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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: ATROX on May 26, 2019, 01:54:57 PM

Title: Feeding Turkeys in the off season
Post by: ATROX on May 26, 2019, 01:54:57 PM
Any of you guys feed turkeys in the off season? If so, what works best?
Corn of course, what about sunflower, wheat, rye, oats etc. ???
Thanks
Title: Re: Feeding Turkeys in the off season
Post by: Greg Massey on May 26, 2019, 02:33:44 PM
If you can just plant you some clover plots ... the clover draw's bugs , grasshoppers and other insects .. clover is like a feed store to the turkeys ...
Title: Re: Feeding Turkeys in the off season
Post by: Hobbes on May 26, 2019, 02:40:29 PM
It's illegal in some places.
Title: Re: Feeding Turkeys in the off season
Post by: zelmo1 on May 26, 2019, 06:21:18 PM
Check your local laws, but clover is a good one. Something natural to their diet is always best. Don't want them to starve if the winter is bad but also don't want to make them too dependent on humans
Title: Re: Feeding Turkeys in the off season
Post by: Dtrkyman on May 26, 2019, 06:47:01 PM
Habitat improvements are much better than feeding, if it's an option I would focus on that.


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Title: Re: Feeding Turkeys in the off season
Post by: snoodcrusher on May 26, 2019, 07:13:20 PM
I feed deer year round so the turkeys reap the benefit of that as well.  I feed protein pellets in the spring which includes turkey season.   Then a few weeks after turkey season I start feeding corn again.  The guys are right about clover food plots being great for turkeys.  They'll eat the clover and the bugs they find there.  My clover plots get hammered by the birds as soon as green up rolls around.


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Title: Re: Feeding Turkeys in the off season
Post by: bbcoach on May 26, 2019, 08:01:12 PM
Clover is GREAT for turkeys.  In the fall, there is plenty of seed and corn for them.  Winter time with plenty of snow would be the only time there maybe a stress period.  If there is cattle around, then the farmers will feed the cattle hay and alfalfa so the turkeys can get seeds and protein from that.  The guys from Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and the UP of Michigan may chime in with some snow and cold temp advice.  Brutal winter there last winter.
Title: Re: Feeding Turkeys in the off season
Post by: bear hunter on May 26, 2019, 08:10:31 PM
As mentioned clover works very well. With maint. I have had clover plots last 5 years.
Title: Re: Feeding Turkeys in the off season
Post by: Manoflaw on May 27, 2019, 07:12:58 PM
Chufa works well too. I only have one place where the owner plants chufa but the birds absolutely go insane over the stuff.
Title: Re: Feeding Turkeys in the off season
Post by: bonasa on May 27, 2019, 10:42:23 PM
Habitat management is more important than supplemental feedings.