Turkey poults

Date sort Score sort
DezzieDezzie

DezzieDezzie

Hatching
May 13, 2016
3
0
7
Please help! I found a wild baby turkey on its own so I took it in. I've been doing some research on how to care for it. But I still have several questions. Why would its mother leave it behind? Is there anything you cant give poults? How much would an incubator or something cost? Where can I find things for it? How can I keep it entertained? I really need help...
 
You don't need an incubator. You do need to provide heat for it, depending on how old/feathered it is. Look at the brooder threads to get ideas on what you can throw together.

The mothers don't necessarily intentionally leave them behind or abandon them; sometimes they just can't keep up and before you know it everyone is out of sight and they are lost.
 
SunHwaKwon said:
You don't need an incubator. You do need to provide heat for it, depending on how old/feathered it is. Look at the brooder threads to get ideas on what you can throw together.

The mothers don't necessarily intentionally leave them behind or abandon them; sometimes they just can't keep up and before you know it everyone is out of sight and they are lost.
Click to expand...
Thank you, that helps a lot. I forgot one thing, I can't find any laws on possession in Virginia. I looked for what felt like forever. I have no idea if it's legal to keep wild turkeys. I don't want to get fined or anything.
 
DezzieDezzie said:
Thank you, that helps a lot. I forgot one thing, I can't find any laws on possession in Virginia. I looked for what felt like forever. I have no idea if it's legal to keep wild turkeys. I don't want to get fined or anything.
Click to expand...


Call your Dept of Conservation...they would know. If it is illegal, they may know a licensed wildlife rehabber you could take it to.
 
I would not guess so, since breeders regularly sell eastern wild turkeys, no permit needed. I read on another thread that in some states you have to keep them penned so they don't breed with the wild population but that seemed to be the only requirement. However, the true legality issue is that you removed it from the wild, which I can understand as I was in the same situation with a Canada gosling last year.I treated her for four months (illegally) and then she took off to be with a resident flock a few blocks away. Sad, but it's the what you should hope for with your turkey. They are very social creatures and you really can't fill that void. I called her (him?) "Baby Goose" and I suggest you also not name the turkey and if you do end up keeping it, keep the mindset that it may need to rejoin the wild. I know heritage breeds like my blue slate and Spanish black become very attached to people; I don't know if that holds true for the eastern wild , especially one that truly has wild genes.
 
BTW Murray McMurray and Strombergs hatcheries say they cannot ship them to VA which is a red flag, but Pure Poultry says they can so I'm still not sure about legal possession!
 
Last edited:
Thanks, guys. You helped a lot. I'll look some more for the legal stuff just to be sure. It helps a lot.
 

Similar threads

RedDawg24
    • Like
Oops - Baby Chicks or Baby Turkey Poults ?
2 3 4
Replies
39
Views
4K
CHICKENX2005
C
ChickenScratchFeathers
6 day old turkey poult walking strangely, and may have impacted crop.
Replies
4
Views
224
ChickenScratchFeathers
ChickenScratchFeathers
M
New 4-week old turkey poults issue
Replies
6
Views
705
mo_fawaaz
M
C
    • Like
Raising livestock (chickens in this case)
Replies
1
Views
301
oldhenlikesdogs
oldhenlikesdogs
T
Marek’s and unvaccinated chicks
Replies
8
Views
1K
Stephine
S

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom