Wanting to get turkeys, but I'm at a toss up.

[orumpoultry]

How long does it take Midget Whites to reach maturity v.s. the larger breeds? Are they prolific layers? Or do they lay in season as well? My game hens are at most 5 lbs, so I don't see them raising poults up to Independence. When you say they're fragile... how fragile is that? Because even in my house there's drafts, and unless I'm doing a majority of the raising in the summer, the house stays pretty chilly. My chicks can put up with it with enough heat lamps, I put them in the middle room. I'm worried that poults may not be able to deal with the extremes in temperature fluxuations that happen inside the house. I'd be raising them inside of a 2x2x6 water trough that was retired as a horse waterer after the eight repair. I have others, but that's what I'm planning on putting the poults in. I feel I can safely raise 10 at a time inside of this. How old do they need to be before they're exposed to, say, 70 and below? I'm having difficulty finding this information and the turkey book I ordered isn't here yet.

But, I repeat ( I think ) how do midget whites compare? Rate of growth, size, likeliness to brood, those sorts of things.

edit: http://albc-usa.org/cpl/midgetwhite.html < Just found this. Reading up now.

 

[omegorchards]

Poults need it warm and they require very high protein feed. Midget Whites mature at about 8-10 months or so. They are not fast growers but they do make a good carcass. They are not as "bony" as other turkey heritage breeds, but they certainly dont have the super sumo-style plumpness of a commercial butterball franken-bird turkey. They do go broody. The rest of your questions can be found on the link you posted. Midget White info is scattered at best. I will try to put together a blog sometime telling of my experience with them. But keep in mind I'm not a turkey expert- I can only report my own experiences with the Whites.

 

[orumpoultry]

Hopefully my book will be here in a few days. I'm hoping to have new brooders built asap, as all my old brooders are either constantly in use or the water bin ( for the early, fragile stages. ) - My trio that I got the other day I have on flock raiser, they seem to be doing all right on it. But I haven't found just the 'right' feed for them. They're young yet. - I know day old poults will need at least a 24%, correct?

But, I'm off to bed. Done enough turkey raising/stalking for the night I believe.

 

[omegorchards]

In my experience higher protein than 24% works better. For me I give my chicks and poults mashed hard boiled eggs at a rate of 1 egg per 10 chicks. I also feed a wet mash made from mash and milk. 2 parts mash to 1 part milk by volume. I normally do a 2/3 cup 1/3 cup mix. Use whole milk. I use milk straight from my own cow.

I have found that poults do much better when they are kept with chicks. The poults copy the chicks foraging and watering. When left to themselves poults seem to have trouble learning about eating food and drinking water. Chicks on the other hand dive right in. It is worth you buying some chicks at the same time as your poults. It seems that poults are far more reliant on their mother than chicks. When I watch poults with natural mothers the poults follow their mothers more carefully. Chicks are very independent- which drives a broody hen nuts at times when the chicks run off after something without their mom.

My keys to successful poult brooding (after some major failures): 1) higher brooder temp than chicks; 2) mix with chicks so poults can copy their actions; 3) feed mashed hard boiled eggs regularly.

 

[omegorchards]

I forgot to say that you can look at my profile photos and see the size of my Midget Whites next to my 2 year old daughter (whom it small): https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/album/index/id/115407

 

[orumpoultry]

After I order my first batch ( which will be in a month or two ) I plan on letting my broody hens at least SIT on the eggs for me, then maybe leave them with on or two and take the remainder.

I have my 6 month olds, don't know if those would be considered poults still or not, on flock raiser... turns out it's only a 20% mash. I know when we raised them when I was a kid, I could've sworn that my uncle and brother mixed a higher protein level than that even for the adult birds. Ordered some special turkey specific blends from my local feed store. It'll be a few weeks or so before it comes in. This is what the bag label looks like. To me, this just doesn't seem like enough. Unfortunately, there's still no sign of my storey's guide to turkeys... -sigh- Going to stalk your Midget White pictures now.

