Turkey Starter Feed

[BirdGal]

What can be added to 22% meatbird feed for 2week old small breed heritage turkeys or is this adequate? No turkey starter or game bird starter available anywhere near here.Can calf manna be added ?

 

[casportpony]

What can be added to 22% meatbird feed for 2week old small breed heritage turkeys or is this adequate? No turkey starter or game bird starter available anywhere near here.Can calf manna be added ?

Welcome to BYC! Hopefully some of the feed experts will comment soon.

 

[Kiki]

I am not a turkey raiser but I wanted to share some turkey formulated feed facts with you so you could compare your current feed tag with these:
(Notice some are turkey starters and some are turkey grower feeds)

Feel free to use my Google sheet to look at more feeds too.
There are direct links to the websites that sell/carry the feed on the sheet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1upDVFXEQPK8PUIF6Sj3Bt5CUQfX1PlTEhg799sDT-qM/edit?usp=sharing

 

[R2elk]

What can be added to 22% meatbird feed for 2week old small breed heritage turkeys or is this adequate? No turkey starter or game bird starter available anywhere near here.Can calf manna be added ?

Heritage poults should be on a quality turkey/gamebird starter that is at least 28% protein for their first 6 to 8 weeks.

Just because a store does not carry the proper feed does not mean they can't order it in for you. Some people order the proper feed online that while it is very expensive, it can usually be bought in much smaller quantities.

At least one person mixes in dry cat food to increase the protein content. You have to grind it yourself. Unfortunately the protein content is not the only concern. A proper turkey starter also has higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin. Whether or not those levels can be achieved by grinding in cat food is something that I do not know.

In the meantime I recommend crumbling peeled hard boiled eggs and feeding to them in addition to their current feed and adding a vitamin supplement that is rich in the B vitamins to their water.

 

[BirdGal]

Thanks, None available in 200 miles and so far haven't found any feed dealer that wants to special order a few bags. Just because the Meatbird 22% is labelled for starting poults, they refuse to order a different formula. Last time I had poults finding correct feed was not a problem so I really goofed by not checking feed availability in advance. So working up a pallet order from East coast just so I can get a few bags of turkey starter and grower.......I have been supplementing vitamin/minerals and they look ok,just know they need more protein.

 

[Kiki]

Thanks, None available in 200 miles and so far haven't found any feed dealer that wants to special order a few bags. Just because the Meatbird 22% is labelled for starting poults, they refuse to order a different formula. Last time I had poults finding correct feed was not a problem so I really goofed by not checking feed availability in advance. So working up a pallet order from East coast just so I can get a few bags of turkey starter and grower.......I have been supplementing vitamin/minerals and they look ok,just know they need more protein.

Do you mind me asking what state you are in?

 

[GC-Raptor]

If you have a Tractor Supply Company in your area, check them out.
My local TSC carry DuMOR chick starter 24% Protein feed in 10 and 50 pound bags, $7.49 and $16.19. GC

 

[R2elk]

If you have a Tractor Supply Company in your area, check them out.
My local TSC carry DuMOR chick starter 24% Protein feed in 10 and 50 pound bags, $7.49 and $16.19. GC

Dumor 24% protein chick starter is not an appropriate starter feed for turkey poults irregardless of the false advertising on the bag. Depending on the local management, TSC is capable of ordering in an appropriate Purina 30% protein turkey starter. Unfortunately not all TSC management are willing to do special orders.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Information from website says feed to Turkey poults 0 to 6 weeks, then gradually transition to 20% Starter. GC

 

[casportpony]

I would like to know if the niacin content on that is 70 ppm, which is what turkeys need I think. One might be able to add soybean meal to up the protein %