What do free ranging turkeys like to eat?

[Arielle]

ANd what should I plant or encourage to grow in southern NewEngland? DH is already complaining about the feed bill and bulk delivery is out. What should I grow for them to forage on?

 

[jimmythechicken]

they love bugs an worms an such keep alot of dead logs an leaf piles around they will find the food if you free range them.

 

[MissTurkey4]

I plant the same seed as people plant for wild turkeys. You can buy the seed mixture on line if you google turkey plots. I even think Bass Pro shop sells it if you have one of those close by.

 

[Arielle]

Thank you for those ideas! We have plenty of leaves as we are mostly wooded and still cutting down tree.

I'll look up the content of the wild turkey seed for grasses; right now I'm putting down a pasture mix, raking it into the earth under the leaves now that some of the trees are down.

Any special bushes a favorite?

 

[ColbyNTX]

What don't they like to eat!

Mine will try anything.

 

[DABAMA]

SOME THINGS I FOUND TO CUT THE TURKEY FOOD BILL...GOOD FOR CHICKENS TOO

BUGS...APPARENTLY THE ONLY BUGS THEY DON'T EAT, ARE THE ONES THEY CAN'T CATCH...I PLAN ON MAKING COMPOST PILES IN MY RUN FOR AN ONGOING BUG SUPPLY...ALSO YOU CAN FLIP OVER WOODEN PLANKS ON THE GROUND

CHUFA...IS A PEANUT LIKE TUBER, AS IT DIES BACK IN THE FALL IT GETS YUMMY <3 IT'S KINDA LIKE CATNIP FOR TURKEYS, THEY LOVE IT
https://hancockseed.com/seed-varieties-241/chufa-seed-667/

DUCKWEED CAN BE GROWN INSIDE...IT'S 40% PROTEIN...DRYING DUCKWEED...(I have read that drying duckweed in the shade (not in direct sunlight) significiantly increases the protein level. Also adding urea fertilizer to the duckweed pond also helps to elevate protein levels. Comment by Beau — early Friday morning, July 4th, 2014)
http://www.avianaquamiser.com/posts/Duckweed_as_chicken_feed/

GRASSES AND GRAINS...MORE VARITIES ARE BETTER
THIS IS A GOOD START http://hancockseed.com/hancocks-turkey-food-plot-mix-40-lb-bag-734.html

NUTS...ACORNS, HAZELNUTS, WALNUTS...AGAIN ANYTHING YOU ARE WILLING TO SHARE

BERRIES...I LIKE THE IDEA OF PLANTING BUSHES IN THEIR RUN, ONCE ESTABLISHED THEY SHOULD BE FINE...I SUGGEST A MULBERRY TREE, GRAPES, ELDERBERRY, GOOSEBERRY, CURRANTS, BLUEBERRY, BLACKBERRY, RASPBERRY, STRAWBERRY, AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF.
http://www.reformationacres.com/2016/01/12-perennials-plant-free-chicken-food.html

I HAVE SEEN THEM EATING WATERMELON AND PUMPKIN...IF YOUR CHICKEN CAN EAT IT, MAYBE THE TURKEY CAN TOO...ALWAYS CHECK FIRST IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE USING <3 THANK YOU

NOTE: CAPS ARE NOT YELLING, JUST OLD EYES

 

[beccaWA]

Mine will try anything if I hand feed it to them. They're only about a month old. I'm new to turkeys, too. Bourbon Reds.

 

[mydog]

They love my garden after i am done with it. They also love the grasshoppers and bugs in the field along with field grass after it is 6 inches long