Feeding Turkey - Steps And Techniques In Feeding Turkey To Make Them Plump For Thanksgiving Dinner

If you are planning to put up a small turkey farm to be sold during Thanksgiving holidays, you need to consider some things to make it successful. Like any other businesses, for turkey farming, you need to think first of the house or coop of your turkeys. Feeding turkey with foods and special feeds should come next. Water should be very accessible to all turkeys, even to one-day old poults, to keep them hydrated all day long.

Usually, there are four stages of feeds right for every turkey age. First is the pre-starter. It is the feeds that the newborn poults should take. Normally, you need to pulverize the pre-starter and mix it with their water for easier digestion and absorption of nutrients. For the newborns, you need to tend to them carefully at first because they cannot take care of themselves yet especially during mealtimes. An hour of aiding them in drinking and feeding turkey is advisable. You may help them drink by dipping their tiny beaks in the water and feeder. By doing so, you are also teaching them how to locate their foods without much complexity.

After giving them pre-starter, you can now begin supplying them with starter feeds after their 8th week. On their 12th week, you can upgrade it by providing them with grower. Usually, grower has 20% to 21% of protein to make the turkey's meat leaner. Feeding turkey with soybeans can be added, too, since these are a good source of protein. You can also include some grains like wheat, grain, rice, emmer, etc. to their diet. This will help in making them fat and plump quicker. Bear in mind that as your turkeys grow older, they'll need more amount of food. On their 15th week, you can now give them the finisher feeds and other fresh fruits and vegetables. It will make the meat readier for the Thanksgiving season.

Remember to feed the hens with more food than the toms in order for them (the hens) to produce more eggs. You can also add more calories, carbohydrates and fat. Calories will give your turkeys lots of energy. Keep in mind that the larger your turkey is, the more energy it needs to have.

In order to increase the weight of your turkeys, do not feed them with too much fiber. It will not contribute in making your turkeys full and round. Feeding turkey with vitamins and minerals like Vitamin E and Calcium will keep them healthy. If you notice a sudden loss of appetite and wet litter from them, check immediately for early diagnosis of any possible diseases.

If you think you still need guidance on how to raise turkeys, consulting existing turkey owners and farmers will certainly be a big help. Learn more about what do turkeys eat and raising turkeys correctly here: www.howtoraiseturkeys.com