Help why are they eating each other's feathers

[WhiteWyan]

I can't see any reason why they specify to feed after 8 weeks of age. Turkey starter for poults is similar in content.
This brand probably wants you to buy a different formula for the early life stages then switch to this later as part of their feeding program. Also it has 22% protein which is good!!!

Are you aware it has antibiotics in it? Worth mentioning.


I'm stumped. Maybe they are feather picking because they are bored or don't have enough room.

 

[chickenmeadow]

Maybe call the feed store that it came from & ask?

 

[R2elk]

View attachment 1260383

This is basically their turkey grower. Their "turkey starter" is 28% protein. I may be wrong but the methionine content seems a little low for growing turkeys.

"A methionine deficiency typically leads to poor feed conversion, retarded growth in meat birds, and reduced egg production in layers and breeders. Methionine is required to provide the building blocks for immune cells and tissues. This includes the nonspecific mechanisms such as the skin and mucosa, and the specific mechanisms that include T and B lymphocytes. This is particularly important for newly hatched chicks that are highly susceptible to infection during the first two weeks of life.

Methionine is a major component of feathers. Methionine and cysteine (another sulfur-containing amino acid that is not essential in the diet) are critical to feather formation. A deficiency of methionine results in poor feather growth and increased feather pecking. A methionine-deficient bird will tend to eat feathers in an attempt to obtain enough methionine. Feather pecking can quickly turn into cannibalistic behavior in a flock."

http://articles.extension.org/pages/69042/synthetic-methionine-and-organic-poultry-diets