@casportpony is our online consultant for sick poultry. I never have the type of issue that you are referring to and if I did, I would cull it immediately. My flock stays very healthy. I may or may not treat for injuries but I do not treat for diseases.
When I did raise BBWs, I always had better luck by raising more at a time. In the later years I would always get at least 5 poults and would process the toms by the time they were 6 months old. I did keep some BBW hens around to entertain my Bourbon Red tom. He used to kill one every year because I did not know enough to keep him away from their nests.
the past 2 times I’ve started them in august/september I did 3 successfully the first year and 2 successfully even though i had a bit of trouble getting them to eat first few weeks. This time I got earlier start with 4!! I lost the first one in initial 24 hours and 2nd died in subaviary while DS was in charge of their care. this one was “weakest” but largest of the 3 and surprisingly survived to this point. I don’t think it is blackhead as I’ve never had any issues with it in the past.....I’m really leaning toward some type of hatch defect with legs that just didn’t show up as severe until he got this big
The more turkeys that I start at the same time, the easier it is to get them to eat. Unlike chicks, poults don't go straight to a feeder. What they do is peck at things on the ground. I live on a sand dune so sand is my choice for bedding. I just put a layer of sand down in the brooder and sprinkle turkey starter on top of it. They begin picking at the food on the sand almost immediately and find the feeder in a day or two.
Thanks so much!! Main difference in this set of poults I just realized is that I haven’t been giving them the Greek yougurt like the others to help offset any food deficiency
