The diet of turkeys, whether wild or domesticated, plays a significant role in their overall health, growth, and survival. While wild turkeys adapt their foraging based on natural availability, farmed turkeys rely on carefully formulated feeds to meet their nutritional requirements.
Wild Turkey Foraging and Diet
Wild turkeys are omnivorous, consuming a wide range of food sources. Their diet primarily consists of plant matter and invertebrates, which they forage for by scratching and pecking at the ground. Common plant foods include tender greens, various seeds, and grains. They also consume nuts, known as hard mast, with acorns and beechnuts being preferred choices. Soft mast, like berries and wild grapes, are also part of their diet.
Insects and other invertebrates form a significant portion of a wild turkey’s diet, providing protein. They actively seek out grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, spiders, snails, and even small amphibians and reptiles. Wild turkeys are opportunistic feeders, thriving across various natural landscapes, including forests, fields, and some suburban areas.
Adapting to Seasons and Life Stages
The diet of wild turkeys changes throughout the year, reflecting seasonal availability. In spring and summer, their diet includes abundant insects, contributing high protein, along with fresh greenery and seeds. As fall approaches, turkeys shift their focus to nuts and fruits, such as acorns, beechnuts, wild cherries, and grapes, accumulating vital nutrients and energy for the colder months. During winter, they scavenge for remaining seeds, nuts, and berries, and may consume dormant plant parts like buds and twigs. Turkeys can even scratch through snow to find food.
Young turkeys, known as poults, have specific dietary needs. Immediately after hatching, poults rely almost exclusively on insects for their high protein content, essential for rapid growth and development. The yolk sac provides initial nourishment for the first few days, but invertebrates are crucial for meeting their protein requirements. As poults mature, they gradually incorporate tender greens and seeds into their diet, transitioning toward the varied omnivorous diet of adult turkeys.
The Diet of Domesticated Turkeys
Domesticated turkeys rely on human-provided feed, carefully formulated for their growth and health. Commercial turkey feeds are typically composed of mixed grains and oilseeds, with corn and soybean meal often making up a large percentage. These feeds are complete, providing balanced levels of protein, energy, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals specific to each stage of a turkey’s life. Young turkeys receive starter feeds with higher protein levels, which then transition to grower and finisher feeds as they mature.
Beyond the formulated feed, domesticated turkeys require constant access to fresh water, consuming approximately twice as much water as feed. Grit, consisting of small, hard particles, is also provided to aid in digestion. Turkeys lack teeth, so they ingest grit to help their gizzards grind down food particles for better nutrient absorption. Some feeds may also include supplements like amino acids and specific vitamins to ensure optimal development.