6-8 weeks.
The poults will need a 28% protein starter for the first 6-8 weeks. We recommend looking for specialized turkey or wild game bird feed.
How long should turkeys be fed starter feed?
Poults should be fed 28% protein turkey starter until 8 weeks of age. 24-26% protein turkey grower crumbles should be fed after the first 8 weeks until they are approximately 6 months of age. At that time, they can be switched to 16% – 18% lay pellets, crumbles, or mash.
Do baby turkeys need medicated feed?
If you are unable to find “turkey feeds”, start and grow your poults on a 20-22% Chick Starter (medicated) for the first 12 weeks. From that time on to the time of slaughter, provide them with an 18% Chick Grower ration. All rations should be medicated.
Can turkey poults eat chick starter?
Turkey poults require higher levels of protein than chicks. It is recommended that they are fed unmedicated chick starter with a supplement of brewer’s yeast (2 cups per 10lbs of feed). For their first 12 weeks, poults should be given a 28% protein feed.
How long can turkeys go without food?
Spring seeps, which are usually free of ice and snow, are also favorite feeding areas. When a severe winter storm strikes, turkeys can spend as much as a week or more on the roost, waiting the weather out. Studies have shown that healthy wild turkeys can live up to two weeks without food.
How often should you feed turkeys?
FEED turkeys daily by broadcasting food at a rate of 2 large handfuls (or 1/2 cup) per turkey per day. To ensure a good distribution of food among flock members, spread it out so that all birds have an opportunity to feed. FEED turkeys until the flock ceases daily visitation or until severe conditions moderate.
Is finisher feed good for turkey?
It is ideal for turkeys after fifteen (15) weeks of age.
Produced as a fine mash so that feed wastage is minimized, digestibility is improved and there is less feed separation, ensuring a consistent intake of nutrients. Formulated with recommended high protein level necessary for efficient live weight gain.
When can baby turkeys go outside?
Most often poults will be fully feathered and will be ready to move into their outdoor housing around 6-7 weeks of age. But until they are fully feathered they need to be kept in a draft-free, temperature-controlled brooder space protected from predators and supplied with fresh food and water.
Where do baby turkeys sleep at night?
During their first weeks of life, young turkeys sleep in their ground nest, snuggled in the soft feathers of their mother. After a month or so, they fly at dusk onto a low tree branch where, in the words of John J.
What’s the difference between chicken starter and turkey starter?
There lie strict differences in the feed given to chickens and that of turkeys. In accord with the higher protein demands of turkeys, their feed contains a higher percentage of protein. What is this? While feed given to laying hens, in particular, contains around 15% of protein.
Do turkeys need different feed than chickens?
Turkeys are supposed to eat a higher protein food than chickens and game feed is the preferred turkey food. If you are raising turkeys for meat, it is important to feed them the proper protein content, but we honestly feed our turkeys the same food we feed the chickens.
How long do baby turkeys stay with their mother?
Hens lay 10 to 12 eggs, which hatch in about 28 days. The young, called poults, are able to fly in three or four weeks, but they stay with their mother up to four months.
How do you tell male from female turkey poults?
Trying to determine the gender of your newly-hatched turkey poults can be difficult, but when they are around 3 weeks of age the males (jakes) may begin to strut. You will see them fan their tail feathers, drop their wings and hold out all of their contour feathers to make their bodies appear larger.
Can turkeys have bananas?
By far, the turkey’s favorite snacks are small pieces of Bananas. However they readily gobble down any type of bread, raisins and grapes.
How cold can turkeys tolerate?
Turkeys are overall hardy animals, meaning they are able to withstand low temperatures (below 20°F) for periods of time.
Which feed is best for turkey?
Turkeys are fed nutritionally balanced diets of mixed grains and oilseeds, which typically include corn, soya, wheat, barley and canola, for healthy growth and development.
At what age do turkeys need grit?
Starting Day 2 in the brooder, your turkey poults need access to grit. Grit comes in multiple sizes so make sure you’re feeding the appropriate size for your birds. You can have grit mixed into your feed (25 lb/ton), top dress the grit, or put it out free choice.
What can turkeys not eat?
Foods You Should Never Feed to Turkeys
- Low-quality chicken feed. Turkeys require more protein than chickens do, therefore, a simple chicken feed will not contain the nutrition that a turkey needs.
- Other Livestock Feeds.
- Dried/Raw Beans.
- Avocados.
- Fruit Pits and Seeds.
- Tomato and Eggplant Leaves.
- Raw Meat.
- Onions.
Do turkeys like sunflower seeds?
Seeds- Another easily attainable food source, seeds provide even more nutrition for wild turkeys. Mixing seeds and cracked corn makes a great spread out meal. Sunflower, milo, and millet are all enjoyable types of seeds to put out for wild turkeys.
What to feed turkeys to fatten them up?
Corn tops the list of grains fed to turkeys for fattening. Oats can also be fed, especially if cannibalism or feather picking is a problem, since the high fiber content of this grain is generally recognized as one means of reducing feather picking (in chickens as well as in turkeys.)
Why are my baby turkeys dying?
Baby turkeys often die because they are not getting enough protein, they are too hot or cold (or there is a fluctuation in temperature), there is a lack of shade, they aren’t getting enough water, or because predators get to them.