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Keep them clean and dry. Pine shavings or rice hulls make good bedding. Never brood them on slick surfaces like newspaper. Never give a turkey poult cold water – cold water can be deadly to turkey poults.
Are baby turkeys hard to raise?
Turkeys are not that hard to raise, but they differ a bit from chickens in terms of what they need, and raising them from poults (baby turkeys) is more time- and energy-intensive than raising chickens from baby chicks.
How long do baby turkeys need heat lamp?
This should be placed at chick level in the brooder. 95 degrees is the ideal brooder temperature for the first week of the poults’ lives. After the first week, you can decrease the brooder temperature by 5 degrees each week until they are fully feathered (6-7 weeks).
What do I need to know about baby turkeys?
When Turkey Chicks Grow Up As we have covered, turkey chicks have different nutritional, environmental, and health needs than adult turkeys. The younger the chicks, the more protection, heat, and protein (amino acids) they need. As they grow, their downy fuzz will become feathers at about 5-6 weeks.
Do baby turkeys need medicated feed?
Turkeys may be started in much the same way that we recommend you start baby chicks. Start them on a medicated 28% Turkey Starter for the first 8 weeks. If you are unable to find “turkey feeds”, start and grow your poults on a 20-22% Chick Starter (medicated) for the first 12 weeks.
Can you let turkeys free range?
It’s like free-ranging chickens. The free-ranging can give the birds access to natural vitamins and nutrients they need. But it isn’t enough to sustain them properly. Make sure you give your turkeys grain and grit along with their free ranging.
At what age can turkeys free range?
Depending on the weather, you can move them to a shelter or an outbuilding when they are 2-3 weeks old. We use those giant cardboard watermelon bins from the grocery store as a large corral for the second stage of raising the turkeys.
Do baby turkeys need light at night?
Once your Young turkeys have feathers be sure to keep a light on them at night just in case. This will ensure that they will not get cold, they may not need the light but let them decide. As above always make sure that they have enough room to move away from the heat if it is too much.
At what age can turkey poults go outside?
Make sure they are fully feathered and at least eight weeks old before moving poults to their new outdoor housing. You can give them access to outdoors but still provide the lamp at night for a week or two, and then finally move them to their new, grown-up turkey roosts and pen.
When can turkey poults go off heat?
Poults often remain in a brooder until they are fully feathered, roughly six to eight weeks of life, potentially longer depending on the weather. During the time in the brooder, it is imperative to provide adequate space to ensure livability without hindering the growth of the birds.
Do baby turkeys like to be held?
Turkeys are social animals and will become very attached to their people! However, most turkeys are generally docile, making them a good animal to be around children. Our turkey loves kids and she is usually the star of our farm with young visitors! She will sit down gently beside them and let them pet her for hours!Apr 16, 2020.
Do baby turkeys sleep a lot?
Chicks and ducklings can be somewhat active. Turkey poults are the opposite. They will sleep for the majority of the day, but when they’re awake, they’re lively.
What do baby wild turkeys eat?
Baby turkeys need to eat turkey/gamebird starter mash or crumbles, a blend specially formulated for their growth and development. Layer or breeder mash, crumbles, or pellets should never be fed to poults, not even as an emergency ration.
What should you not feed turkeys?
Things That Are Toxic To Turkeys Blue-Green Algae. Botulism. Cantharidiasis (Blister Beetle Poisoning) Cedar. Hardware Disease. Lead Toxicity. Mycotoxins. Pesticides, Herbicides, And Rodenticides.
How do you introduce a turkey to a baby?
If going with a pureed approach, simply cook the turkey and puree it with some rice and veggies. When babies develop more hand control, they can start eating finger foods. Offer pea-sized pieces of soft foods like ground turkey and cooked veggies.
Can turkey poults eat medicated chick feed?
COCCIDIOSIS: Young turkey poults seem more susceptible to coccidiosis than chickens and should be raised in a coop with hardware cloth flooring until they are 8-12 weeks old. Medicated chick/game bird starter feed is recommended.
What do you do with an abandoned baby turkey?
What to do with abandoned baby animals is always a tough call. We know that if a baby bird is found away from the nest it is best to leave it for the mother bird to deal with. What about turkeys? If you find a turkey nest it should be left alone, giving the mother a chance to continue to brood the chicks.
Can turkey poults eat chick starter?
Use a chick starter or game bird starter for turkey poults. Protein should be at least 28 percent for this starter, and you can feed it for the first eight weeks. It should have at least 20 percent protein (higher than that required for chickens).
Do turkeys abandon their babies?
During the first 4 weeks of life, baby turkeys, called poults, are unable to fly and rely on their mother for protection. Hens hiss and ruffle their feathers to scare away predators and will only abandon the nest as a last resort.
