Turkeys For 2013

[hogster160]

When does turkey laying season end, where you are? Here in SE Louisiana, it has pretty much ended, bit starts again mid December. Most of my Hollands have finished molting, except my oldest 3 year hen, she look like someone cut all her feathers 2 inches long! LOL

I'm not real sure when it starts or ends, these are my first turkeys. I'm in northern Indiana. Now my neighbor said she should lay this year, within a week or 3. But I'm not expecting it. And yes I do think he cut her feathers down that low. They looked horrible imho when I got them. These pics are from when I first got them. Poor babies lol. So ragged looking.

eta: location

 

[Reyvaughn]

Since the feed was mentioned, I have a question. I was feeding my birds 16% pullet grower. I was told to up the protein. The highest I could find was 24% turkey/gamebird starter. Everything else was 20% and under. I am supplementing with 32.5% Chick Ultra Kibble as a top dressing. Is this alright, or should I try finding something else? I have 1 Red, 1 Slate and 5 BBBs that are all about 3 months.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I"m finding feeding is not as straight forward as we often beleive. I watch my birds run thru th woods and into the grassy areas then into the garden . . . . . and the pellets are waiting. OVerall they are growing well but because of the low protein of the grasses they protein level is below 22% overall. What really matters is : the daily protein meet the needs of the birds, as in total protein for the day where ever it comes from.

Corn is great for energy and the birds love it However, neither birds nor pigs can thrive on it. Vegies and fruits and grazing is wonderful feed. Corn all by it self is not a good plan. Fortunately the adult sized or nearly adult size don't need as high a protein% as the growing poults.

Since the feed was mentioned, I have a question. I was feeding my birds 16% pullet grower. I was told to up the protein. The highest I could find was 24% turkey/gamebird starter. Everything else was 20% and under. I am supplementing with 32.5% Chick Ultra Kibble as a top dressing. Is this alright, or should I try finding something else? I have 1 Red, 1 Slate and 5 BBBs that are all about 3 months.

I feed 22% turkey feed. My birds are heritage, not BBB. Even when I raised the BBW, I used the 22% and got 34# dressed males. I think 36% would be too fast a growth rate for what I can manage.

 

[hogster160]

I"m finding feeding is not as straight forward as we often beleive. I watch my birds run thru th woods and into the grassy areas then into the garden . . . . . and the pellets are waiting. OVerall they are growing well but because of the low protein of the grasses they protein level is below 22% overall. What really matters is : the daily protein meet the needs of the birds, as in total protein for the day where ever it comes from.

Corn is great for energy and the birds love it However, neither birds nor pigs can thrive on it. Vegies and fruits and grazing is wonderful feed. Corn all by it self is not a good plan. Fortunately the adult sized or nearly adult size don't need as high a protein% as the growing poults.






I feed 22% turkey feed. My birds are heritage, not BBB. Even when I raised the BBW, I used the 22% and got 34# dressed males. I think 36% would be too fast a growth rate for what I can manage.

At 8 months old, do they still need the higher protein? The Nutrena all flock is 18% I can very easily ferment a higher protein food for them, but I was told at the feed store 18 would be fine. I think where the turkeys came from, to where they are now, is much better and they seem to be thriving health wise. You can feel the muscle through out their bodies, just a thin layer of fat between skin and muscle. They do not get the cracked corn here, there is some in their scratch but it is no where near the amount they were fed at the neighbors.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
THe real test is how well they thrive. ANd at 8 months their growth rate is slowing down compared to say a 2 month poult.

THe amount of protein in the feed depends on the other foods they are getting. if they eat a lot of vegies, which , is a great source of vitamins and minerals, they need a protein source that provide what they need.

We also don't really talk about rate of growth. In commercial prodution their is financial value in fast growth rates. I tolerate a slower growth in my birds so that they can have lots of greens and bugs if they want it.

I think I need to weigh a few and have a clue as to their weight. THey look big . . .

 

[NewToFarming]

I got some better pictures of my new guys. They have been here a week now. They are very inquisitive and follow me everywhere.

 

[Arielle]

I got some better pictures of my new guys. They have been here a week now. They are very inquisitive and follow me everywhere.

Looks like they are enjoying their new home!!

 

[NewToFarming]

Looks like they are enjoying their new home!!

Thanks! They seem happy! I have a dumb question. There is a flock of wild turkeys that come around every few days. They were out back raiding the chickens feeders and my turkeys were still in the barn so there was no interaction between them yet. Will they try to become part of the flock with the wild turkeys or will they fight?

 

[Arielle]

Fighting I don't know.

When the wild turkeys come to my house, everyone acts buddy-buddy. That was in the spring. Not sure if season will make a difference.

I had two birds walk ing around my back yard like they were domestics, lol walking calmly. WHen I tried to catch them to quarentine them--they took off to the skies. lol ONe over the house and the other up nto a tall dead pine. oops wild!

 

[NewToFarming]

Fighting I don't know.

When the wild turkeys come to my house, everyone acts buddy-buddy. That was in the spring. Not sure if season will make a difference.

I had two birds walk ing around my back yard like they were domestics, lol walking calmly. WHen I tried to catch them to quarentine them--they took off to the skies. lol ONe over the house and the other up nto a tall dead pine. oops wild!

Thanks! These wild ones take off as soon as they see me. It will be interesting to see what they do if they meet up. Mine don't seem to wander too far and they still wait for me to lead them back to the barn.