Proactive deer hunters plan their hunting strategy and location with destination food sources in mind. Oddly enough, for many turkey hunters, myself included, a turkey’s diet plays little to no role in deciding where to focus their hunting efforts. When the turkeys go silent, flocks split up, and the going gets tough, keying in on likely food sources is a good strategy to keep in mind.
To learn more about a turkey’s diet, I consulted Dr. Mike Chamberlain, wildlife researcher and professor at the University of Georgia.
“Turkeys are true omnivores and they tend to feed heavily on items they can easily obtain,” Dr. Chamberlain said. “So you tend to see birds using a wide variety of food sources most of the year, with the exception being during winter when those sources become most dominated by hard mast and waste grains. Later, plant and insect communities can change dramatically across the spring turkey season, which will result in birds often shifting what they are consuming to take advantage of an easy and profitable prey source.”
It’s important to keep in mind that the availability of these food sources will vary greatly depending upon your state’s turkey season dates, agricultural availability, and the spring green-up cycle. Of these food sources, here are five staple food sources that turkeys can depend on each spring.
Hard Mast “Acorns and hard mast are important to turkeys throughout the species range,” Dr. Chamberlain said. A lesser-acknowledged wildlife favorite is the American beechnut. Like acorns, beechnuts can be a critical food source for birds throughout winter and into early spring when other food sources aren’t yet available on the landscape. Other hard masts that Eastern birds regularly consume include chestnuts, seeds of white ash, ironwood, hawthorn, witch hazel, and flowering dogwood.
In many Western landscapes, a Merriam’s diet and environment are both dominated by ponderosa and other pine species. According to Chamberlain, like most mast, pine seeds are a staple on a Western bird’s dinner plate. Mature pine trees offer great roosting cover, produce edible hard mast, and often facilitate a good environment for turkeys to bug. Rios also rely on hard mast to supplement their diet. A few favorites include acorns, skunkberry, doveweed, hackberry, and cedar elm.
Soft Mast Soft mast refers to the fruits produced by woody plants like shrubs, trees, and vines. Depending on your location, soft mast may become available late in the turkey season as plants begin flowering and producing fruits.
For states with early openers, soft mast can be critical to a bird’s survival throughout winter and early spring. Fruits from last year’s growing season have dried up and provide a valuable food source for wintering and early spring gobblers. Eastern turkeys may consume fruit from black cherry, wild grape, and spicebush plants, while their Western counterparts browse on fruit from Manzanita, skunkbrush, and juniper plants.
Native Grasses “Grasses, in general, are important to turkeys as they provide succulent green vegetation throughout much of the year,” Dr. Chamberlain said. This is especially true in early spring when green-up has not yet occurred and other food sources are not yet present. Turkeys forage on grass seeds as well as the first tender green shoots.
Native grasses not only provide a readily available food source for spring turkeys, but they also provide great security cover. Young poults thrive in grassland environments, which also provide great bugging opportunities. A few prominent native grasses include big and little bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass, buffalo grass, Eastern gamagrass, blue gamma grass, and needlegrass. For those in pursuit of Osceolas, popular grasses include panic grasses, carpet grass, and chufa.
Forbs Forbs are broad leaf flowing plants that lack woody stems. Many hunters casually refer to some forbs as weeds, but they have an important place in a turkey’s diet. Wild clover, sunflowers, milkweed, and ferns fall into the forb category and are a popular food source for many game animals, including turkey. Merriam’s and Rios of the West often seek out alfalfa, sweet clover, sunflower, and vetch.
Invertebrates “Insects are critical to turkeys, both for adults and poults. Newly hatched poults eat only insects for the first few weeks of life, so abundant insects are critical to broods. Likewise, adults obtain protein and water from insects they consume throughout spring and summer,” Dr. Chamberlain said.
Obviously, insect and invertebrate availability will vary from region to region, but one thing is certain, wild turkeys are opportunistic and can eat just about anything that crawls past their beak. Dragonflies, grasshoppers, caterpillars, snails, beetles, worms, and salamanders are all fair game.
“Oddly enough, I once watched a hen stand over a mud hole that was loaded with tadpoles and literally ate so many that her crop was distended with them. I’m not sure you could have crammed another tadpole in that bird’s throat,” Dr. Chamberlain concluded. “Similarly, I’ve also watched several toms wading in shallow water, catching crayfish. They’d duck their heads into the water just like an egret.”
Do Turkeys Eat Sunflower Seeds? A Comprehensive Guide For Turkey Owners
Sunflower seeds are a common treat given to many backyard birds, and for good reason. These nutrient-dense seeds pack a punch when it comes to healthy fats, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. But what about turkeys – can our larger feathered friends enjoy sunflower seeds as well?
The short answer is yes, turkeys can and do eat sunflower seeds. In fact, sunflower seeds can be an excellent addition to a balanced turkey diet when fed properly. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about feeding sunflowers seeds to turkeys.
Can Turkeys Eat Sunflower Seeds?
Wild, domestic and even baby turkeys are all able to eat sunflower seeds without issue. Sunflower seeds are a natural part of the diet for wild turkeys. Domestic turkeys will also readily eat them when offered.
Sunflower seeds are safe for turkeys to consume because:
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Turkeys are omnivores, meaning they can eat both plant and animal matter. Sunflower seeds fall into the plant category.
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Sunflower seeds provide healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals turkeys need.
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The nutty, crunchy texture of sunflower seeds is attractive to turkeys.
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The shells are soft enough that turkeys can break them open and access the seed inside.
