Feed Amounts

[aggieterpkatie]

Hi all, I have a feed question. I currently have 9 turkeys, 4 BBW and 5 BBB. They were hatched late March, so they're big now. My question is how much should I be feeding them? I can't tell if I'm underfeeding or if they're just always hungry! They don't get free choice feed, I feed twice a day. I currently feed the group of turkeys with my chickens. I'd guess I have 30ish chickens. I'm feeding 2 full 2 qt scoops twice a day. When the scoop is full, it's actually over 2 qts. I haven't weighed the feed, but it's a typical mashed feed so it's heavy.

Does that sound at all right? Is it normal for turkeys to act like they're starving? I can try to get weights on a few of them if that helps.

 

[OmaBird]

One way to judge is give them all they can eat in 15 minutes twice day.

I think I would feed at least double that. Like two to three buckets each feeding is my guess.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Quote:
It probably takes them 15 minutes to eat all the feed I give.


Two or three buckets? What size bucket?

 

[OmaBird]

1 gal buckets.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Since they are broad breasted turkeys you feed them like broiler chickens at all they can eat 12 hours per day. The whole purpose of the broad breasted type is max weight gain in the shortest amout of time.

Steve

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Thanks for the reply Steve. I don't really care to grow them as quickly as possible, so I don't mind feeding them so they grow slower...I just don't want to feed too little. Does that make sense?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Yes that makes sense. You are probably going to just have to play it by ear. You could weigh them once a week would be one way to tell. They are bred for rapid weight gain so if they are doing that cut back on the feed. If they are maintaining or a slow gain then that is what you want. If loosing they need more feed.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Thanks Steve!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

glad to help

Actually when you figure out the amount can you post it? I'm sure somebody else could use the info as well. I always like to hear and lean towards personal experience vice what you read.

Steve