Do Turkeys Eat Sunflower Seeds? A Comprehensive Guide

When I was a child, we used scratchings to look for turkeys instead of using Google to find out what they ate. We would go for a walk in the woods, where there was no internet at all. Then we’d check the fields and pastures for cows sh*t. You see, manure provides game birds with excellent fodder because it contains all those undigested corn kernels and seeds. You get that tip for free.

If you’re looking for a succinct answer to the query, “What do turkeys eat?” I’ll give it to you right now. Although they are omnivores and eat a wide range of foods, insects, mild greens, acorns, berries, corn, soybeans, sorghum, milo, sunflowers, chufa, and other seeds and grains are among their favorites.

However, if you’re a hunter, you should stay for the lengthy response that follows. Based on my observations from 29 years of hunting in nine states, talking with biologists, and preserving wildlife habitat, I offer a traditional lesson on what wild turkeys will eat in it. Why is it worth it? Because you will definitely get more gobblers if you can respond to the question, “What do turkeys eat?”

Turkeys are fascinating creatures, and many people enjoy watching them roam around their yards or in the wild. If you’re one of those people, you might be wondering what these birds eat. One common question is whether turkeys eat sunflower seeds or bird seed.

The answer is yes, turkeys can eat sunflower seeds and bird seed. In fact, these are both good sources of nutrition for them. Sunflower seeds are high in protein and fat, which are important for turkeys’ energy levels. Bird seed is also a good source of protein as well as carbohydrates and vitamins.

However, it’s important to note that turkeys should not be fed sunflower seeds or bird seed as their sole source of food. These foods are high in calories and fat, and if turkeys eat too much of them, they can become overweight or obese. This can lead to health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Instead sunflower seeds and bird seed should be given to turkeys as a treat or supplement to their regular diet. A good diet for a turkey consists of a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, grains, and insects.

Here are some specific examples of foods that turkeys can eat:

  • Fruits: Apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, pears
  • Vegetables: Broccoli, carrots, celery, corn, peas
  • Grains: Bread, cereal, oats, rice
  • Insects: Crickets, grasshoppers, mealworms, worms

It’s always best to consult a veterinarian or poultry expert if you’re unsure about what to feed your turkeys. They can assist you in providing your birds with a balanced and healthful diet.

Here are some additional tips for feeding turkeys:

  • Make sure the food is fresh and clean. Don’t give turkeys food that is moldy, rotten, or contaminated with bacteria.
  • Provide plenty of water. Turkeys need to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, especially in hot weather.
  • Don’t overfeed your turkeys. Turkeys are good at regulating their own food intake, so don’t worry about them eating too much. However, if you notice that your turkeys are becoming overweight, you may need to reduce their food intake.
  • Keep the feeding area clean. This will help to prevent the spread of disease.

By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your turkeys stay healthy and happy.

Turkeys can eat sunflower seeds and bird seed, but these foods should not be their sole source of nutrition. A good diet for a turkey consists of a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and insects. If you’re not sure what to feed your turkeys, it’s always best to consult with a veterinarian or poultry expert.

Turkeys Eat Bugs

Turkeys hunt for insects primarily in the late spring and early summer, though they will eat them at any time of year. Hens require the protein found in grasshoppers, beetles, grubs, and the like to produce eggs. Poults feed almost exclusively on insects after hatching and for the first several weeks of life. Because of this, the best brood habitat is relatively open spaces like hayfields, food plots, and very early successional habitat—that is, as long as there is adequate escape cover nearby.

But turkeys don’t just “bug” in the spring. You’re likely to see them chasing invertebrates anytime the weather allows. Everywhere there’s early greenery in the early spring hunting season, it’s a good idea to scout for turkeys. Sunny creek bottoms and south-facing slopes are the first places to warm up and turn green; these are also the locations where you’ll find the first insects. And you can bet turkeys will be nearby.

A hen turkey leads her poults into a greenfield to look for insects to eat.

In addition to the insects that can be found in the early spring on a south-facing slope, turkeys also like to nibble on the greens. They consume legumes like clover and alfalfa, which makes many hayfields and food plots more alluring. They also provide insects. Nothing is more visually appealing in food plots than the newly sprouted cereal grains’ shoots, like those of wheat and oats. In the wild, turkeys pick and pluck at many of the same forbs preferred by whitetails. Once more, finding places that are turning green with tender shoots—like an agricultural field, a food plot, or naturally occurring forbs—is a terrific way to locate birds in the early spring.

What Do Turkey Eat? Table of Contents

  • What Do Turkeys Eat? Four Favorite Foods
  • Turkeys Eat Bugs
  • Tender Greens Are Important Early
  • Turkeys Eat Hard and Soft Mast
  • Seeds and Grain
  • How Knowing What Turkey Eat Helps Your Hunting

How To Attract Turkeys To Your Land! YOU NEED GREEN FOOD!

FAQ

Can turkeys eat whole sunflower seeds?

Seeds- Another easily attainable food source, seeds provide even more nutrition for wild turkeys. Mixing seeds and cracked corn makes a great spread out meal. Sunflower, milo, and millet are all enjoyable types of seeds to put out for wild turkeys.

What is the best food to feed wild turkeys?

Plant Other Nut and Berry-Producing Plants: In addition to oak acorns, other staples of the wild turkey diet include beech nuts, pecans, hickory nuts, crabapples, and hackberries. By planting native nut and berry-producing plants you’ll provide turkeys with the natural foods they’ve consumed for thousands of years.

What is the best bait for turkeys?

Food: Turkeys will eat on many different foods, especially grain, seeds, nuts, insects, snails, slugs, berries and fruit. Mature oak trees can provide nuts, and a ground feeding area with cracked corn or mixed birdseed is great for turkeys.

Do wild turkeys eat bird seed?

If you live in an area where there are wild turkeys, and you want them to visit, put out wild birdseed and/or corn (whole or cracked) in an area away from your house where they might discover it. I throw the food on the ground, rather than a bird feeder. You’re likely to get other birds feeding on this food, too.

Can turkeys eat seeds?

The oil in the seeds helps provide a beautiful shine to your turkey’s plumage. Additionally, the seeds contain around 17% protein which is excellent for turkeys of all ages. Seeds should be out of the shells for your turkeys to take advantage of them. These extremely protein-rich seeds are usually found in most custom rations.

Can turkeys eat sunflower seeds?

Yes, turkeys will happily eat sunflower seeds and they are a great source of nutrition and calories for them. Make sure you give your birds sunflower seeds as part of a balanced diet, though. Can Turkeys Eat Zucchini? Yes, turkeys can eat zucchini. Zucchini is another nutritious squash that your birds will eat with relish.

Where to buy sunflower seeds in Turkey?

In Turkey, they’re available in supermarkets and stacked with all the other nuts and nibbles (çerez). They’re available from the markets. And then there are the kuru yemiş (dried food) shops which specialise in this type of snack. These places are everywhere. And sunflower seeds are cheap!

What do domesticated turkeys eat?

They enjoy nuts, acorns, seeds (including many wild weed seeds), corn, grain, and peas. They eat berries, flowers, bulbs, foliage, and fruit. Domesticated turkeys have different needs than chickens or ducks and should be fed either a turkey formulated feed or a wild or game bird feed to meet their needs.

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