What Do Turkeys Eat? A Guide To Feeding Your Backyard Flock

Jefferey VonRueden 31 Jul 2025

Bringing new turkeys home, whether they are tiny poults or grown birds, is a truly exciting time for anyone with a backyard flock. There's a real sense of accomplishment that comes with watching them thrive, and a big part of that success, you know, comes down to what they eat. Giving your birds the right food from the very start helps them grow strong and stay healthy, and that's something every bird keeper aims for, isn't it?

Just like with chickens, ducks, or geese, a turkey's food needs change as they get older. A little baby turkey, or poult, needs very different things from a big, feathered adult bird. Knowing these changes and what to offer at each stage is, quite honestly, a really important step in keeping your new birds happy and well-fed.

This guide will walk you through the various foods turkeys enjoy and need, from special commercial feeds to everyday treats. We'll explore what to give them at different ages and even touch on what wild turkeys might forage for, so you'll feel much more prepared to welcome your new flock members, basically.

Understanding Turkey Nutrition at Every Stage
Beyond Commercial Feeds: Treats and Table Scraps
Wild Turkeys and Their Natural Diet
- What Wild Turkeys Forage For
- Keeping Your Free-Range Birds Safe
Helping Your Turkeys Settle In
- Encouraging Eating and Drinking
- Building Bonds with Treats
Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Turkey Nutrition at Every Stage

Just like any growing creature, turkeys have different nutritional needs depending on their age. What keeps a baby poult strong isn't quite enough for a rapidly growing teenager, and a fully grown adult bird has its own specific requirements, so it's a bit of a balancing act.

Tiny Poults and Their First Meals

When you first get those adorable little turkey poults, their food is, very, very important. These tiny birds grow incredibly fast, and they need a lot of protein to support that quick development. This is where "turkey starter" comes in. It's specifically made for young turkeys, packed with the right amount of protein and other good things they need to get a strong start in life, basically.

It's interesting, but sometimes turkey poults can be a little slow to figure out eating and drinking. They're not always the quickest learners, you know. I've heard that if you have chicks around, they can actually help teach the turkeys how to eat and drink. The chicks will show them the ropes, so to speak, and the turkeys will, in a way, just follow along. It's a pretty neat trick if you ask me.

Growing Up: The Teen Turkey Diet

After the poult stage, which is typically the first few weeks, your turkeys will transition into their "teen" phase. This is when they move from turkey starter to "turkey grower" feed. This grower feed still has a good amount of protein, but it's adjusted for their slightly older, still-developing bodies. It helps them continue to gain size and muscle without getting too much of any one nutrient, which is important for their overall health, you see.

During this time, their appetites will really pick up, and they'll start to eat quite a bit more. They're still putting on a lot of growth, so keeping their feeders full of this specialized grower feed is a pretty good idea. It's all about supporting their rapid development, after all.

Adult Turkeys: What’s on the Menu?

Once your turkeys are fully grown, their dietary needs shift again. They don't need as much high protein for rapid growth anymore. At this point, you might wonder about different options. For example, I have chickens, ducks, and geese, and I'm getting turkeys now, so I've been thinking about what my adult turkeys can eat. Can they, for instance, eat layer pellets, which my chickens might have, or just cracked corn? It's a common question for folks with mixed flocks, too it's almost like trying to find one food that fits all.

Many bird keepers use a general "flock raiser" feed for their adult birds, which can be a convenient option if you have different types of poultry. I, for instance, use Purina Flock Raiser on my birds, and it seems to work out pretty well. This kind of feed is usually balanced for a variety of adult poultry, providing a good mix of nutrients without being too rich in protein, which can be an issue for adult birds if they get too much, you know.

Beyond Commercial Feeds: Treats and Table Scraps

While commercial feeds form the backbone of a turkey's diet, treats and certain table scraps can be a fun way to supplement their meals and even help you bond with your birds. It's a nice little extra, you might say.

Favorite Snacks for Your Flock

My chickens and turkeys, you know, eat just about everything that comes from the table, as long as it's not fed to my dogs. They're really not picky at all. This includes a wide range of fruit and vegetable scraps. For instance, potato peelings are something they seem to enjoy, though it's a good idea to nuke them first, just to make them softer and easier to digest. It's a simple step that can make a difference, apparently.

When it comes to treats, think about things that are natural and wholesome. Small pieces of leafy greens, berries, or even some cooked grains can be wonderful additions to their diet. It's a way to add variety and give them something fun to peck at, too it's almost like a little treasure hunt for them.

The Scoop on Cracked Corn and Layer Pellets

Cracked corn is a popular treat for many backyard birds, and turkeys are no exception. It's a good source of energy, especially in colder weather. However, it's important to remember that cracked corn is more of a treat than a complete meal. It doesn't have all the vitamins and minerals a turkey needs to thrive, so it should only be given in moderation, just a little bit, you know.

As for layer pellets, which are typically for egg-laying chickens, adult turkeys can eat them, yes. The turkey can eat the same as the chicks, in a way. However, layer pellets are formulated with higher calcium for eggshell production, which might not be ideal for turkeys that aren't laying eggs, or for males. If you're using layer pellets, make sure your turkeys are also getting enough of their primary feed to balance things out. It's all about balance, really.

Can Turkeys Eat Cat Food?

This is a question I've actually dealt with myself! My Thanksgiving turkeys, you see, keep eating the cat's food. I know it's high in protein, which is often good for growing birds, but I've wondered if there's anything in cat food that is harmful for turkeys. If it's safe, I'm inclined to let them continue, as they clearly enjoy it, and it's a rather convenient snack for them, isn't it?

