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What Fruits Can Turkeys Eat?

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Turkeys are awesome birds that can give you meat, eggs, and even alert you of coming danger. As large wild birds, turkeys need a good nutrient mix to grow and reproduce.

Asides from their regular meal, you will want to give your turkeys some treats.

The best kinds of treats for turkeys and other birds are fruits. Fruits are not only delicious but also nutritious for them.

What kind of fruits can turkeys eat?

You might be surprised just how many different kinds of fruits turkeys can safely eat and enjoy.

We’ll take a close look at some of the top picks for fruit snacks for your turkeys as well as facts about feeding your birds and keeping them healthy.

Best Fruits to Give Turkeys

Watermelons

Sliced watermelon

Watermelons are not just sweet; they offer a lot of nutrients. No part of a watermelon is a waste because turkeys eat the flesh, rinds, and seeds.

You should slice or dice watermelons to your turkeys. Since they contain a lot of water, watermelons are great summer treats.

Apples

Do you love apples? Well, so do turkeys. Apples are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, fibers, and other nutrients.

Turkeys can eat apple whole, but you should be careful so they do not eat too many apple seeds. It is best to make a fruit salad with apples for your turkeys.

Pineapples

Pineapples are among the favorite fruits of turkeys. You can use pineapples to reward turkeys for coming back to their coop at night.

Just remember that to use a treat as a reward long term, you should use it sparingly so the animals do not get used to it.

Making pineapples a rare treat will teach the turkeys to value the snack more.

Grapes

Turkeys love grapes. Matured turkeys can eat grapes whole, but you should remove the seeds from grapes for baby turkeys.

Grapes contain a lot of moisture, sugars, and vitamins (among others) for your turkeys. Just do not give too many grapes to your turkeys.

Tomatoes

Top view of Red tomatoes

Turkeys will become happier if you give them a tomato-rich diet. You should mix tomatoes with other fruits when feeding your turkeys.

However, do not give tomato leaves or vines to turkeys because the tomato plant contains toxins that can harm your animals.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are watery fruits that almost everyone loves. Cucumbers make awesome summer treats for your turkeys.

They can eat cucumbers whole, sliced, and mixed with other fruits. Turkeys can also eat cucumber seeds, leaves, vines, and rinds.

Oranges

A basket of organic oranges

These citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C and make a healthy treats for your turkeys.

Even though you do not want to eat the seeds of oranges, your turkeys love to eat orange seeds. Turkeys may also eat orange peels, but they have to be clean and fresh.

Check the table below for the available nutrients found in fruits that your turkeys can eat:

Fruit (100 grams)Protein (g)Carbohydrates (g)Dietary Fiber (g)Vitamins (g)Minerals (mg)
Apples0.3142.4~7200>
Oranges0.9122.4~9200>
Pineapples0.5131.4~13110>
Cucumbers0.653.60.5~6150>
Watermelons0.680.415~112>

Other Treat Ideas for Your Turkeys

Cherry in the basket

Turkeys can eat a variety of other fruits including:

  • Pears
  • Plums
  • Cherries
  • Mangoes
  • Strawberries

Looking for treats other than fruits? Here are more ideas for your turkeys:

  • Grains
  • Vegetables
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Processed feed
  • Garden trimmings

Turkey Treat Questions and Answers

Can Turkeys Rely Solely on Fruits?

Fruits, though nutritious, are not full of proteins. To grow and reproduce, turkeys and other birds need protein. Proteins help birds (and generally every animal) to grow and repair tissues, reproduce, and other functions.

Since most fruits are not rich in protein, do not give just fruits to your turkeys.

For your additional information, you may check this article (what to feed a turkey) and this other article (what not to feed a turkey).

What Are Sources of Protein for Turkeys?

Fresh Fish on a Market

Awesome sources of proteins for turkeys are:

  • Fish
  • Grains
  • Insects
  • Mealworms
  • Processed feed (wild bird feed)

Processed feed contains all the nutrients that your turkey needs, so you can give your turkeys processed feed when other types of feed are not available.

Can Turkeys Eat Fruit Rinds and Peels?

In the wild, turkeys will forage for whatever they find edible. This includes leftover fruit peels and rinds.

You do not have to dispose of your waste fruits and their peels. Just make sure that they are clean then give them to your turkeys.

Can Turkeys Eat Fruit Seeds and Nuts?

Fruit seeds and nuts are usually safe snacks for turkeys. Some fruits with edible seeds for your turkeys are:

  • Grapes
  • Oranges
  • Pumpkins
  • Cucumbers
  • Watermelons

The seeds of some fruits contain cyanide and other toxins that can harm your turkeys. Do not give the seeds of the following fruits to your turkeys:

  • Pears
  • Apples
  • Peaches

As for nuts, they are rich in proteins and make a great treat for your turkeys. Examples include:

  • Peanuts
  • Walnuts
  • Almonds

Can Turkeys Eat Wild Fruits?

Male and Female Turkey in the field

As wild birds, turkeys can eat wild fruits. Their instincts can tell them which fruit is safe or not. When foraging for food, turkeys do eat some wild fruits.

To be safe, do not mix wild fruits with other fruits when feeding your turkeys. Your turkeys should select what they eat by themselves.

If you mix wild fruits in their fruit salad, your turkeys can eat a fruit that they might not have eaten.

What Are Other Great Sources of Vitamins and Minerals for Turkeys?

Fruits are wonderful sources of vitamins and minerals, but there are other ways to make sure your turkeys get the right nutritional balance.

Live meals contain vitamins and minerals. Processed feed for turkeys also consists of sufficient nutrients for your birds.

Do not use fruits as the only source of vitamins and minerals for sick turkeys or turkeys that have a nutrient deficiency. You should treat your turkeys by the recommendation of your vet.

Final Thoughts

Turkeys love fruits such as apples and grapes. You can treat your turkeys to fruits but remember to give them foods rich in proteins and other nutrients as well. If you run out of options, you can always use processed feed.

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