Breeding stock so managed during the summer respond economically to a fattening diet offered in the fall. Beginning about 4 weeks before they are to be marketed, usually early in October, the birds may be offered all they will eat daily of the grain mixture. Within 4 weeks they will acquire a fine finish and make a gain in weight of 21/2 pounds or more per hen and 4 pounds or more per tom. About 53/4 pounds of grain per pound of gain is required for the 4-week fattening period. A little better finish is acquired in 6 weeks; but the grade is not improved, and the gains are more expensive. Breeding stock that are to be kept over should be held in the range lots as long as possible and should also be fed liberally in the fall, in order to put them in good condition for the winter.
Later in the fall and through the winter the rations for breeders, especially young breeders, may be the same as the growing rations normally fed to young stock. Scratch grain and a simple mash, such as that suggested for growing poults, make a good feed for carrying the breeders through the winter, since they meet the demands of the birds for continued growth or for maintenance. If the climate is such that green feed and sunshine are not available, as in the Northern States, add 5 percent of alfalfa-leaf meal and 1 percent of cod-liver oil to the mash. The birds should have all the mash and scratch they will eat during the fall and winter. Breeders will not become too fat if fed in accordance with this method. They will be fat, but this is desirable if heavy egg production is expected.
For the production of large numbers of hatchable eggs turkeys require a ration containing the various nutrients and vitamins. Good results can be obtained with a simple laying ration, such as laying mixture No. 1, if the birds get an abundance of fresh green feed and have range. When ground oats or ground barley is included in any mixture it should be finely ground. Alfalfa leaf meal should be bright green in color. The cod-liver oil should be a standard good-quality product, or the equivalent in fortified cod-liver oil may be used if thoroughly mixed.
Laying Mixture No. 1
| MASH | Parts by weight | SCRATCH |
| Yellow corn or barley (ground) | 20 | Mixture of equal parts of yellow corn, wheat, and heavy oats. (Grain sorghum may be used in place of the corn.) |
| Wheat middlings or ground wheat | 15 | |
| Oats or barley (ground) | 20 | |
| Meat scrap (50- to 55-percent protein) | 10 | |
| Fish meal (60- to 70-percent protein) | 10 | |
| Wheat bran | 12 | |
| Ground oystershell or limestone | 7 | |
| Dried milk | 5 | |
| Salt (fine, sifted) | 1 | |
| Total | 100 |
Laying mash should be kept before the birds at all times beginning about a month before eggs are expected. Scratch mixture should be fed in troughs, at the rate of one-fifth of a pound per day per bird, so that the consumption during laying will be about equal parts of the mash and scratch. The birds must have access to growing green feed, direct sunshine, and water.
If the birds cannot obtain fresh succulent green feed and direct sunshine in abundance, as in the case of those kept in confinement or in cold climates, the ration must be more inclusive. Such a ration may be compounded as follows:
Laying Mixture No. 2
| MASH | Parts by weight | SCRATCH | Parts by weight | |
| Yellow corn or barley (ground) | 26 | Yellow corn or grain sorghum | 40 | |
| Wheat middlings or ground wheat | 20 | Heavy oats | 37 | 1/2 |
| Wheat bran | 12 | Wheat | 20 | |
| Alfalfa leaf meal | 10 | Cod-liver oil | 2 | 1/2 |
| Meat scrap (50- to 55-percent protein) | 8 | Total | 100 | |
| Dried milk | 8 | |||
| Fish meal (60- to 70-percent protein) | 8 | |||
| Ground oystershell or limestone | 7 | |||
| Salt (fine, sifted) | 1 | |||
| Total | 100 | |||