Feeding turkey poults chick starter?

[KOTurkeyRanch]

also, its important to vary their diet so in addition to the feed you can add shredded carrots, spinach, or lettuce, ect.

i do this ALL the time they definately seem more alert and healthy

 

[hinkjc]

I didn't recommend chick feed for the poults.

I've been raising wild eastern turkeys for years. They do not "need" a varied diet for optimum growth and health. A proper diet, yes. Poultry feeds that can be used include gamebird starter, turkey starter or flockraiser (which works well with other species of birds in the same brooder). I have had excellent success with any of the above.

 

[KOTurkeyRanch]

Quote:
true, they dont need it but its always good!! =]


so where do you live in PA, PM me cause i live here also and ive been looking for easterns=]

 

[KOTurkeyRanch]

Quote:
i know people who raise them with chickens and havent had any blackhead diseases but still i dont think id risk it

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

You can use the starter you got, but I would go out and get the higher protien game bird feed.

I would not give any poult a wild worm that has been in the ground with chickens. As this is how the turkey can get blackhead and the only way. The turkey has to eat an infected worm and bam you got blackhead.

Instead feed them boiled eggs for their needed protien if you need to add more.

 

[KOTurkeyRanch]

Quote:
not worms from chicken poo but worms from the store or anywhere were you dont have chickens


thats what i mean people lol

 

[giasmom]

Thanks for all the info. I think I will keep them seperate & go get some gamebird starter.

 

[ivan3]

Yes, medicated Gamebird Starter.

Do not worry about Blackhead. Call your local Extension Agent or State Dept. of Ag. and find out how common this is in your area (it is a protozoan and is, when found, in the soil or being carried by hosts ). Dimetridazole is an effective treatment (though it is no longer approved - if you are not going to eat your turks the med is not a problem - is still available in some hog wormers).

There were only 13 reported cases in U.S. in `07.

So, don't concern yourself with this too much.

Info on Blackhead:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/poulsci/conference_proceedings/turkey_days/2008/mcdougald_2008.pdf