Turkeys don't need the chick teacher. They really do quite well on their own. I think this myth has grown because you hardly ever see a turkey eat, but if you start playing with the food, they respond by eating. I think they just casually pick at food here and there all day long. As a result, people think the turkeys are not eating, when they are actually doing fine.
MOST of the time, you raise them just like any other bird. Regulate the heat, provide food and water, and voila, in a few months you have turkeys. There are some disaster stories of people losing high proportions of their flocks. I am not a disease expert, but apparently they have relatively weak immune systems for the first six weeks or so. It seems to be important to limit their exposure to other birds at this time. Some people suggest making sure they stay off the ground for six weeks. Of course, this doesn't explain how a hen can raise her own brood on the ground.
The gamebird starter I get is 30% protein. The numbers I have read for recommended levels are 26% to 28%. I'm sure 25% will work, especially for broad-breasteds which are such efficient converters (not saying yours are BB, just saying).
