Feed

[lorrir]

I have 26 turkeys that I am raising to sell at thanksgiving. I am finding that I am going through an enormous amount of feed. I expected this but the reality is hitting my wallet.

I but laying pellets for my chicken hens and game conditioner for the turkeys. The pellets are $11 per 50lbs but the conditioner is $23 per 50lbs

. I am buying my feed at the Tractor Supply.

Can I feed the turkeys laying pellets? The roosters eat it and they are still roosters.

What makes laying pellets so special?

 

[Crickett]

It's the protein content. Game feed has even more protein, that's why the heftier price tag. Not sure about making the switch, maybe someone else knows?

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

You might try searching in the Meat Bird section, I vaguely remember seeing a post about this very question there...

Sorry I can't be more helpful!

 

[paddock36]

We have two DBB turkeys that we are going to butcher very soon and when we ran out of food one time we just gave them the layer mash that we had for the hens. Now that's what they eat and have had no problem, but I wouldn't suggest it for a young developing turkey because they need the extra protein for bone development. My turkeys are almost 5 months old.

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

Layer has too much clcium for a growing bird and the protien % is not high enough.

What kind of turks are you raising ?? BB or heritage type

A heritage turkey from hatch to butcher (24-32 weeks) will eat 80-100 lbs of feed each. They are not cheap too raise. The only way to get a price break is to buy from a feed mill stay away from the feed stores and buy in bulk. 26 birds you can buy a ton and you'll use it all by the time you are done !!

If you lower the3ir protien % tehn they will grow alot slower and will be smaller birds, plus they will eat 2x the lower protien feed to gain the same weight they would have on the higher %, so it will cost you more in the long run.

We feed ours 27% from hatch to butcher. Again it is not cheap too raise turkeys for market the correct way.

 

[lorrir]

Mine are bronze. I will not be raising them next year, way to much work for the average person. I'll check into the feed mill

 

[Rosalind]

What about pasturing them in a tractor-type arrangement? Would they get more of their food from grass/weeds/bugs? I know my layer chickens eat less bagged feed when they have plenty of greens & drop fruit to eat in the orchard.