Wheat may certainly be consumed by turkeys; it is a nutritious grain that is beneficial to both people and turkeys.
Wheat can be used in place of corn and other grains commonly fed to turkeys. Your turkeys will get enough protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals from it.
Wheat is a great winter feed because it generates a lot of heat as it is digested. It also includes a significant amount of oil, which aids in the preservation of feathers.
What Are the Health Benefits of Wheat to Turkeys?
Wheat has a higher energy level than corn, ranging from 94% to 96%.
This is because wheat has a higher protein content as well as the amino acids lysine and tryptophan.
In addition, wheat includes gluten, which reduces the requirement for pellet binders.
Protein: Wheat has a greater protein level than maize, making it a better source of protein than corn.
While protein is essential for human muscle growth, it is essential for turkey muscle growth as well.
Fiber: Wheat also has a lot of fiber in it, which is another benefit. Because this mineral cannot be absorbed by the body, fiber is an excellent aid to digestion.
In addition, the bird’s gastrointestinal tract will be stimulated by the addition of fiber, which will aid in digesting as well.
Minerals: A wide range of minerals can be found in wheat, which can benefit your turkeys.
Folic acid, copper, B vitamins, manganese, phosphorus, and selenium are other nutrients.
Other benefits include:
- Improved digestive system: This would prevent your turkeys from a variety of digestive disorders.
- Maintain a healthy blood sugar level: Wheat in the diet can assist in slowing sugar absorption in the turkey bloodstream.
- Strengthen bones: Wheat high vitamin and mineral content helps grow and strengthen your turkeys’ bones.
- Increased iron absorption: Due to wheat’s high vitamin C content, your turkeys can consume iron minerals more easily.
How Often Should I Feed Them Wheat?
Wheat should not be the exclusive food source for birds. The bird’s sole source of nutrition cannot be a single meal.
To ensure that your turkeys are getting all the nutrients they need, you should verify the nutritional content of the wheat they are eating.
Though wheat can be a fantastic base for your turkey.
Here is an article I wrote on what do turkeys eat
Can Baby Turkeys Eat Wheat?
Baby turkeys can eat wheat. They can eat the whole grain, and you can also grind them. However, it is not ideal for feeding them the grains alone with any other supplement to complement it.
Can Wild Turkeys Eat Wheat?
Turkeys can eat wheat in the wild, just like other cereal grains like rye and oats.
Although these grains are easy to cultivate, affordable, and abundant in food for turkeys, they are ideal for a variety of reasons.
In the fall, winter, and spring, their lush green foliage attracts turkeys.
After the seed is out in the late spring and summer, they provide a valuable seed supply that can last long into the winter.
Can Turkeys Eat Wheat Seed?
There’s no doubt that turkeys can eat wheat because it’s the favorite grain among most birds besides corn.
Also, with about 16 percent protein and a lot of carbohydrates, wheat is a good source of calories for turkeys.
Can Turkeys Eat Winter Wheat?
Turkeys can eat winter wheat. This wheat is high in gluten.
Also, the insects these plants attract while growing are quite nutritious to turkeys, especially for growing their own wheat.
Also heck out this article I wrote on can turkeys eat vegetables
Things to Watch Out For Before Feeding Them Wheat?
Turkeys, like humans, can develop an addiction to certain foods. If you constantly give them wheat.
Consuming an excessive amount of wheat treats might result in health concerns, like weight gain, prolonged molts, and summer doldrums in egg production.
How Can I Feed Wheat to My Turkeys?
In the event that your turkey has never had wheat in their diet, you’ll need to gradually introduce them to it.
For the first two weeks, make wheat 5 percent of their diet. This will allow the gizzard to get used to it.
You can gradually increase the percentage of wheat you feed them until you achieve the amount of wheat you want the bird to eat over time.
Another way is to sprout them for your birds to eat.
- Soak your wheat in water
You can use any container you like to store your wheat in. Keep in mind that the wheat will expand when they sprout, so don’t overfill the container.
Clean water should be used to cover your jar or container. Afterward, soak your wheat berries for 8 to 12 hours in water
- After rinsing and soaking, repeat the process
Afterward, remove the water from your jar/container and discard it. Then, fill the wheat jar with fresh water and swirl them thoroughly to wash them.
Step 2 is to remove as much liquid as possible and flush your jar thoroughly.
You should repeat these two actions twice a day to ensure that your wheat is in the best possible condition to sprout.
Your wheat within the jar can sprout entirely after soaking for 2 or 4 days.
- Feed your birds the sprouted wheat
You do not need to offer all of your sprouts at once. Rather than that, you would feed them a portion of your jar and store the remainder in your refrigerator.
As a result, they might remain fresh for an extended time and halt their growing process.
Note: The sprouting process will enable the enzymes in your wheat to be activated and increased.
As a result, it may provide additional benefits when compared to raw seeds.
However, wheat that has not been sprouted has a concentration of enzymes and antioxidants that is up to 4000 times lower than those that have been sprouted.
It also has a higher concentration of nutrients such as protein and vitamins, and minerals.
Therefore, in order to improve the health and nutrition of your turkeys, this method is frequently utilized nowadays.
Sprouts with a length of 1/8 or 2 inches are highly advised for your diet in order to reap the most benefits.
Conclusion
Wheat can, in fact, be fed to turkeys. For poultry, corn is the most common grain.
However, wheat can be used as an alternative. Protein, fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals are all found in wheat.
The bird’s diet can’t be entirely made up of wheat, so feeding it with other foods rich in vitamins and minerals will help it stay healthy.
