount of medication when used as the only food. Mixing it with non-medicated feeds brings the medication below effective dosages and is worse than not feeding medicated feed at all.

I have All Flock feed available to all of my poultry all of the time. Oyster shell is available free choice all of the time. Fresh water is also always available.

Lots of free range time, exercise and little to no treats can be helpful in extending the lives of BB turkeys. Some people do put their BBs on a diet but keeping them active is more important.

 

[Marie2020]

Aww hugs! Your welcome and thank you for your kind words! I love to talk *as if yall couldnt see that one! and mostly about my animals and family!* but I love knowing I've made someone smile! That is the best news ever to know you made someone's day or put a smile on someone's face!

I'm only sorry I hadn't seen your post on the dog attack. It's no excuse I've had some issues here the past few days. I hope all is well with you and your chickens now

 

[Adavis8328]

I've asked @R2elk to offer thoughts for you. Let's wait for his opinion as he's kept BBWs alive far longer than I have. When you say starter, do you mean Chick starter, Game bird starter, or turkey starter? I wouldn't add Oyster shell to their feed or mix layer and starter. I'd offer the oyster shell on the side, if they need it they'll take it. But let's wait for better input from R2.

Ok, my mom actually said the same thing about the oyster shells so I clearly am going to follow yalls advice, but chick starter because I also have chickens and 2 roosters that may end up as dinner havent decided yet on what to do with them at this moment.... let me get jumped on 1 more time and I'll let u know their fate!