2 week old baby turkeys dying

[OHhappychicks]

I personally don't have turkeys, but friends of mine ordered 15 turkeys from a well known hatcherie. He only has 4 left. He said just this week,at 2 weeks old, he goes out in the morning and they are under their lite and look like they are sleeping, but they aren't. They are dead! He called the hatcherie and all they told him is that he might need a vet. They haven't been acting at all sick. They are fine when he checks on them the nite before. It's just like they laid down to sleep and never woke up. Has anyone had this experience before or knows what it could possibly be? I told him I would ask on BYC that someone would no doubt know something. They have raised turkeys in the past and didn't have this problem. They have checked everything. Everything was cleaned when they got them.

 

[dab045]

Oh dear I am so sorry to hear this. Now I only have two 6 week old turkeys but did lose one when he was two weeks old or so, but I wonder if the food that they ate is different from what they ate when they started at hatchery and wood shavings? sometimes they get confused maybe and eat that and isnt good? I am not sure and feel bad that I cant help. I hope someone gets on here and helps you.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thank you dab045. I do hope someone can help.

 

[thndrdancr]

Are they turkey poults? as in babies?

You have to absolutely make sure they are eating to the point of showing and watching to make SURE they eat. They are rather simple at first in that they wont eat without being shown how, thats why some folks throw a young chick that knows how to eat or two in with them to begin with. Makes it a LOT easier, chicks figure it out quick. Turkey poults..not so quick.

I am betting if he is new to them, that is the prob.

 

[OHhappychicks]

thank you thndrdancr. i will ask him tomorrow.

 

[k625]

I picked up my 2 turkeys from the feed store who ordered them from a well known hatchery as well on Thursday, immediately after I got the 2 most healthy looking ones home, one started going down hill, the next day I started them on Duramycin from Tractor supply, really seems to be helping a lot! Make sure they are getting plenty of water and eating! Put something shiny in the water

it attracts them! Hope they get better!

 

[Plain_View_Farm]

If they are dying while laying directly under the light is your friend monitoring the temperature? At 2 weeks old the temperature directly under the light should be around 85 degrees at the Poults back. And then with enough room they can get away from the heat to a cooler spot. I generally keep their food and water away form the heat source a little so their not under the heat all the time.

David

 

[longranger]

If a poult makes it to 2 weeks it has been eating and drinking so that is not the primary problem. Also if the heat source has not changed and they have room to move away from it that is not the primary problem. That leaves infections or eating something they should not be eating as the most likely causes. First thing to do is check the droppings for Cocci. Lethal infection is usually obvious by blood in the droppings. Is their bedding something unusual? Did they receive tainted feed?

If basic investigation does not turn up a cause the vet is an option but have your wallet open. My sympathies to your freind and hope the rest of the poults do well from here on.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thank you longranger

I will def pass on your info to him. I agree with you on the eating and heat issue. They wouldn't have made it so far if that were the prob.

 

[dragon86]

i agree with longranger my dad use to have turkeys and they would just drop over dead like they feel a sleep. he never did find out the real problem but figured it was blackhead or something since it happened everytime he tried to add them to his chickens even when the turkey was half grown. personally i have 4 turkerys and back in december on of them dead in about the same way ur friends r it just looked like it went to sleep and died but my was about a yr old. but enough rambling. if they r eating and drinking and its not the heat. then they have to be sick. so i was wondering what is he feeding them and r they close to adult chickens.