Hen becoming aggressive

[ValerieJ]

Look for All Flock or Flock Raiser. I am sure the feed available to you is not the same as what is available to me. Here Flock Raiser is Purina's version of an all flock feed. I use an All Flock feed. It isn't the top quality but it was on sale today for $13 for 50 lbs.

I highly recommend a turkey saddle for her. If she goes broody, you need to either separate him from her or make it so she has access to her nest but in a way that he can't get access to her nest.

It is my experience that toms that are poor breeders do not get better at it with age. They are also the ones that unintentionally kill their hens.

Say it ain't so!

 

[R2elk]

Kill their hens?? How?

When toms make undesired mating attempts such as when a hen is sitting on her nest, it is not uncommon for them to rip the hen's side open while they are struggling to stay in place. That is the worst that happens. other bad things that can happen in that situation are smashed eggs and or an injured hen.

 

[R2elk]

Say it ain't so!

It can happen. Why do you think hens in the wild hide their nests from the toms?

 

[aart]

I start my poults out with a 28% protein turkey or game bird starter. Then I switch them to a 24% protein turkey or game bird grower. After that they get the same 20% protein all flock feed as my adults.

At what ages do you make these switches?

 

[R2elk]

At what ages do you make these switches?

The recommended ages are starter from hatch until 6 to 8 weeks old. Grower for the next 6 weeks. All Flock gets fed after that. Some people will switch to finisher after using grower.

 

[Gemjar82]

Hey, so what can I feed my turkeys that is more natural? Is there anything I can add onto the wheat. Wheat is 16% protein and they have access to it all day with oyster shell, grit and corn in the winter time

 

[R2elk]

Hey, so what can I feed my turkeys that is more natural? Is there anything I can add onto the wheat. Wheat is 16% protein and they have access to it all day with oyster shell, grit and corn in the winter time

Sorry, I can't answer that. No single grain is a complete food for poultry which is why the companies that make processed feeds add vitamin mixes, etc. to their feeds. @rjohns39 has dealt with making feed mixes and may be able to help you.

Food effect on aggressive turkeys

Three common turkey diet deficiencies

 

[rjohns39]

I'm uncertain what products like nutri-balancer are available to you in the UK, here's a link to the label You can read more about it here and there are sample recipes here. I'm a huge fan of Fertrell products, but they are hard to get here with a reasonable price.

I would search for vitamin packs for chicken feed in your area and then look at what grains are readily available to you. Best if you can find a complete feed that isn't high in calcium.

 

[silkie1472]

I'm uncertain what products like nutri-balancer are available to you in the UK, here's a link to the label You can read more about it here and there are sample recipes here. I'm a huge fan of Fertrell products, but they are hard to get here with a reasonable price.

I would search for vitamin packs for chicken feed in your area and then look at what grains are readily available to you. Best if you can find a complete feed that isn't high in calcium.

If you wouldn’t mind me adding along, grains are great for birds such as turkeys, and may have a great deal of protein, but grain alone does not have many of the other essentials they need.

What they’re meaning by complete feed is that it can contain whatever grain you desire, but it’s going to have a mixture to (hopefully) meet all of the needs of the bird. A turkey is a large bird that requires 2~3% {at most} calcium (unless you’re aiding in the laying of hens) just for routine bone reconstruction; however, protein is also very important. A common crude protein percentage fore grown turkeys is 18% when they are pretty much done growing, which will also help keep them from getting overweight.

The balance between the protein, calcium, and other nutrients is very important, though. For example, later pellets may have adequate protein, but the high calcium has a negative effect both within the muscle and neuro system of the bird. I like to think of this example in human terms, so for this I would research the role of calcium in the muscular system focusing on the sarcoplasmic reticulum. It’s very interesting — and it’ll even give you an idea of why it could negatively affect birds!

Overall, I would most likely recommend a grower feed at the least with the suggested elements. The formula is good, and you could even offer your grains if they prefer , but the other food option should be available. I, however, do not know what all is available in the UK either.

I hope this helps!

 

[Gemjar82]

I totally understand all of that, I guess my question is what can I feed to get that that is all natural. I don't like complete feeds, lots of crap and fillers in them. Its only a personal thing, I dont feed any of my animals processed complete feeds.
I have wheat corn and maize but here must be things I can supplement with in order to get them all they need?