What to Feed them?

[urban escapee]

I have some turkey peeps that will be delivered this week and I am looking for game bird starter for them, and cant seem to locate any. If I cant locate it before they arrive, will chicken starter be ok? or should I look to mix my own for them?

 

[poultrypalacewhidbey]

Waterfowl starter will generally work well for turkeys if you can get that. If you can only get chick starter, get the highest protein that you can find and make sure to give them supplemental vitamins and minerals. You can get packages of vitamin and electrolyte mix in most feed stores that you can dissolve in their water. chick starter in general will not have the proper vitamin mix for turkeys and will not have a high enough protein to ensure proper growth. Make sure to supplement their riboflavin if you use the chick starter. Poults lacking sufficient riboflavin in their diet are prone to problems with crooked toes and wing deformities. If you can get fish meal you could mix a small amount of that into the chick starter to try to raise the protein level.
Also try to avoid medicated chick starter. the medication in it will not be the proper amount for turkeys and in general it is best only to medicate if you have a problem.

 

[urban escapee]

thank you so much for your reply. I called one of our local feedstores, only to be on hold for 20 minutes. Not sure if Tractor supply will have what I am looking for but I will be pounding the pavement tomorrow to see what I can find. If not, I will surely be following your suggestions. I may have to look further afield to find the game bird starter. with current gas prices that will be a judgement call.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Did you find anything for them? I always use Game Bird Starter for my poults.

 

[urban escapee]

I did and thankfully close to home. Its the purina brand game bird starter and has 30% protein, the game bird starter by mana pro that TSC sells is only 24%. It was about 15.00 for 50lbs. The turkeys arrived this morning, and it looks like 2 of them are not going to make it. However, Ideal said they would replace any birds that didnt survive transit. and I got 6 packing peanuts to add to my flock.

 

[Lollipop]

I did and thankfully close to home. Its the purina brand game bird starter and has 30% protein, the game bird starter by mana pro that TSC sells is only 24%. It was about 15.00 for 50lbs. The turkeys arrived this morning, and it looks like 2 of them are not going to make it. However, Ideal said they would replace any birds that didnt survive transit. and I got 6 packing peanuts to add to my flock.

Purina game bird feed is great. I've used it for years.......Pop

 

[kuntrygirl]

I did and thankfully close to home.  Its the purina brand game bird starter and has 30% protein, the game bird starter by mana pro that TSC sells is only 24%. It was about 15.00 for 50lbs.  The turkeys arrived this morning, and it looks like 2 of them are not going to make it. However, Ideal said they would replace any birds that didnt survive transit. and I got 6 packing peanuts to add to my flock.

Sorry to hear about the 2 babies. I'm hopeful that they will make it. Glad that you found the game bird starter.

 

[urban escapee]

I just checked on them and one of them died in my hand while I was trying to get him to take some water. The other wont drink either, even with me dipping his beak in there. So realistically he will be lucky to make the afternoon. The rest are looking fairly chipper though.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I just checked on them and one of them died in my hand while I was trying to get him to take some water.  The other wont drink either, even with me dipping his beak in there.  So realistically he will be lucky to make the afternoon.  The rest are looking fairly chipper though. 

So sorry to hear that.