Domestic turkeys are omnivores because they feed on plants as well as on meat for their survival. Their diet contains different vegetables, insects, fruits, and much more. Although domestic turkeys are birds, they can’t fly. 

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

Domestic turkeys can be found in America, Europe, and Asia. The first wild turkey was domesticated 2000 years ago in southern Mexico. Domestic turkeys can be found on almost every farm in the world except Antarctica. Turkeys prefer to live in habitats such as in open, brushy grasslands, which are rich in forage. People usually keep them on farms for their meat.

The average size of a domestic turkey is about 46 inches in length. The average weight of a domestic turkey ranges from 7kg to 13kg. A domestic turkey can live for 10 to 12 years. 

Insects and animals

Domestic turkeys feed on a variety of insects and small animals. About 10% of a domestic turkey diet consists of insects because insects contain a large number of proteins. Domestic turkeys can eat beetles, ants, grasshoppers, snails, and slugs. Domestic turkeys will eat earthworms, mealworms, termites, and spiders. Domestic turkeys eat small rodents such as mice and rats. They also eat nematodes and ticks. An adult domestic turkey can eat up to 200 ticks. Domestic turkeys also eat bugs such as stink bugs. Occasionally, Domestic turkeys eat small reptiles such as lizards and snakes.

Fruits and vegetables

Domestic turkeys love to eat natural plants. Domestic turkeys can eat acorns, walnuts, and hickory nuts. Domestic turkeys also eat seeds such as bird seeds, corn, and suet. Domestic turkeys are likely to eat fruits such as berries, grapes, peaches, apples, and many other small fruits. Domestic turkeys can eat vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, carrot, potato, beetroot, and leaves of different plants. Sometimes domestic turkeys also eat popcorn and bread. 

Domestic turkeys can eat 64 pounds of feed per 16 weeks which means that they eat half a cup of feed per day.

What domestic turkeys don’t eat?

Domestic turkeys don’t eat small birds and their eggs because they are not predators.