Turkeys For 2013

[redneck farmer]

1. If it is a hen and does not get bred by a tom, yes it will lay unfertilized eggs once it is mature and during the laying season for turkeys in your area.

2. Turkey eggs are very good.  My neighbor is impatiently waiting for my turkeys to start laying because she very much prefers turkey eggs over chicken eggs.  I prefer the turkey eggs for baked goods and they do make a wonderful custard.

3. No, turkey chicks require a higher % of protein than is in chick starter.  I use turkey starter or game bird starter for day old turkey chicks.

I don't know what type of feed it is really... The guy at the feed store said to buy it it has pictures of all types of birds an stuff but I'm not sure it has a lable to tell me how much protein it needs

 

[R2elk]

I don't know what type of feed it is really... The guy at the feed store said to buy it it has pictures of all types of birds an stuff but I'm not sure it has a lable to tell me how much protein it needs

Typically feed bags have a tag (label) sewed into one of the seams which has the ingredients and percentages. Feed recommended for very young turkeys, guineas and game birds typically has around 26 - 28% protein.

I have seen others on this forum advise the use of hard boiled eggs chopped up to supplement feeds that do not contain a sufficient % protein.

 

[chicken pickin]

Im sure we have already discussed the feed topic, but I also have a few questions. I know turkeys need higher protein. Especially as poults.
I have a mixed flock of chickens and turkeys all different ages and I never know what to feed lol. in the past they each were on their own individual needs feed but over winter I switched it up and everyone got the same feed, a multi flock starter/grower 22% with oyster shells offered free choice, I figured higher protein couldnt hurt the chickens in the winter. but now spring is here and everyone is begining to lay again incluing my turkeys who just started. I almost feel I need to go back to a chicken layer(less protein) and blue seal makes one called turkey breeder(a little higher protein). But then what about my roosters, I hear they shouldnt have calcium? Deciding what is the best feed choice overall is very confusing lol. And what if im brooding poults and chicks at the same time? Chick starter or turkey starter? Im sure im over thinking it.

 

[r4eboxer]

I don't know what type of feed it is really... The guy at the feed store said to buy it it has pictures of all types of birds an stuff but I'm not sure it has a lable to tell me how much protein it needs

Purina makes game bird starter, it is around 25.00 a bag locally. I had the same challenges you are having with feed store employees not understanding you need a 28-30 percent protein feed. They kept trying to insist to me the ALL FLOCK feed was for all stock. Yes it will work when the turkeys are adults not when they are poults.

Seriously get the higher game bird feed, poults are very fragile in the beginning, you don't want to have to worry over the feed in addition to the other problems with getting poults through the first weeks of life.

 

[R2elk]

Im sure we have already discussed the feed topic, but I also have a few questions. I know turkeys need higher protein. Especially as poults.
I have a mixed flock of chickens and turkeys all different ages and I never know what to feed lol. in the past they each were on their own individual needs feed but over winter I switched it up and everyone got the same feed, a multi flock starter/grower 22% with oyster shells offered free choice, I figured higher protein couldnt hurt the chickens in the winter. but now spring is here and everyone is begining to lay again incluing my turkeys who just started. I almost feel I need to go back to a chicken layer(less protein) and blue seal makes one called turkey breeder(a little higher protein). But then what about my roosters, I hear they shouldnt have calcium? Deciding what is the best feed choice overall is very confusing lol. And what if im brooding poults and chicks at the same time? Chick starter or turkey starter? Im sure im over thinking it.

All I can tell you is what I do. I have chickens, guineas and turkeys all running together. I have a feeder that holds over 100 lbs. of feed and fill it with game bird maintenance pellets that are 16% protein. I also provide oyster shell freely available. All of the birds free range and in particular eat lots of russian olives.

The chickens have been laying all winter with no apparent ill effects. The roosters help themselves to the oyster shell as well as do the hens. The turkeys seem to use the oyster shell when they are laying but don't seem to bother with it the rest of the time (just an observation of my turkey's behavior and not meant to imply that it applies to anyone else's turkeys).

I often do start chicks and poults together and in those cases I always feed turkey starter.

 

[chicken pickin]

All I can tell you is what I do. I have chickens, guineas and turkeys all running together. I have a feeder that holds over 100 lbs. of feed and fill it with game bird maintenance pellets that are 16% protein. I also provide oyster shell freely available. All of the birds free range and in particular eat lots of russian olives.

