Talking Turkey

[daisydoo]

Hello

Has anyone ever kept any turkeys? I'm getting two hen birds which I intend to fatten for Christmas, however the feed i've been advised to get is not what I would want to give them. I'd like to feed them stuff that hasn't got antibiotics and growth promoters in it. I was thinking maybe cracked wheat and some maize. They will also be able to free range during the day and will they be ok with my chickens? I don't know if the two can mix together. I have got them separate housing from the chickens.

Thanks
Daisy

[Odsox]

Never kept turkeys, but when I used to fatten chicken I found that maize meal was just the ticket ... very fattening and the chickens loved it.

[farmerdrea]

Turkeys are born grazers, so if you can let them have access to grass, clover, other succulent greens in the week or so before killing, it will really enhance the meat flavour, as will apples and other soft fruit.

We breed turkeys, and for fattening maize is really your best option, but not fed exclusively otherwise you will have a very fat bird indeed. Cracked maize and kitchen scraps are good (but I don't know what restrictions you have regarding the feeding of scraps in the UK), as is cooked barley.

Cheers
Andrea
NZ