Egg with no shell??

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Since we are going "old School" anybody interested in feeds and feeding should check this out and come to your own conclusions about feed and feeding and what works for you.

http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi...ode=3317008:5&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=343

This link is to the Core Historical Literature of Agriculture at Cornell University. And the book is Turkey Management written by written by Stanley Marsden and Joseph Martin. It's copyright is dated 1939. - You can view the entire book there or there are still used hard copies around on amazon and barnes & noble.

In this time frame turkeys were raised on pasture in huge flocks, the "turkey house" that we know today hadn't come into practice yet. Also they were raising heritage turkeys for market.

The chapter linked feeds and feeding is very interesting. It notes 6 types of feeds used at that time

Starter feed - first 8 weeks recognized as the brooder period
Grower - end of brooding period to market age
Finisher - last few weeks of growing period
The next 3 are pretty self explanatory
Wintering
Laying
Summer

While you are looking thru the feeds note the % of protien for each phase
Starter runs 21% thru 27%
Grower runs 20% to up to 29% - there is quite a difference in % there but if you notice the average it's in the 20 to 21% range.

They were also feeding fresh greens much as we do today. It's also interesting to note the use of the fish oils for vitamins during the starter period - they brooded them in barns etc without direct sun so the extra was needed.

Steve in NC

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

Since we are going "old School" anybody interested in feeds and feeding should check this out and come to your own conclusions about feed and feeding and what works for you.

http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/t … mp;seq=343

This link is to the Core Historical Literature of Agriculture at Cornell University. And the book is Turkey Management written by written by Stanley Marsden and Joseph Martin. It's copyright is dated 1939. - You can view the entire book there or there are still used hard copies around on amazon and barnes & noble.

In this time frame turkeys were raised on pasture in huge flocks, the "turkey house" that we know today hadn't come into practice yet. Also they were raising heritage turkeys for market.

The chapter linked feeds and feeding is very interesting. It notes 6 types of feeds used at that time

Starter feed - first 8 weeks recognized as the brooder period
Grower - end of brooding period to market age
Finisher - last few weeks of growing period
The next 3 are pretty self explanatory
Wintering
Laying
Summer

While you are looking thru the feeds note the % of protien for each phase
Starter runs 21% thru 27%
Grower runs 20% to up to 29% - there is quite a difference in % there but if you notice the average it's in the 20 to 21% range.

They were also feeding fresh greens much as we do today. It's also interesting to note the use of the fish oils for vitamins during the starter period - they brooded them in barns etc without direct sun so the extra was needed.

Steve in NC

you'll also notice that almost every one of those says to feed them fresh whole milk instead of water. Very few used water, almost all used fresh milk from their cows instead of water,which would boost the protien levels WAY up, the ones that used water used the high protien feeds.

They would have to use 6 types of feed back then, because of the changing seasons, you must remember that this is the era were you can't just run to TSC and get feed. You had to grow most of it and the luckier ones that lived closer to towns/cities had some feed mills but couldn't afford the feed all the times.​

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

You might want to read that again, start on page 361. page 363 starts the listing of growing mixes. note the protein level of the feed - mix #5,22,&23 call for milk to be added, in those mixes the protein of the feed is 14%.

I posted this link not to debate over the protien level of the feed.

It is for interested people to read and be more informed of feeding methods.

Steve in NC

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Ohhh I love old school! I have that book! I am 'behind' on what I know about turkeys' specific needs, so I had those and have been reading - to sort of set down a foundation of knowledge. And mostly because I think it's fascinating to read how things were done then.

 

[KOTurkeyRanch]

Quote:
Feeding heritage type turkeys a low protien feed at a young age will not let the turkey be able to get the growth to get its full size potential. They will grow alot slower on the lower protien feeds as well. You will not have a good fleshed out turkey for the table in 28-32 weeks and they will be under the suggested weight of a young turkey, which is taken around this time. All depends what you are doing budget backyard pets you are fine with the lower protien, good fleshed out table birds in the proper grow out at maturity, this will not be a good choice on the low protien diets.

if they arent eating it, its no problem then, you want it to grow slow so the legs will stay strong

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

if they arent eating it, its no problem then, you want it to grow slow so the legs will stay strong

HUH ???

Heritage birds don't have the leg problems. You are thinking of the BB types.

How slow do you want them to grow ??​

 

[toredano]

I have mine on crumbles .. game bird starter 28% medicated. He seems to do fine on it. Plus he now started eating soem gras when he is outside during the day. He is thin tho.. I guess since he is growing at a really fast rate he cant keep meat on him. ..

Milk.. wow.. raw milk ?
I remember growing up in germany and getting milk of the cows there from a farm .Now people say you shouldnt do that anymore. How Sad.

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

Quote:
Yes he will fill out as he gets older.

Yes they feed them raw milk instead of water on most old time farms and also they fed them alot of waste meat scraps.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
Ohhh I love old school! I have that book! I am 'behind' on what I know about turkeys' specific needs, so I had those and have been reading - to sort of set down a foundation of knowledge. And mostly because I think it's fascinating to read how things were done then.

It is a great book and full of information.

Steve

 

[KOTurkeyRanch]

Heritage birds don't have the leg problems. You are thinking of the BB types.

How slow do you want them to grow ??

if the heritage birds are being fed 28% all their lives, they will get leg problems...i want mine to grow slow to prolong their live as any pet owner would...thats how slow i want them to grow