The chickens have been laying all winter with no apparent ill effects. The roosters help themselves to the oyster shell as well as do the hens. The turkeys seem to use the oyster shell when they are laying but don't seem to bother with it the rest of the time (just an observation of my turkey's behavior and not meant to imply that it applies to anyone else's turkeys).

I often do start chicks and poults together and in those cases I always feed turkey starter.

Thank you for the response I appreciate it.

 

[Celie]

Purina makes game bird starter, it is around 25.00 a bag locally. I had the same challenges you are having with feed store employees not understanding you need a 28-30 percent protein feed. They kept trying to insist to me the ALL FLOCK feed was for all stock. Yes it will work when the turkeys are adults not when they are poults.

Seriously get the higher game bird feed, poults are very fragile in the beginning, you don't want to have to worry over the feed in addition to the other problems with getting poults through the first weeks of life.

IMHO, buying Purina, is paying for the name and it's too expensive for what you get, sometimes. Ask your feed store if they have another brand, like Country Acres, or some other brand that cost less $ ! If you can afford the $ and like that brand, so be it, but a lot of people can't, so you have to decide that for yourself, but just wanted to let you know there are less expensive alternatives!

 

[kuntrygirl]

x2 Can we start a support group. I have had a terrible week as well. I'm so tired. This is not fun anymore. Too bad that you don't live close, I would suggest that we meet somewhere and pig out on ice cream and cake as a reward for all of our hard work this week.

Here is your cake, but you can't eat it too..... I have to say though that stealing the goose eggs is the scariest part

 

[kuntrygirl]

Well, here is a short tutorial on splinting a turkey leg. All in all we've found it's hard to know if your bird has a broken leg unless it's really badly broken. Since their bones are so small and fragile it doesn't look like much except a bit of a bump. Before we first splinted the leg on this girl it had turned blu-ish and was very swollen. These pics are from the third day of treatment. So, first off we brought the girl inside and have her in a small box with a warming light so she isn't stressed and can put all of her energy into healing and doesn't have to move around much. Then each night we fill a bucket with a hole cut in the lid and let her soak her leg in epsom salt with warm water. Surprisingly she just lays down and falls asleep. I guess the warm water feels good to the leg. We just used an old cat litter bucket (we use them for everything) that we washed out really well and we added bricks to the bottom both to stabilize it so it wouldn't tip with her on it and to keep from having to use enough epsom salts for four gallons of water. Then we lay her on her back on a towel and gently dry off her leg. You can just barely see the slight swelling just above the ankle. The first day it was bent slightly and swollen and blue. It's still just a little swollen but not much and the color is all but normal. Next I cut the corner off of styrofoam mushroom box and crushed it in my fingers to make it bend without breaking. It's the perfect shape and length for her leg since it flairs out on one end. That makes it fit over her ankle and foot without confining them too much while still bracing her leg into a straight position. The first attempt cracked and split instead of curling nicely. Then I wrapped it with stretchy vet wrap. We bought it in the horse section at TS. It comes in multiple colors. My daughter picked this bright blue which seems to work with the other turkeys and her. They don't peck at it. I wouldn't recommend red or anything with spots. And here it is all wrapped up again. And here she is standing up on it again. It was very warm today and sunny so we thought the sunshine would be good for her and she loved being with her buddies for a few hours. Hope this helps someone else if you ever have to splint a leg for some reason. This is the first bird we've ever had with such a problem so it's all a little trial and error although, I have to admit, my mother is a veterinary parasitologist who taught vet school for 30 years so I've kind of had some exposure to things most people don't get to see. We did have a chicken that we think cracked her leg one time that healed just fine with a lump on it so we knew it was possible to even attempt to heal her. I chose to use the styrofoam splint instead of something harder just to avoid the extra step of having to wrap the leg with cotton batting before putting on the splint before wrapping it. With this turkey, who is named Pogo for a reason, we knew we had to work fast or she would just flop around and hurt herself even more. I wouldn't suggest trying this if the leg is badly broken and certainly not if the skin is broken in any way.

WOW !!! Excellent job!!! Great tutorial!!!! Thank you for sharing. How is the little one doing?

 

[kuntrygirl]

My royal palm hen engaging in a bonding bath session with some of my chickens. And the toms doing what they do best. And the gobbling these guys do...it never ends. If they hear a car engine start up, in sends them into a mad gobbling frenzy that lasts for at least 5 minutes. The hen usually runs up, panicking because they are, which causes them to gobble more. It's hilarious

Beautiful turkeys!!!!