Since wild turkeys are a ground-feeding type, sprinkling cracked corn in an open area of dirt is a sufficient way to attract them. 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.
What is the best turkey attractant?
Turkeys love acorns and pecans, as well as dogwoods, huckleberries, blueberries, and other fruits found in the understory. Planting food plots: Follow these tips to establish food plots as a supplement to natural forage. Food plots can also be used to increase turkey sightings and harvest success.
What do turkeys like to eat the most?
Preferred foods of wild turkeys
Generally, turkeys thrive in and near mature forests that produce abundant amounts of mast, the fruits and nuts of woody plants. In the spring, they tend to eat leaves and grasses, and in the fall, they feed more on fruits, berries, seeds and insects.
Do turkeys eat whole corn?
FEED turkeys cracked or whole kernel corn, sunflower seeds, oats, wheat, or non-medicated commercial poultry or turkey rations. FEED turkeys daily by broadcasting food at a rate of 2 large handfuls (or 1/2 cup) per turkey per day.
How do I attract more turkeys?
Food. Turkeys are omnivorous and will sample a wide variety of foods. To attract turkeys to your yard, you can provide them with a large ground feeding station containing cracked corn or mixed birdseed. Turkeys will also happily clean up any spills under hanging feeders you may have up for other birds.
How much corn does a turkey eat?
The feed ration is 55-60% corn, with the balance soybean meal, minerals and vitamins, animal protein byproducts, canola meal, sunflower meal.
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 eat tomatoes?
Foods turkeys cannot eat include dairy, onions, avocados, fruit pits, tomato and eggplant foliage, rhubarb leaves, chocolate, high-sodium foods, citrus, and caffeine products.
Will wild turkeys eat whole kernel corn?
Whole corn is an excellent choice if you want to feed them. Cracked corn works good too but tends to get covered up quickly if it is snowing or blowing. I’ve found they also like alfalfa hay, strange as it might seem. They get right into it and eat the green leaves and flowers.
Can turkeys have corn on the cob?
As we discussed in our last blog post, wild turkeys are opportunistic feeders and will eat almost anything. They especially love eating nuts and grains such as corn cobs and wheat, making it easy to set food out for them.
What food attracts wild turkeys?
Feeding Wild Turkeys the Natural Way
- Plant Native Oaks: Acorns are a key food source for wild turkeys.
- Plant Other Nut and Berry-Producing Plants: In addition to oak acorns, other staples of the wild turkey diet include beech nuts, pecans, hickory nuts, crabapples, and hackberries.
What time of day are turkeys most active?
General Weather Conditions: As a general rule of thumb, turkeys are most active during calm, clear days in morning and early afternoon hours. Turkey activity generally decreases with bad weather conditions including wind and rain. During extremely wet and rainy days, turkeys are neither vocal nor very active.
What trees attract turkeys?
Turkeys will be naturally attracted to trees and shrubs like dogwoods, chokeberries, viburnums, hickories, beech, hawthorns, and more. Oak trees should also be on the top of your list with white oak and red oak trees, in particular, proving to be effective at attracting turkeys.
Do turkeys like oats?
Cereal grains such as wheat, rye and oats are an excellent option for a wild turkey food plot. They are relatively easy to grow, inexpensive, and can provide food for turkeys throughout the year.
What do turkeys eat in the winter?
The largest part of their diet is usually nuts, especially acorns, beechnuts, and hickory nuts. In most winters, there are ample supplies of nuts on the forest floor. Turkeys are vulnerable when deep snow stays on the ground for weeks at a time and covers their favorite feeding places.
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.)
Can turkeys eat rice?
We’ve all heard the warning: don’t feed rice to birds or don’t throw rice at weddings because birds will eat it. Fact is, rice cooked or uncooked won’t hurt wild birds at all. The rumor is that uncooked rice hits the bird’s tummy and then swells causing its stomach to explode. It’s simply not true.
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.
Can turkeys see in the dark?
Turkeys really struggle to see at night, though. Their lack of low-light sight is why it’s so imperative that turkey hunters are set up early. However, this doesn’t mean that you can wander too close to the roost in the dark, since they still have a great sense of hearing.
Can wild turkeys eat apples?
Do you love apples? Well, so do turkeys. Apples are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, fibers, and other nutrients. Turkeys can eat apple whole, but you should be careful so they do not eat too many apple seeds.
Can turkeys eat lettuce?
As these birds are bred to be large, food intake should be restricted with extra greens (pasture, alfalfa, grain sprouts, lettuce, cabbage, swiss chard) and roughage. Turkeys also love fruit, but it should be given in limited quantities.