Want unmedicated, vegetarian (grain, not pellets) turkey starter and grower in Ontario, Canada

[Strawhousemama]

Hello.

We are trying to find a local supplier for unmedicated grain based turkey feed and having a heck of a time finding it. I *can* order organic stuff in tiny bags for lots of money - but we'd rather use something more local and less expensive.

Anyone on here from near the Ottawa region who can tell me where to find it?

Any help/advice is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Anita

 

[ColbyNTX]

Good luck with that! Most grains won't have the protien requirement that poults need. Unmedicated gamebird starter is easy to find. Look for that vs turkey satrter.

 

[Scottingitup]

Turkeys are meant to eat insects and other things for protein. Are you going to be providing this in addition to the grain?

Asking because birds are not naturally vegetarians so why force them to be?

 

[Oregon Blues]

Nearly any poultry food you pick up is going to be vegetarian. Very few feeds for poultry contain animal protein.

Your turkeys are not vegetarians, so if you want to feed them a diet that is not natural to them, be sure to raise them inside tightly screened rooms so they can't eat any bugs.

You aren't going to find any feed that is whole unprocessed grains and has the vitamin/ mineral component evenly distributed. Maybe you can get a mash type of feed that isn't pelleted. In fact, game bird starter has enough protein and it isn't pelleted, although it is crumbles and not whole grains. You'll probably have to special order it to get non-medicated. It runs about $28 a bag in my area.

 

[Bryam]

Where can I fibd unmedicated gamebird starter?

 

[shaninsky]

Try contacting Purina Canada. If you go with the "Golden" line of feed, it only contains vegetable based proteins. If you go with the "Purinature" line, it contains animal protein. The starter contains antibiotics to get the chicks through the first few weeks of life without contracting coccidiosis. I'm not a fan of medicated feed but I compromise by getting them off the starter and onto the non-medicated grower feed as soon as possible. You are going to pay dearly for any feed that is not mass produced. I wanted the "Game Bird" feed for my turkeys and it cost $26/bag as opposed to Golden Harvest which comes in a $17/bag. It's the economy of scale. You could feed the really expensive organic stuff until they are old enough for the Golden Harvest. That would be another way to compromise.

 

[retlaw]

Go to the feed store and look at what company makes their feed that they sell.
Odds are its the closest to them.
Then call the feed company and talk straight to the manufactures.
They will tell you what they have and why.
As mentioned before the feed company has to mix grains in order to get the higher protein content for turkeys.
On the west coast in canada we have no problem buying unmediated/organic/heritage game bird feed.
And not any more then 20 bucks per bag.

 

[Bryam]

Ok, thanks! I am going to look for some unmedicated Turkey starter.