mixing feed for turkey poults

[boxermom]

Hi. I'm new to turkeys. I was expecting a couple the end of April, but the feed store called yesterday. They have their's in now. I've been checking what to feed. They are 2 days old. The feed store does not have medicated game bird feed and the medicated chick feed is only 16%. Could I mix the 20% game bird with the 16% medicated chick starter and get healthy results? I'm not going to get these particular chicks if the store can still get heritage birds. I'm a little afraid, as a newbie, to start out w/ BBW or BBB.

I apologize if this thread shows up kind of strange. I'm proof reading and some of the words that I typed are not what is showing. April Fools?

 

[sandspoultry]

The 16% is to low fo poults, even the 20% is. We start ours on a 28% medicated game bird starter. Medicated feed isn't a total "must use" but it makes raising them easier. Alot of people don't use it at all and do just fine. Have you asked the feed store if they can order it? The ones around here don't usually carry some of the feeds we use but when asked they could get it. We buy quite a bit of feed so we get the prefered treatment at the feed mill.

Steve in NC

 

[boxermom]

Thanks sandspoultry, I will check w/ the feed store. I'm still waiting to hear if they can get heritage turks. I'll ask her when she calls.

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

that low of protein in their feed at that age is not good, they can actually die from not getting enough out of the feed with improper feed.

We use NO medicated feeds. They are filled with all kinds of bad things and they are not necessary, if you do things right.

You really need to find feed that is 28-30% for the new poults.

 

[boxermom]

I am having trouble finding such high protein feeds. I've checked w/ 3 feed stores/supplies and they don't think they can get it. Now what? I just ordered turkey poults coming the end of April.

 

[monarc23]

I am very novice to turkey poults however to raise protien levels in my quail I suppliment with boiled eggs, high protien cat food ground or moistened, insects, and am considering wild caught fish to their diet as well. Just wanted to shove that out there incase you still cant find any in time and may consider supplimenting.

 

[boxermom]

Quote:
Thanks. I plan on free ranging w/ limits, but I won't be able to do that when they are little. Do you feed eggs, cat food et al to babies?

 

[sandspoultry]

Do your feed stores carry any "name brands" Purina etc? If they deal with a brand name I would think they could get it. Just trying to think of what to use to boost the protien if you have to. The starter type foods have extra vitamins etc that the little ones need. I wouldn't feed them cat food as poults...unless we can figure something out.

Do you have a local feed mill? Ours uses a pre bagged supplement mixed with ground corn. The supplement is 40+ % protien. What you might be able to do is get some supplement and mix that with chick starter to boost the protien level. Our mill can mix any protien level you need - they have all the figures by weight for the different protien levels. That would be one option

Are there any turkey farms around you? You might be able to buy some turkey starter from them?

Steve

 

[boxermom]

I'll check into that. I know we have both a feed mill and there are turkey farms around here. I need to find something, because I ordered 4 bourbon reds this am. They will be here the same time my chicks come. I think I'm going to be busy.

 

[sandspoultry]

Quote:
That's the way to go, the feed mill should be able to help you with a mix for poults. ours will only custom mix 500 pound + batches but in your case and what you need hopefully they will work with you. You could probably get a 50 pound bag of chick starter and get the extra supplement to raise the protien to 28%-ish. They can figure what you need supplement wise and you can just hand mix it if they can't just make sure you mix it very very well.

Or if you can get some starter from the turkey farm that will get you going.

You don't need the high protien for very long, 6 to 10 weeks and then you go to a lower protien grower.

Steve