A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[duluthralphie]

Turkeys surley aren't as dumb as ducks are they?
If I have a duckling that hasn't started eating yet and I think it needs to, I kind of show it the food and water by tapping at it with my finger. I also don't use any bedding for the first couple days just puppy pads. They usually go after food that I fling out on the floor of the brooder.
Once I get its attention then I tap my finger back and forth between the water and the food and I can usually get it to nibble a bite of food from my finger.

This is how devil dux start out. First they nibble a finger, next an arm and before you know it we have Jeffery Dalmer dux trying to take over the world.

 

[SarahGfa]

I have room for well over 16 grown turkeys..

If you’re concerned they will starve, just put them on newspaper, laid flat, then sprinkle feed on it. They will find it. Even if they are alone.

when my friend's poults (now MY poults) weren't eating, we tried that and everything else. The poults ran into a corner and starved to death.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-refuse-to-eat-can-i-force-feed-them.1463841/

 

[duluthralphie]

when my friend's poults (now MY poults) weren't eating, we tried that and everything else. The poults ran into a corner and starved to death.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-refuse-to-eat-can-i-force-feed-them.1463841/

We’re you handling the poults?

Poults are not pets and do best when left alone.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

when my friend's poults (now MY poults) weren't eating, we tried that and everything else. The poults ran into a corner and starved to death.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-refuse-to-eat-can-i-force-feed-them.1463841/

I just replied there. Sorry they both passed away.
I would be inclined to think something may have been wrong with them to begin with.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

We’re you handling the poults?

Poults are not pets and do best when left alone.

Are too pets!
Just not pets you can "pet" a lot.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Also ..
Don't all birds need some grit if they are going to be eating things like scrambled eggs and stuff?
I sometimes wonder if this becomes a problem.
People notice they aren't eating so they try to give them all kinds of stuff besides normal feed to get them to eat and perhaps that complicates things?

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Also ..
Don't all birds need some grit if they are going to be eating things like scrambled eggs and stuff?
I sometimes wonder if this becomes a problem.
People notice they aren't eating so they try to give them all kinds of stuff besides normal feed to get them to eat and perhaps that complicates things?

That wasn't a rhetorical question.
I have always just been under the assumption that they need the grit if they're eating anything besides feed.
Does anyone know if that is fact?

 

[SarahGfa]

I just replied there. Sorry they both passed away.
I would be inclined to think something may have been wrong with them to begin with.

Thank you. there are 3 poults left and I think they will be OK. I don't know what went on before they came to my house. Maybe it was the trauma of shipping, then being at the feed store, then going to one home, and then another. honestly I would be stressed out and refusing to eat too.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Thank you. there are 3 poults left and I think they will be OK. I don't know what went on before they came to my house. Maybe it was the trauma of shipping, then being at the feed store, then going to one home, and then another. honestly I would be stressed out and refusing to eat too.

Yep. I'd say the stress factor could have had a lot to do with it.

 

[SarahGfa]

That wasn't a rhetorical question.
I have always just been under the assumption that they need the grit if they're eating anything besides feed.
Does anyone know if that is fact?

stuff like scrambled eggs can be eaten by human babies with no teeth, so I assume birds can eat it without grit. i think it is the tough, fibrous stuff (like grass) that might need grit.