confused about feeding turkeys/chicken

[Mother of All]

I have turkey that free range with chicken of all ages. What do I feed them? 25 of my chicken are laying. At this point I have them all free ranging in my back yard all day. I also have some chicken layer feeders out and some chicken grower feeders out at all times with more then enough waters out. Can someone help straighten me up? I'm thinking if I go to a game bird feed then my laying chickens will start having problems.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I'm pretty sure turkey feed is okay for chickens, too. And I think chicken food is okay for turkeys - but I could be wrong!

 

[Mother of All]

I hear the protein levels are different

 

[Lotsapaints]

growing turkeys need 24% mature need 20% I would think 20% would be okay and I feed that 24% from time to time if I'm out of my 20% birds eat it just fine and I'm just out a little more money I just don't feed my turkeys the 13% feed figure that wouldn't be good enough for them.....

 

[KellyHM]

My turkeys free range with my chickens as well and eat layer pellets and do just fine.

 

[Lagerdogger]

Its a tough call if you should feed your layers too much protein or your turkeys too little. If they have access to natural foods, the turkeys can supplement their diet and perhaps increase their protein intake (I watched mine catch a mouse a couple of days ago, and insects are also good protein). So if the turkeys are pets and you don't care how fast they grow, I would err on the side of too little for the turkeys. I have heard that too much protein is bad for layers, and you wouldn't want to hurt egg production if you can help it. But watch the turkeys closely, and if they develop any leg problems or anything else looks funny, up the protein in the feed.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

If they're freerange, the turk will get the extra protein it needs from seedheads & bugs.