What to grow for free range turkeys?

Dunkopf

Songster
9 Years
Sep 24, 2010
2,014
3
161
Kiowa, Colorado
We live in Colorado on the high plains, about 6500'. Our pasture is sparse most of the year. We have 2 turkey runs so far with a 3rd in the planning stages. They are about 40x70 and run side by side. We have another area about 50 x 120 behind these runs and at a right angle to them. We would like to put gates in the back end of each run and allow all the turkeys to graze together during the summer and fall after breeding season.

I have 2 questions.

1. Will the Toms fight each other during off season if they are together.

2. The ground cover is sparse as in about 20% of the dirt has vegetation. Not big bare areas just sparse. If I want to gouge the dirt up a bit and spread some seed this spring, what would be the best seed to put in for the turkeys to eat? Our toms spend all their time strutting up and down the fence. Our hens spend all their time calling for the 3 hens that always manage to get out. I built an 8' fence and they climb it using their feet and wings. Takes them about 2 seconds and uses a lot of effort. Then they fly up on the front of their coops and hang out or chase the cats around. It's fun to watch. So what I'm trying to say is that I never see them grazing like the chickens. They're too busy running around doing social stuff. One thing they do that is different than the chickens is kill mice. There's always dead mice laying around.
 
You can buy seed made for wild turkeys. They love clover, alfalfa, peas and chufas. Its very high protein. Do a search for turkey plots, or turkey pasture seed.
 

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