Generally speaking, while cat food is high in protein, it's formulated for felines, not fowl. It can contain ingredients that aren't ideal for birds in large quantities, like certain fats or preservatives. While a little bit probably won't hurt, it's not a balanced diet for turkeys and shouldn't be a regular staple. It's probably best to keep it as an occasional, very small treat, if at all. So, it's a bit of a grey area, really.

Sharing Your Table: What's Safe?

As mentioned, turkeys can enjoy many table scraps. They're quite the scavengers, more or less. Beyond potato peelings (nuked, remember!), they might like cooked rice, pasta, oatmeal, and most fruit and vegetable scraps. Think about what you'd give a chicken; chances are, your turkey will enjoy it too. Just make sure anything you offer is plain, without too much salt, sugar, or spices. It's about giving them natural goodness, you know.

However, there are a few things to avoid. Avocado pits and skins, raw potato skins (unless cooked first), and anything moldy or spoiled should be kept away from them. Also, while chickens and turkeys will kill and eat little snakes, water moccasins are very venomous and can easily kill any bird. Also, the moccasins swim very well and will, in fact, pose a serious threat, so that's something to be very aware of if your birds free-range near water.

Wild Turkeys and Their Natural Diet

It's fascinating to observe wild turkeys, and understanding what they eat in nature can give us clues about what our domestic birds might enjoy. I've had a flock of about 10 wild turkeys in my yard twice today, and it always makes me think about their natural habits, too it's almost like a little visit from nature.

What Wild Turkeys Forage For

Wild turkeys are, in a way, natural foragers. Their diet in the wild is quite varied and depends a lot on the season and what's available. They'll eat a mix of nuts, like acorns and hickory nuts, seeds, berries, and various plant materials. They also enjoy insects, grubs, and even small reptiles and amphibians. They're truly opportunistic eaters, just finding whatever nourishment they can, you know.

This natural foraging behavior is why free-ranging domestic turkeys often seem so happy. They get to peck around for bugs and greens, which adds variety and stimulation to their lives. It's a pretty good setup for them, honestly.

Keeping Your Free-Range Birds Safe

While wild turkeys are generally peaceful, having them visit your yard can raise some questions. Do they pose any kind of threat to my free-range chickens, besides maybe introducing disease? This is a valid concern for any backyard bird keeper. The biggest risk with wild birds interacting with your flock is, in fact, the potential for spreading illnesses or parasites. It's something to be mindful of, certainly.

To help keep your free-range birds safe, it's a good idea to maintain clean coops and feeding areas. If wild turkeys are frequent visitors, you might consider ways to deter them from congregating too closely with your domestic flock. It's all about minimizing direct contact to reduce any potential health risks, basically.

Helping Your Turkeys Settle In

Getting new turkeys to feel comfortable in their new home takes a little patience, especially if they haven't had much human interaction before. My turkey poults, for example, were raised by their mom without a lot of human interaction for the first month, I think. This can make them a bit skittish at first, you know.

Encouraging Eating and Drinking

For new poults, especially, making sure they find their food and water is key. As mentioned earlier, having older chicks around can actually help. They can show the turkeys where the food and water are, and the turkeys will, more or less, mimic their behavior. It's a natural way to teach them, so it's a pretty useful tip if you have other young birds.

You can also try dipping their beaks gently into the water or food dish to help them get the idea. Sometimes, just a little nudge is all they need to figure things out, you know. Make sure their feeders and waterers are easily accessible and at the right height for their small size, too it's almost like setting up a little welcome station for them.

Building Bonds with Treats

I'm trying to get my poults to warm up to me by feeding treats, but so far they're still a bit shy. It can take time, but offering tasty snacks by hand can really help build trust. Small pieces of fruit, like berries, or even some cooked oats, can be very appealing to them. Just sit quietly near them and offer the treat, letting them come to you on their own terms, basically.

Consistency is key here. The more often you offer treats and spend calm time near them, the more comfortable they will become with your presence. It's a slow process sometimes, but it's very rewarding when they finally start to warm up to you, you know. For more tips on poultry care, you can learn more about poultry care on our site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions people have about feeding turkeys:

Can adult turkeys eat layer pellets?

Yes, adult turkeys can eat layer pellets, which are typically made for chickens. However, layer pellets contain higher calcium levels for egg production. While not harmful in small amounts, they are not a complete diet for turkeys, especially if they are not laying eggs. It's better to use a balanced flock raiser feed or turkey specific adult feed as their primary diet, so it's a bit of a consideration, really.

Is cat food safe for turkeys?

While turkeys might enjoy eating cat food because it's high in protein, it is not formulated for poultry. Cat food can contain ingredients that are not ideal for turkeys in large quantities or over long periods. It's best to avoid feeding it regularly and only offer it as a very occasional, small treat, if at all. Your Thanksgiving turkeys might love it, but it's not their ideal meal, you know.

What kind of treats do turkeys enjoy?

Turkeys enjoy a variety of treats! They love many fruit and vegetable scraps, like cooked potato peelings, leafy greens, berries, and cooked grains such as rice or oatmeal. Cracked corn is also a popular treat, providing energy. Always offer treats in moderation and ensure they are plain and free from excessive salt, sugar, or spices. They really do seem to enjoy a good snack, apparently.

Feeding your turkeys is, quite honestly, a rewarding part of keeping them. By understanding their changing needs as they grow and offering a balanced diet of commercial feed along with appropriate treats, you'll help ensure your flock is healthy and happy. It's all about providing them with the right nourishment to thrive, and that's a pretty good feeling, isn't it? For more specific information on raising different types of birds, you can also check out this page about bird care. Remember to always consult with a reputable poultry resource or veterinarian for specific dietary concerns or health issues. For example, you can find general poultry nutrition guidelines on a site like Purina Mills.

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