Soybean meal

[AlbionWood]

Hi everybody, been lurking around here a bit and picked up lots of useful information - thanks to all of you! We just got 6 turkey poults, two each of Narragansett, Bourbon Red, and Rio Grande Wild. Judging from all the peeping, they didn't enjoy the 45-minute journey from the fed store to our place very much, but once in the comfy warm pen I made for them, they perked right up. Might have made a mistake putting straw down so soon, some of them were trying to eat it, but after a day they have mostly given that up. Sure are fun to watch!

The feed store sold us Purina Flock Raiser and said it would be fine for the poults, but after reading here I think that isn't quite right. I have a couple sacks of Soybean Meal on hand, which I use as a soil amendment, and from reading a little it seems this is where the protein in poultry feed comes from. So I mixed about half Flock Raiser and half Soybean meal to raise the protein up to about 30%. Anybody see any problem with doing this?

When should I start introducing grit? The Narragansetts are about a week old already, the others hatched 5/18.

Cheers,
Tim in Albion, CA

 

[Olive Hill]

What is the protein content of your SBM? Mine is 48% which is pretty average and that comes out to 34% if mixed equal parts with Flock Raiser. 1.75-2 parts Flock Raiser to 1 part SBM would likely be a better ratio. So in other words 25 lbs of SBM to each 50 lb bag of flock raiser or so. Not 50 lbs to 50 lbs. Or, even better, check with a local mill about getting Turkey Starter. You'll be supporting local farmers, buying local grains and will probably save money doing so.

 

[AlbionWood]

Ah, I see, FR has more protein than I thought, so I'll go to a 2:1 (FR:SB) ratio. Thanks!

There is no such thing as a "local mill" here nor is there a local soybean agriculture. I should go update my profile so people can see where I'm from... the beautiful but cold and wet Mendocino coast of California, where our summer highs are in the 60s. (If summer ever comes, that is; May has been pretty miserable.)

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Once they are several months old I feed my turkeys Flock Raiser, but as young poults it's a bit low in protein for their needs. About a 2:1 F/R and soybean meal ratio would be about right for the first two months then slowly ease off on the soy meal until it's all Flock Raiser.

Mine also get fresh pasture every day.

 

[AlbionWood]

When do you put them on pasture? I see others here recommend keeping them in the brooder pen for 8-9 weeks.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

This is dependent on weather/temperature and your ability to shelter and keep them warm.

I have some hatched on April 20th that I'd put on the ground right now if I had a growout pen ready for them. For you in a cool/wet climate I might wait until they were fully feathered.