3 dead babies

[KatyTheChickenLady]

aghhhhhhh . . . I have the standard poultry waterers in the back of the pens for the babies, but buckets up front for the adults (they seem to prefer them). Three floating babies in one bucket this afternoon. DANG!

these hens don't seem to be very good moms. My plan was to have a few turkeys, let them breed and raise them naturally for me - easy peasy. Heck I'm afraid to even let them out of the brooder run because I suspect the hens will loose them, the babies don't seem as attatched to the moms as with chickens.

I guess we'll see what the week brings, no more buckets!

 

[Lagerdogger]

Ouch. But a good tip for the rest of us. L have a hen with seven poults running around in a field with a tom, and the toms water bucket is still out there. I'm going to go get it right now!

 

[eggbuster]

I dont' think poults are as attached to mom as chicks, either. My BBW has 10 and while she is Godzilla clumping around, the little road runners are all over the place getting lost.(free ranging) they never seem to know where or what mom is up to. She calls them and they ignore her; the little brats.

Today we got hit my a surprise thunder storm and I do mean surprise. Clear and sunny then boom, major storm. huge wind, lots of hard rain. All the other various birds made a bee line for the barn, even the geese and ducks, but Fat Mamma (40 lbs) has 10 poults without a hope in h$ll of making it to shelter. She went to the nearest bump in the ground and hunkered down. She stayed out in that storm with 10 poults under her with the flood waters rising. She stayed there until the rain stopped and most of the puddles drained away and then somehow got most of the little boogers back to the barn. 3 were still out puddle jumping when I was finally able to get to them. (one week old). She was one ragged, wet, miserable looking turkey, but she did her job. Just wish the poults would make a little more effort to get with the program.

 

[Arielle]

Sorry about the floaters--a dreadful sight, I sure; must be like how I feel when I dee mice in a water bucket. Thanks for the heads up for the rest of us!

Glad to hear of a momma BBW can still do her job! I was hoping to keep 2 of my girls this year and not sent them all to freezer camp. 40#??? That's hefty girl. Good momma!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

yep one hen got out today promptly lost all her poults, screams and runs away when I bring her one, steps on all the others at the same time - I'm pulling them tomorrow, whats left of them

 

[E-AK(TM)]

I have a small pan for my adult hen, I think i should remove it. I can't afford to lose 3 poults.. cuz i only have 3.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

do it!

this is my year for drownings. Earlier in spring I go the bright idea to put warm water in my chicks waterers (it was a cold day), you know the quart jar size waterers with the tiny little drinking trays in 15 minutes I lost 10 week old meatie chicks who decided to use it AS a hot tub and drowned themselves in that tiny little red tray! 10 IN ONE LITTLE RED TRAY!!!

NO WARM WATER FOR BIRDS!!!

NO BUCKETS NEAR BABY BIRDS!!!