Turkey Feed Question

[RoosterML]

Purina Flock Raiser has 55 ppm Niacin added.

@R2elk Do you really believe Purina is a better quality feed compared to Poulin?

 

[R2elk]

Purina Flock Raiser has 55 ppm Niacin added.

@R2elk Do you really believe Purina is a better quality feed compared to Poulin?

When you take into account all the components, the total quality of Purina Flock Raiser appears to be a higher quality for an all flock or adult turkeys. It is not always necessary to use the best feed available as long as the feed used is adequate for the purpose.

If you want to raise long lived healthy turkeys, you want to choose a different feed than for quickly raising turkeys to a processing weight.

Sometimes we have to make decisions over quality vs cost vs availability. Choose the feed that is the most appropriate for your flock. The most important part is to make the decision based on all the information available to you and don't base it on a single component.

 

[RoosterML]

When you take into account all the components, the total quality of Purina Flock Raiser appears to be a higher quality for an all flock or adult turkeys. It is not always necessary to use the best feed available as long as the feed used is adequate for the purpose.

If you want to raise long lived healthy turkeys, you want to choose a different feed than for quickly raising turkeys to a processing weight.

Sometimes we have to make decisions over quality vs cost vs availability. Choose the feed that is the most appropriate for your flock. The most important part is to make the decision based on all the information available to you and don't base it on a single component.

I agree, the only information I didn’t have was the niacin levels but now I do.

 

[RoosterML]

@R2elk I just want to take the time to thank you for responding with very helpful answers and information. I am sure I will bug you with many more questions in the future as I have just started with Turkeys. I will say that Turkeys even being dumb as a rock are really nice to have in the “flock”.

 

[R2elk]

@R2elk I just want to take the time to thank you for responding with very helpful answers and information. I am sure I will bug you with many more questions in the future as I have just started with Turkeys. I will say that Turkeys even being dumb as a rock are really nice to have in the “flock”.

Having raised turkeys for many years, I can assure you that they are one of the more intelligent birds. Do not mistake their need to learn rather than having the same instincts as other poultry. Their instincts are as much different from chicken instincts as guinea fowl instincts are different from all other poultry.

 

[RoosterML]

I ended up picking up a bag of the Poulin Turkey/Gamebird Grower Finisher as my new “all flock” feed.
It’s comes in pellets, the bag had a mill date of 6 days old and the nutritional levels are very very close to Flock Raiser. The added bonus is it is $3.50 less per bag.
Depending on mill dates I will likely use the Poulin Quik Grow Broiler as “all Flock”
also because it has nearly the same specs and also has the added bonus of additional marigold extract for even darker orange yolks for the laying hens

 

[cgmccary]

I have a question about Feed for Turkeys. I currently use All Flock, and Flock Raiser. After looking at the nutritional values I don’t see much difference in these feeds. Here are some tags.
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This is Poulin Grain Quick grow Broiler:
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This is Poulins Turkey/Gamebird finisher: I don’t have a tag but got this of the Poulin website
View attachment 1950685


View attachment 1950669 View attachment 1950671
Is there any reason I couldn’t use any of these by Poulin as an “all flock” product for both Turkeys and Chickens?
I have 4 Month old Heritage Royal Palms

Generally, the lysine and methionine requirements are different between growing or finishing turkeys and with most chickens. I doubt the Flock Raiser is the best alternative for this reason -- although I have used it temporarily in a pinch. I also think Flock Raiser is way over priced (and I believe it lacks any animal protein which is a killer for any feed I use. I don't see where your poulin feed contain any animal protein. Animal protein is very important for poultry. Poultry, chickens and turkeys are omnivores).

Turkey developer should have a higher calorie level than feed for chickens. I use Frontview feeds out of Greenville, Ohio. I am very persnickety about my turkeys. I use a turkey starter of 28% the first four weeks and then go to a turkey starter of 26% weeks 5-9 then to 23% until about 16-18 weeks. I then go to a 17% Finisher. Frontview makes specific feeds and three starters for turkeys. My turkeys also get whole grain 7-way scratch about two days a week with extra oats and corn added as part of their ration on those days. I roll and wet this grain in either a wheat germ oil blend, or red cell or cod liver oil blend. I feed a game bird pellet of 20% too to adults. I sometimes also soak whole or crimped oats with corn equal parts and feed as a nice treat - only once a week at most. Genetics of course are paramount but with my feed and my genetics, I have produced some of the best turkeys in the country. I breed Blacks. FWIW

 

[RoosterML]

@cgmccary Poulin is a vegetarian based feed as with any other feeds available locally that I know of. My birds do free range so while animal protein in not in the feed I am sure they end up finding something while roaming around. My flock does also get my leftover meat bones and the like so I guess that counts towards something. I do keep chickens and turkeys together so I am just trying to find a happy medium for both and I believe I have done so with my current feed.
1/3 Poulin Layer + 2/3 Poulin Turkey/ Gamebird grower Finisher.