FEATURES BENEFITS
SunFresh

Recipe Natural Plant Proteins
FREE of all animal proteins and fats for healthy, happy birds.
Complete & Balanced Wholesome Nutrition for an Entire Mixed Flock of Poultry
Consistent nutrition for starting and growing chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese (turkeys after 8-10 weeks) – all with the same bag of feed.
Superior Nutrition Strong Start, Uniform Growth and Top Vigor
Top nutrition for a fast start, consistent growth and healthy activity.
Essential Amino Acids Brightly-colored Plumage and Excellent Muscle Development
Enhanced with lysine and methionine to give birds the healthy nutrients they need to look great and build lean muscle.
Key Level of Vitamin A Strong Reproduction and Overall Health
Strong Vitamin A fortification helps birds grow into healthy breeders.
Proprietary Level of Vitamin E Supports a Healthy Immune System
A superior level of Vitamin E helps birds ward off disease.
Certified Natural Your Assurance of Quality – It’s Nutrition You Can Trust
Our guarantee that this is the very best feed providing safe, natural nutrition for poultry.​

Guaranteed Analysis
Protein, not less than 20.0%
Lysine, not less than 0.95%
Methionine, not less than 0.35%
Fat, not less than 3.5%
Fiber, not more than 5.0%
Calcium, not less than 0.8%
Calcium, not more than 1.3%
Phosphorus, not less than 0.7%
Salt, not less than 0.35%
Salt, not more than 0.85%
Vitamin A 7,000 IU/lb
Vitamin E
14 IU/lb​

 

[omegorchards]

Post the ingredients please. Turkeys on good quality free range usually can come up with anything defient in their diet. But your birds are confined aren't they? If they are your feed is key to your success, second only to good genetics amongst others.

 

[orumpoultry]

My birds are most definitely confined. In a tiny crammed cage until I can finish building the run, Which I plan on making 30x8. Until then, they're in the 16x8 pen that they just look so crampt in! Ahem... Also, you're daughter is ADORABLE. I about lost my mind when I saw her face in the picture with the toms. Even if she is small ( Skylar was, too ) the midget whites look like they're only about 1/4 larger than my Black Australorps which is the biggest breed of chicken I have. Is that about right? Looks like the M.W.'s would weigh in about 15-20 vs 25-30 on some other breeds

To me, after seeing these ingredients first hand, and not just grabbing a bag from work thats NOT layer pellet, I just don't like this feed. It seems like a filler feed, and if I'm gonna pay 20 bucks for a bag of feed, I don't want it to be nothing but fillers.

INGREDIENTS: Ground corn, dehulled soybean meal, corn distillers, dried grains, monocalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, wheat middlings, salt, magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Vitamin D3 supplement, tagetes extract, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin E supplement, menadione sodium bisulfate complex, calcium supplement, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, calcium lodate and sodium selenite. Animal fat and protein free

 

[orumpoultry]

That is the flock raiser. Posting a list on the feed I'm getting, it's still only a 20%... which worries me seeing as they don't get to forage.


