My first turkeys, and some feeding questions

[brandislee]

I did search, but my questions are kind of broad and specific at the same time, so I didn't find what I was looking for... hopefully this isn't repetative!

I ordered some BBB for the first time this year. They guy at the feed store told me they would come later than my broilers, which was perfect. Then I get a call today that my turkeys and broilers will be coming in THURSDAY (as in two days from now) morning. So I have to get ready like now! I have a really big brooder, so I'm good there, but is it okay if I keep the broilers and turkey poults together for the first few weeks (8 turkeys and 25 broilers in a 2.5 x 7 brooder for 2 weeks, then I'll move the broilers and probably the turkeys outside to a tractor, but still with a heat lamp for at least the next two weeks)? I was obviously planning on staggering them in the brooder, but now I can't, and I don't have another one. I do have pens to keep them in when they're older.

And I know about blackhead, and it's a risk when keeping chickens and turkeys together, but that's something I'm just going to take as it comes. There's no way for me to keep the turkeys away from ground contaminated by my chickens because they free range and have lived in every pen I currently have. So this year I guess I'll find out if my chickens have it or not...

My other question concerns their feed- I just now (after they're ordered... forgive me it's my first time!) did the math, and they will be a little on the old side by October/November, when I had planned to butcher them (7 months). Should I feed them lower protein feed (like broiler feed, what I get is either 18 or 19% protein) the entire time, or do I need to start them on a higher protein feed and change it later to slow down their growth? Obviously they'll be eating whatever the broilers eat for the first two weeks (unless I come up with another brooder). I feed my broilers soaked (check it out here) unmedicated 19% chick starter- I had fantastic success with it with my last batch of broilers, they ate a lot less and still got big and meaty, and I didn't loose a single one. Once they got older I mixed it with scratch grains, although i don't know if I'll do that this year- it brings down the overall protein, and I was doing it as a cost managment thing last year- I've switched to organic and/or non-gmo feeds since then and scratch grains are no longer cheap, so it will probably be best to stick with just the chick starter.

I appreciate any feedback, as zero hour quickly approaches and I kind of want to know what my plan is by then!

 

[R2elk]

Turkey chicks need a higher % protein (around 26-30%) than what you feed your broiler chicks. I have and do raise chicks and poults together. Whenever I do that I feed all of them turkey starter for at least the first two weeks. In my case a 50 pound sack of turkey starter will normally last much longer than two weeks so I normally feed it until the sack runs out. I then switch to turkey grower but have on occasion gone to meat bird (22% protein) feed after running out of turkey starter.

As far as trying to slow the growth of the turkeys, it is a concept that I have a problem with as I was always trying to produce the biggest bird I could when raising BBWs. In my opinion the healthiest and best method of slowing the growth on these birds is to allow them to free range while still making a high quality feed available to them.

Blackhead is not a problem where I live so I have no problems having chickens and turkeys together. Check with your local county agriculture extension agent to see if blackhead is a problem in your area.

 

[brandislee]

Thanks for the reply... I am trying to NOT get as big a bird as I can... up to 20lbs (dressed) or so would be okay, but much bigger and it wouldn't fit in my oven (my oven is weird and old and barely big enough to hold a regular sized sheet pan). But more than that I was concerned that if they get too big they will suffer the consequences and become sick or unable to get around, like broilers do when they get too big. Is there more leaway with the BBB than with chicken broilers?

I've always had a tiny issue with the idea that lower protein = less weight gain. Less protein = more carbohydrates, which doesn't = less weight gain but DOES = more fat gain. I do plan on free ranging them, so hopefully that alone will be enough to slow their growth, and since they are meat birds (and I plan to soak their feed) they definitely won't have free feed. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when they discover the chicken feed in the chicken coop, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there (however if anyone has suggestions concerning keeping free range turkeys out of free range chicken (layer) feed, please share!).

Glad to know NOW rather than after I have issues about the turkey starter... now I just hope I don't have a hard time finding it. At the very least I know I can get it in Red Wing if I have to, but that's 30 miles out of the way.

 

[R2elk]

If you wanted birds that dress out around 20 pounds you should have gotten a heritage breed of turkey. I free ranged my BBWs and did not have leg problems and the toms would dress out in the mid 30 lbs. for Thanksgiving. Yes the hens would be smaller but I really liked those big fat toms.

My guess is that with your BBBs if you don't want them to end up being huge you will have to process them at a younger age and just store them in the freezer.

Sometimes a store will carry turkey starter and some will carry game bird starter either of which will work fine for turkeys. The most critical time for the turkeys to have the real high percentage feed is probably the first four weeks.

I currently have chickens, guineas and turkeys all eating from the same feeder which is filled with game bird maintenance feed that is 16% protein. These are all mature birds.

Good luck with your poultry.