feeding turkeys off range? can they be fed like chickens? and will eastern wild turkeys return to co

[fowlsessed]

I want to eventually produce all my feed, would turkeys be conductive to this? or do they NEED gamebird fed? they would be allowed freerange. can they glean most of their diet off of the pasture and woods? and can I just feed them layer pellets and grains for now as that's what my chickens and pigeons get till I'm off store bought feed? sorry for all the questions, thanks.
P.S. and anyone whose raised eastern wild turkeys, will they return to their coop and stick around or will I most likely lose them?

 

[frank53061]

Protein is your biggest concern 20 to 25% is needed it would be possible if they free range to get there protein if they were getting enough insect's or Lizards snakes or small rodents but that might be a crap shoot and during the cold months its probably unlikely that they would get enough.
Sounds like you are setting yourself up for an experiment if you have enough land for them to free range on but how much would it take for a flock of Turkeys to get enough of what they need.
I have read here some one stated that a Turkey would range 3 miles in a day to feed.
If you could find a cheap and easy way to add protein to there diet from some source and mix it with your home made mix and feed it fresh the type of protein you supply might spoil unless dried.
I feed scraps from our table that helps I have seen them eat there own feather that I have cut off when trimming there wings.

 

[fowlsessed]

Thanks for the reply. Yea, I have enough room. I'll have to just try and see I guess. Any breed recommendations? and anyone with experience with Eastern wilds?

 

[Oregon Blues]

While I buy feed for my birds, I also grow snow peas for them, and feed them the entire plant. Most of the legumes have a decent level of protein, and many of them can be grown on a homestead.

Just be aware that soybean, which is what is used in most feeds to increase protein levels, has to be specially processed to make it digestible. So, it probably won't work to grow soybean.

My turkeys adore clover, and that is a legume, so you could look up the protein content of clover. Also table pea plants (the whole plant) and lentils.

Then you will need to also make sure they can get plenty of insects or maybe fish. Can you grow tilapia where you live? Or have a source for catfish? Warning here, I have no idea how it would affect the taste of eggs or meat if you feed a lot of fish.

Chickens will eat road kill. Maybe turkeys will, too. That's protein.

There are types of worms and bugs that you can raise at home for protein for your poultry.

The true wild turkeys who provide all their own food, range over a huge area in order to obtain all they need. They also have a high death rate. But you should be able to grow a lot of what your turkeys need, and they should stay reasonably close to wherever it is that the feed is, which should mean their feed trough at your house.

I don't think layer feed has enough protein for turkeys and it certainly does not have enough protein for poults. You'll do better to start them with a more suitable feed.

You won't be able to just turn them loose and not do any work. But you could certainly grow most of their feed for most of the year. If you are willing to do the work to feed them off of what you grow, you might be able to do it.

 

[fowlsessed]

Thanks for all the info, oregon blues! Yes, I'm familiar with all those "alternative" feeding methods. I'll probably try royal palms, and Eastern wilds are my second choice. I do plan on growing legumes and feeding the fish I catch, I also would like to eventually grow some fish. I'm starting to try raising Black soldier grubs as well and maybe meal worms and crickets.