So by nature of their omnivorous tendencies, turkeys are definitely able to eat sunflower seeds. But just because they can doesn’t necessarily mean they should eat lots of them. Read on for some guidelines on feeding sunflower seeds to turkeys.
Nutritional Benefits of Sunflower Seeds for Turkeys
Sunflower seeds provide a boost of valuable nutrition for turkeys. Here’s an overview of some of the main nutrients found in sunflower seeds and how they benefit turkeys:
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Protein – Turkey poults need up to 28% protein in their diet for proper growth and development. The protein in sunflower seeds supports muscle growth and feather development.
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Healthy fats – The polyunsaturated fats in sunflower seeds provide a concentrated source of energy. These fats also aid vitamin absorption and keep skin and feathers in top condition.
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Fiber – Fiber promotes healthy digestion and prevents digestive upsets. The insoluble fiber in sunflower seed shells can aid gizzard function as well.
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Vitamin E – An important antioxidant for immune health. Also supports reproduction and growth in young turkeys.
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B vitamins – Critical for energy production, nerve function and more. Specifically, sunflower seeds contain vitamin B6 which benefits antibody production.
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Minerals like magnesium, phosphorous, iron, zinc, copper and selenium – These minerals contribute to bone health, enzyme function, oxygen transport and much more.
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Phytochemicals like chlorogenic acid – These beneficial plant compounds have antioxidant effects that can boost overall health.
As you can see, sunflower seeds check a lot of boxes when it comes to nutrition for turkeys. In moderation, they can provide some great health benefits.
How Much Sunflower Seeds Should Turkeys Eat?
Sunflower seeds should be fed in limited quantities to turkeys. A general rule of thumb is to feed no more than 1-2 ounces of sunflower seeds per turkey per day. Larger breeds like standard bronzes can handle slightly more.
Here are some key reasons to limit sunflower seed intake for turkeys:
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They are high in fat – Too much fat from sunflower seeds could lead to obesity and related health issues.
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The phosphorus to calcium ratio is not ideal – Excess phosphorus can deplete calcium stores in the body when fed long-term.
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Their small size poses a potential choking risk – Shell fragments could become lodged in the crop or digestive tract.
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They lack complete nutrition – Sunflower seeds do not provide a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals by themselves. They should be part of a varied diet.
To keep your turkeys healthy, sunflower seeds should always be limited to a supplemental treat. Make sure turkeys have free access to a complete turkey feed and plenty of fresh water as their dietary staples.
Ways To Feed Sunflower Seeds To Turkeys
If you want to share the joy of sunflower seeds with your turkeys, here are some methods to consider:
Scatter seeds on the ground – Scattering a handful of seeds on the ground allows turkeys to forage and pick them up naturally. Just be sure to limit the amount and sweep up leftovers so they don’t spoil.
Mix into feed – Stirring a tablespoon or two of sunflower seeds into the normal turkey feed rations adds variety.
Offer seeds in a treat ball – Special foraging toys with sunflower seeds inside provide enrichment. Turkeys have to roll and toss the balls around to release treats.
Provide dried sunflower seed heads – Hanging up dried sunflower seed heads offers fun, long-lasting foraging opportunities as the turkeys pick away the seeds.
Chop/grind seeds – Chopped or ground sunflower seeds can be mixed into mashes, moist feeds or sprinkled on top for diversity. Helps reduce choking risk.
Sprout seeds – Sprouted sunflower seeds offer more nutrition as the sprouting process increases vitamin content. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly and refrigerate to prevent spoilage.
When introducing sunflower seeds, start slowly with small amounts to observe how your flock responds. Make sure all turkeys are getting a chance to enjoy the seeds, not just the dominant ones. Free-choice sunflower seeds in excessive amounts can lead to obesity and nutrition imbalances, so controlled treats are healthiest.
Can Turkeys Eat Other Types of Birdseed?
In addition to sunflower seeds, turkeys can eat small amounts of other common birdseeds like:
- Safflower seeds
- Millet
- Cracked corn
- Oats (sparingly, high in carbohydrates)
- Buckwheat
- Wheat berries
A mixed birdseed blend with sunflower seeds, millet, safflower and corn offers variety. But again, turkeys should not get the bulk of their nutrition from these small birdseeds which lack adequate protein, vitamins and minerals for proper turkey health. Large amounts could lead to weight gain and malnutrition.
Seeds to avoid giving turkeys include flax seed (possible cyanide risk) and raw dry beans or peas which contain hemagglutinin toxins if uncooked.
Can Turkeys Eat Sunflowers?
Beyond just the seeds, turkeys can eat other parts of the sunflower plant occasionally. Some examples include:
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Sunflower greens – The shoots, stems and leaves are edible. Contain nutrients like vitamin C and calcium. Can be bitter.
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Sunflower heads – Turkeys may pick at mature flower heads to reach the seeds.
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Dried sunflower stalks/stems – Provide fiber but limited nutrition. Safe for foraging/boredom breakers.
Avoid letting turkeys access unknown sunflowers that could have been treated with insecticides or other chemicals. For the most part, the sunflower seeds themselves are by far the most useful part of the plant for turkeys to eat.
In Conclusion
To wrap things up – yes, turkeys can and do enjoy eating sunflower seeds in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Sunflower seeds offer a nutritioustreat for pet turkeys and have a place in a healthy turkey diet when fed properly. Just be sure to limit the quantity, and always provide complete turkey feed and fresh water as the dietary foundation. Then feel free to let your turkeys enjoy some sunflower seed treats for supplemental nutrition and enrichment. Your flock will be happy, healthy and ready to gobble up those sunny seeds.
Wild turkeys eating sunflower seeds with Nancy Today
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