what to feed (Turkeys)

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got a phone call last night late, a friend wanted to know if I wanted a turkey, sure bring it over. Now my problem is what to feed this 32 lb (on the hoof)gobbler. Feed mill is closed today, have plenty of laying crumbles on hand for the chickens,do you think this will work for temperary?

-- AL FERRY (almiyo@gsiwave.com), September 30, 2001

Answers

I feed the turkeys the same feed as the chickens. I think it's only as a chick that they need to be fed different.

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), September 30, 2001.

I have a big old tom turkey pet....Earl..who eats what the chickens do. When they are babies they need alot more protein and need special feed so their legs will be strong enough. If they get very overweight or unstable on the legs...I would rethink the feeding. Lay crumble and scratch is what Earl gets. Good luck. Turkeys are more fun than everyone says.

-- Jenny Pipes (Auntjenny6@aol.com), September 30, 2001.

Actually, even if you get baby gobblers, you can use chicken mash./crumbles. All you need to do is boil up some of those extra chicken eggs and spread the mashed up hard boiled eggs throughout the normal chicken crumbles. :o) I currently use a mix of cracked corn, chicken mash, maybe a LITTLE oats, etc. Whatever I have on hand, and they are doing great. Never had turkey starter, just used some boiled eggs.

-- notnow (notnow05@yahoo.com), September 30, 2001.

The problems start if you feed MEDICATED chicken feed to either turkeys or ducks. Do not do it. The other side of this is if you do not feed medicated turkey feed to turkeys, they are susceptible to blackhead disease, which is carried by chickens. (It is actually a soil borne parasite that kills turkeys but does not affect chickens.) If you are lucky, you can keep them together. More likely, you'll wind up with a dead turkey. And how big a turkey are you planning for? We once raised one that dressed at 44 lbs, and we ate turkey for weeks! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), October 01, 2001.

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