We’re not talking about our delicious Thanksgiving meal—we’re talking about the wild turkeys that are native to North America. If you live near a woodsy area, you might see these creatures foraging for food. Wild turkeys are omnivores known to eat almost anything. According to the DNR, they can eat more than 100 different food items! Wild turkeys love to chow down on insects and small reptiles. But insects are hard to contain if you want to feed wild turkeys yourself. During the wintertime, turkeys could use some help when looking for food. Here are the top five wild turkey foods that you can obtain:
Wild Turkey Food
Cracked Corn-Corn is chocked full of protein and fiber that makes a great wild turkey food. Cracked corn is simply corn that has been dried and broken into pieces. This process makes it easier for wild turkeys to digest. There is also little waste associated with cracked corn. You can purchase corn in bulk, making it relatively inexpensive and it can be kept around your home without spoiling. Since wild turkeys are a ground-feeding type, sprinkling cracked corn in an open area of dirt is a sufficient way to attract them.
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.
Nuts- Acorns are a chosen favorite for wild turkeys. But in the wintertime, acorns can become scarce. Beech and hickory nuts are a great alternative. Stay away from using feeders, though, as wild turkeys can become territorial. Planting bushes and trees that bear nuts is the best way to attract them to your home or property.
Crabapples- It’s likely that you’ve already seen crabapples growing in the nearby woods. Crabapples make great wild turkey food because they are easy to attain and inexpensive to grow.
Leaves- Now don’t go and attempt to feed wild turkeys a pile of leaves! Leaving piles of leaves, grit, and gravel attracts the types of small insects and reptiles that wild turkeys eat year round. Grasshoppers, spiders, snails, crickets and slugs are all delicious snacks for our wild friends—even small snakes and frogs. Providing a simple, natural ecosystem for insects and reptiles allows them to prosper.
A good guide to the amount of feed to put out is about two large handfuls of feed per turkey. Make sure to only put feed where you have seen wild turkeys foraging before. Spread feed out as wide as possible to ensure that every turkey has a chance to eat. Always remember to refrain from using pesticides as they can kill helpful insects and harm the wild turkeys.
Daily Family Farms
If you are interested in purchasing corn for wild turkeys or learning about wild turkey food, call Daily Family Farms at (812) 371-5644 or stop by our farm at 3727 N County Road 1050 E, Hope, IN 47246. We package, ship, and sell our various types of fresh corn right to you. Our corn comes in different sizes all the way up to 40-pound bulk cases, all at an affordable price for your home or property.
