Turkeys are a wonderful addition to any farm, but it’s crucial to understand what they consume because they don’t eat the same things like chickens or ducks, but what to feed turkey chicks? There are several possibilities for the finest and most cost-effective ways to feed turkeys for both large and small flocks. Domesticated turkeys have different nutritional requirements than chickens or ducks and should be given a turkey-specific diet or a wild or game bird feed to suit those requirements.
Why should you be mindful about feeding turkey chicks?
While turkeys are disease and sickness-resistant, appropriate feed management may help your birds get off to a good start and stay healthy for the rest of their lives. This post will cover a variety of feed categories, including the best general feed alternatives, what foods your turkeys may safely consume, what foods should be avoided, and some alternative feed cost-cutting solutions!
Buying commercial turkey feed for turkey chicks
What to feed turkey chicks? Purchasing bags of commercial turkey feed is typically the simplest and most cost-effective approach for small flock owners to guarantee their turkeys are getting the greatest nutrition. There is no need to worry about providing commercial turkey feed for the turkey chicks that you have at home. These packages are commonly branded as gamebird feed and can be bought on amazon. They’re nutritionally balanced for different phases of growth, from hatching to adulthood, so you’ll be able to quickly pick the right one for your flock.
The protein needs of turkey chicks fluctuate as they develop. To develop swiftly and safely, young turkeys require roughly 28 percent protein from the start. You can cut their protein requirements to roughly 20% after they reach the age of two months. Turkeys may live on protein levels as low as 16 percent when they reach maturity, however, there’s no harm in maintaining them at a higher protein level if that’s the only feed you have.
If you don’t have any turkey feed, your turkeys can consume game bird feed. This is closer to your turkey’s nutritional requirements than a chicken layer feed.
What foods can you give to your turkey chicks?
For the long-term health of your flock, make sure you have a good range of grains and a good mix of minerals and vitamins. Turkeys require more protein than other poultry, and they can also benefit from micronutrients that chickens and ducks may not be able to absorb. Heritage breeds and meat breeds, in particular, may benefit from specialized mixtures of grains and pellets that a general-purpose commercial feed may not be able to provide. Here are some of the foods that you can use to feed turkey chicks.
Corn
What to feed turkey chicks, corn? While maize is not the most nutritious meal in and of itself, it may be a good source of fat and overall energy. Corn is popular in most winter meals since it is very beneficial in the cold. Whole kernels of corn are preferable to ground or flaked corn.
Sunflower seeds
These seeds can be found in a variety of custom mixed feed diets. The oil in the seeds helps to give your turkey’s plumage a lustrous gloss. Furthermore, the seeds contain roughly 17% protein, making them ideal for turkeys of all ages. Seeds should be removed from their shells so that your turkeys may eat them.
Flax seeds
What to feed turkey chicks, flax seeds? Almost all bespoke meals contain these incredibly protein-dense seeds. They also include a lot of B-vitamins and trace minerals in them. Flax seeds are a preferred grain among young turkeys and those that require a higher protein diet.
Millet
This is a good source of iron and amino acids, which help with brain function and a variety of other bodily functions. Millet is available in both red and white types, and both work well in bespoke diets. Wild millet is also native to a large part of the United States.
Dried peas
Peas are an excellent substitute for maize in summer diets. They’re one of the first things that turkeys of all ages consume, and they’re high in protein for growing birds. Peas are also a low-cost option for huge quantities of specialized feed.
How to Feed Turkeys for Maximum Growth
If you’re growing meat turkeys and need a rapid boost of healthy weight increase, there are many feeds you may use to assist your birds to reach harvest size quickly. Turkeys, in general, require significantly more protein than other fowl, particularly while they are young and developing. Finding the correct protein, vitamin, and nutrition sources are critical for your flock’s greatest and fastest growth.
Giving your birds a high-protein diet from the beginning can help them grow quickly. Meat breeds are known to require feed rations of up to 32 percent protein, and bespoke feed combinations may sometimes go much higher. Because meat breeds are often taken at the age of 5-6 months, the long-term health of the bird is not a priority; quick development and weight increase are.
Can you give fermented feed to baby chicks?
What to feed turkey chicks, fermented feed? Fermenting your commercial or homemade mixed turkey rations allows you to benefit from lactic acid fermentation. It’s a simple and efficient approach to make digestion easier for your flock, resulting in bigger birds that require less feed.
Soaking a pellet or grain feed combination in water to initiate a metabolic process of breaking down specific nutrients with the aid of helpful bacteria is part of the fermentation process. To 1 part feed, add around 2 parts water. These bacteria can alter the chemical composition of your feed, resulting in increased quantities of useable protein, lower pH, and a better overall nutritional composition for your birds.
Furthermore, the fermentation process causes both pelleted combinations and grains to expand and become softer, resulting in your birds eating less and wasting less while still receiving ideal amounts of nutrients for appropriate development. As a result, your birds’ feed-to-growth ratio improves, resulting in cheaper monthly feed costs for you.