1271
1271
1271
BREEDER-LAYER
CRUMBLES
GAME BIRD
BREEDER-LAYER CRUMBLES
GAME BIRD
BREEDER-LAYER CRUMBLES
FOR GAME BIRDS
& TURKEYS
Product Data Ingredients
ME ..................................890.93 Kcal/lb
PROTEIN ....................... 20.09 %
ARGININE ...................... 1.36 %
GLYCINE ........................ 1.13 %
SERINE .......................... 0.99 %
HISTIDINE ...................... 0.47 %
ISOLEUCINE .................. 0.88 %
LEUCINE ........................ 1.53 %
LYSINE ........................... 1.06 %
METHIONINE ................. 0.45 %
CYSTINE ........................ 0.28 %
PHENYLALANINE .......... 0.80 %
TYROSINE ..................... 0.70 %
THREONINE .................. 0.69 %
TRYPTOPHAN ............... 0.23 %
VALINE ........................... 1.01 %
FAT ................................. 3.08 %
LINOLEIC ACID ............. 0.92 %
FIBER ............................. 8.03 %
CALCIUM ....................... 3.26 %
TOTAL PHOSPHORUS . 0.71 %
AVAILABLE PHOS. ........ 0.40 %
POTASSIUM ................. 1.05 %
CHLORINE ..................... 0.36 %
COBALT ......................... 0.23 mg/lb
IODINE ........................... 0.66 mg/lb
IRON .............................. 43.91 mg/lb
MAGNESIUM ................. 0.39 %
MANGANESE ................ 74.44 mg/lb
SODIUM ......................... 0.28 %
SULFUR ......................... 0.22 %
COPPER ........................ 4.67 mg/lb
SELENIUM ..................... 0.19 mg/lb
ZINC ............................... 49.97 mg/lb
BIOTIN ........................... 0.13 mg/lb
CHOLINE .......................698.63 mg/lb
FOLIC ACID ................... 0.63 mg/lb
NIACIN ........................... 30.84 mg/lb
PANTOTHENIC ACID .... 9.80 mg/lb
PYRIDOXINE ................. 2.77 mg/lb
RIBOFLAVIN .................. 2.95 mg/lb
THIAMINE ...................... 3.11 mg/lb
VITAMIN A ..................... 3.69 KIU/lb
VITAMIN D3 ................... 1.25 KIU/lb
VITAMIN B12 ................. 4.78 mcg/lb
VITAMIN E ..................... 9.38 IU/lb
Gr a i n p r o d u c t s , p l a n t p r o t e i n p r o d u c t s ,
processed grain by-products, forage products, roughage products (10%), calcium
carbonate, cane molasses, DL-methionine,
salt, vitamin A acetate, D-activated animal
sterol (source of vitamin D3), vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin
supplement, niacin supplement, calcium
pantothenate, choline chloride, menadione
sodium bisulfite complex, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate,
sodium selenite, biotin, manganese sulfate,
zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate,
calcium iodate, cobalt sulfate.
Crude Protein, minimum ............ 20.00%
Lysine, minimum .......................... 1.00%
Methionine, minimum .................... 0.45%
Crude Fat, minimum .................... 3.00%
Crude Fiber, maximum ................ 8.00%
Calcium (Ca), minimum ................ 2.50%
Calcium (Ca), maximum .............. 3.50%
Phosphorus (P), minimum ............ 0.70%
Salt (NaCl), minimum .................... 0.25%
Salt (NaCl), maximum .................. 0.75%
Begin feeding free choice to pheasants and
quail approximately one month before time
of first egg and continue throughout the
time of egg production. Provide a source of
fresh, clean water at all times.
Guaranteed Analysis
Feeding Directions
Features
Benefits
C A U T I O N : C h a n g e s i n f e e d s h o u l d b e
made gradually. Feed should be stored in a
wel l -vent i lated, dry area protected f rom
rodents and insects. Feed is perishable. Do
not feed moldy or insect-infested feed as it
may cause illness or death.
* 890.93 kcal/lb
* 20% protein
* 4:1 calcium to
phosphorus ratio
* Fortified with
vitamins and
minerals
* Increased egg
production
* Harder egg shells
* Supplies all the
protein, vitamins,
minerals, and energy
needed by laying birds
A complete, crumbled ration designed specifically to meet the
extra nutritional requirements for laying pheasants and quail
G A M E B I R D
B R E E D E R - L A Y E R
C R U M B L E S

 

[omegorchards]

Here is the feed that I use. It is $0.42 per pound and mostly locally sourced. I will look over your label later today and reply:

Q Bar Farm
Local Chick Starter 22%

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein min 22%
Lysine min .96%
Methionine min .45%
Crude Fat min 6%
Crude Fiber max 6.6%
Calcium min 0.8% max 1.3%
Phosphorus min .80%
Salt min .4% max .6%

Ingredients

Wheat*, Barley*, Camelina Meal*, Oats*, Fish Meal and Fish Meal By-products, Whole and Ground Flax Seed*, Kelp Meal, Suncured Alfalfa Meal*, Vebtable Oil*, L- Lysine. Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Menadione Nicotinamide Bisulfite, Riboflavin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Choline Chloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Yeast, Dried fermentation product of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Dried fermentation product of Lactobacillus casei, Dried fermentation product of Lactobacillus plantarum, Dried fermentation product of Enterococcus faecium, Dried fermentation product of Bacillus coagulans, Dried fermentation product of Bacillus licheniformis, and Dried fermentation product of Bacillus subtilis.

FEEDING DIRECTIONS

This is a complete and balanced ration. Feed from 0-7 weeks of age. Provide plenty of fresh, clean water at all times. Make all feed changes gradually. Do not feed moldy or insect infested feeds. Store in a cool dry location.

* Denotes Locally Grown Products

MILLED BY

Q BAR FARM
12000 SE STARR QUARRY RD
DAYTON OREGON 97114


NET WEIGHT
25 POUNDS