Increasingly, you can see turkeys being raised on farm plots. These birds grow quickly, give more weight compared to chicken, and their meat is very healthy. New poultry farmers do not always know what to make up their birds’ diet, and whether it is possible to feed cereal wheat to turkeys. But proper nutrition is the basis for the health and good weight of the bird. Therefore, it is important to create a menu that will consist of substances that are beneficial for birds.
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Is it possible to feed turkeys wheat?
To ensure proper weight gain, turkeys throughout their lives are given a diet that includes:
- green grass;
- nutritional supplements;
- cereals;
- legumes
Grass is the main source of vitamins.The feed is saturated with food additives to provide the birds with minerals. But the bulk consists of cereals. They provide the turkey with protein, fat, minerals and starch. In addition, cereals fill the body with energy.
The healthiest ones are definitely oats and buckwheat. They contain substances necessary for the body in optimal proportions. Wheat has slightly less potential, but is also useful.
How to feed wheat to birds?
To formulate a diet, you need to know how many nutrients one individual should receive per day, depending on age. You also need to know how much of them is contained in wheat. But at the same time, the bird should not be overfed. This will cause digestion difficulties and waste of energy. Females should consume no more than 400 g of various food per day, and males - up to 650 g. Of these, about 55% should be cereals. Grains and other grains can also supply birds with protein. It forms the muscular system and organs.
In the first 3 days after birth, turkey poults are given only a hard-boiled and crushed egg. The food is added little by little 5 times a day so that the chicks do not get poisoned by sour food. On the 4th day, crushed wheat, cottage cheese and greens are added to the diet. Special mash is prepared.
Approximate food content throughout the life of a turkey:
| Components | 10 days | Up to 30 days | Up to 60 days | Up to 120 days | Adult |
| Crushed wheat, corn, barley, g | 15 | 35 | 80 | 120 | 170 |
| Cottage cheese, crumbly, g | 7–9 | 12 | — | — | — |
| Dairy products, g | 5–7 | 15 | — | — | — |
| Greens, g | 10 | 30 | 50 | 80 | 150 |
| Grated carrots, g | 5 | 8 | 10 | — | — |
| Chalk, crushed eggshells, g | 0,2 | 1 | 0,7 | 3 | 10 |
| Meat and bone meal, g | — | 5 | 8 | — | — |
| Sunflower cake, g | — | 3-4 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
| Feed yeast, g | — | 4 | 6 | 8 | — |
| Salt, g | — | 0,1 | 0,1 | 0,1 | 1 |
| Potatoes, food waste, g | — | — | — | 20 | — |
It is worth noting that growing individuals are mainly given food raw, while for adult turkeys the grain mixture is doused with boiling water or slightly boiled.
