Can Chickens Eat Turkey Meat? A Detailed Guide for Chicken Owners

As a chicken owner, you likely want to provide your flock with optimal nutrition. And around the holidays, when turkey is plentiful you may wonder if you can share some of those tasty leftovers with your chickens. After all chickens are omnivores that can eat a wide variety of foods. So can chickens eat turkey meat?

The short answer is yes, chickens can safely eat turkey meat in moderation. Turkey provides valuable protein, vitamins and minerals that can benefit chicken health and nutrition. However, there are some risks to be aware of and best practices to follow when feeding turkey to chickens.

In this detailed guide, we’ll cover the nutritional benefits of turkey for chickens, potential downsides to be aware of, and best practices for incorporating turkey meat into your flock’s diet.

Nutritional Benefits of Turkey for Chickens

Turkey can be a nutritious supplement for chickens thanks to its stellar nutritional profile. Here’s an overview of some of the key nutrients turkey provides:

• High-Quality Protein Turkey is an excellent source of complete, lean protein 100g of roasted turkey breast contains around 29g of protein [1] Protein provides essential amino acids needed by chickens for growth, development, egg production and feathering.

• B Vitamins: Turkey contains a variety of B vitamins including vitamin B6, niacin, pantothenic acid and folate [1]. These aid in metabolism, nerve function and red blood cell production in chickens.

• Minerals: Turkey provides phosphorus for bone health, selenium for antioxidant protection, and zinc for feather integrity [1].

So in moderation, turkey can provide valuable nutrition as an occasional supplement to a balanced chicken diet. The high protein content in particular makes it a nutritious protein source.

Potential Downsides of Feeding chickens Turkey

While turkey can provide benefits, there are some potential risks poultry owners should be aware of:

• Disease Transmission: Chickens and turkeys can transmit certain infectious diseases to each other such as avian influenza, blackhead disease, and fowl typhoid [2]. Raw or undercooked turkey poses the highest risk.

• Nutritional Imbalances: While nutritious, turkey should not become a primary ingredient in a chicken’s diet. Too much can lead to deficiencies long-term.

• Weight Gain: Turkey is higher in fat and protein than chicken. Overdoing it can lead to excessive weight gain in chickens.

• Digestive Upset: Introducing new foods like turkey too quickly may cause loose droppings or diarrhea. Changes should be gradual.

However, when fed properly and in moderation, the risks are low. Let’s look at some best practices to follow.

Best Practices for Feeding Chickens Turkey Meat

When sharing holiday turkey or providing it as an occasional treat, here are some tips:

• Cook turkey thoroughly to 165°F internal temperature to kill any pathogens present. Avoid raw or undercooked turkey.

• Introduce turkey slowly and in small amounts at first to monitor reactions. Watch for signs of digestive upset.

• Limit turkey to no more than 10% of total diet as per recommendations from poultry experts [3].

• Mix a few ounces of chopped turkey into feed instead of offering alone to prevent overeating.

• Feed turkey meat no more than 1-2 times per week to prevent nutritional imbalances.

• Remove skin, fat and seasonings. Stick to plain cooked turkey meat.

• Refrigerate promptly. Don’t leave turkey out for extended periods.

Following these best practices will allow chicken owners to safely incorporate turkey as a supplemental protein source. In moderation, it can provide additional nutrition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can chickens eat raw turkey?

Raw turkey should never be fed to chickens due to the risk of transmitting salmonella, campylobacter, and other pathogens. Always cook turkey thoroughly before feeding to chickens.

Can chickens eat turkey bones?

Turkey bones can splinter and pose a choking hazard or internal puncture risk to chickens. For safety, remove all bones before feeding turkey meat.

Can chickens eat turkey organ meats?

Yes, chicken’s can eat turkey organ meats like hearts and livers in moderation. They provide beneficial nutrients. But overdoing organ meats can lead to vitamin A toxicity, so feed as an occasional treat.

Can chickens eat turkey skin?

While chickens can eat turkey skin, the high fat and seasoning content is unhealthy. For balanced nutrition, remove the skin before feeding cooked turkey meat.

Can chickens eat turkey eggs?

It’s not recommended to feed chickens turkey eggs, as it poses a high risk of disease transmission between the two species. Only feed chickens normal chicken eggs.

Conclusion

References

[1] USDA FoodData Central. Turkey, meat, whole, roasted, breast meat only. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171479/nutrients

[2] The Poultry Site. Is it Safe to Keep Chickens and Turkeys Together? https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/is-it-safe-to-keep-chickens-and-turkeys-together

[3] UC Davis Veterinary Medicine. Feeding Chickens. https://vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk491/files/inline-files/Banfield-Hospital-Chicken-Care-2014_0.pdf