A little help here please!

[bycjohn]

I'm an avid hobbyist of backyard poultry - chickens & turkeys raised in two different coops in my backyard.

I kept 4 of my turkey eggs under a brooding hen & got 4 turkey babies. They were growing along fine in a separate cage for about 1.5 months, when suddenly one after another just tumbled on their backs and died kicking their legs in the air, in subsequent days.
Prior to this, they were normal healthy chicks running about, eating & drinking as usual.
The hen I kept it under is an excellent mother as it teaches the young ones under her care how to dig around for food & all other stuff like being safe from predators etc so I don't know what gives!

Having had such bad luck, I've again gone ahead with another 4 eggs this time under the same hen yesterday.

So any help here on what could be the problem or how to make sure such things do not happen or how to take care of baby turkeys under such circumstances, would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[ChickNanny13]

I don't know turkeys but you may want to repost in the Emergencies, Illness, Disease & Cures forum ... Should get better response.

 

[Drake Wrangler]

Not sure if there is already another thread but a good detail to include is how did their droppings look. If its been too long to know or don't remember then a good general precaution will be to thoroughly sanitize the area you plan to put the new poults come next month. Also good to include detail of any medicine they were in-taking.

*edit: I am also sorry that they have been lost and wish you luck for the next batch.

 

[bycjohn]

Not sure if there is already another thread but a good detail to include is how did their droppings look. If its been too long to know or don't remember then a good general precaution will be to thoroughly sanitize the area you plan to put the new poults come next month. Also good to include detail of any medicine they were in-taking.

*edit: I am also sorry that they have been lost and wish you luck for the next batch.

Thanks for your response DrakeWrangler, however its been a few months now & I don't really remember how the droppings looked.
I did not give them any medicines - what medicines should be given to new poults?

 

[Drake Wrangler]

I am wondering if the disease coccidiosis may have breed in their living area. Where I am, the wild turkeys spread it through their droppings and why I haven't let my peacocks out to roam. The signs are fluffing up and listlessness, foamy diarrhea and eventually blood in it. After the bloody droppings, it can move to other birds and takes a little under a week to kill the poor things. It effects turkeys more than chickens, especially younger ones.
There are many different medications from the feed stores in different places. Here there is a Duramycin-10(tetracycline hydrochloride soluble powder) which is an antibiotic for if the disease strikes hard and some bigger farms probably use it or similar until birds are 3 months old. Most here probably wouldn't suggest it as it is not natural though I keep it for emergencies and short use like 3 days of doses and it goes a long way just a couple teaspoons in 10 gallons.
I would suggest what I have read in many places is to use a natural preventative from one day old, which is raw organic apple cider vinegar at 2 tablespoons per gallon of water to strengthen their immune systems. A lot of folks also use it as a medicine if the disease does pop up and they haven't been using the ACV until then.
But there are also a few more precautions to take such as removing old litter and raising the water so it can't be pooped in. Dusting feed with diatomaceous earth and garlic. Giving them plenty of space like 5 ft sq each and not putting them where adult poultry has been in half a year.
Hope it helps and that the culprit is truly identified and stopped. I don't know if there are other items that would take them out so quickly other than eating a toxic plant, or animal that crawled into the area. Those possibilities usually don't take them all out one by one.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

Sounds like coccidia, for some reason turkeys in my raising experience are soooo susceptible to this so I'm more diligent and right on top of it if I see any signs
I'm sorry for your losses hun

 

[Eggsoteric]

What have you been feeding them?

 

[bycjohn]

I am wondering if the disease coccidiosis may have breed in their living area. Where I am, the wild turkeys spread it through their droppings and why I haven't let my peacocks out to roam. The signs are fluffing up and listlessness, foamy diarrhea and eventually blood in it. After the bloody droppings, it can move to other birds and takes a little under a week to kill the poor things. It effects turkeys more than chickens, especially younger ones.

I don't think it is Coccidiosis because, I was reading through what it is and the symptoms do not match.
1.The poults were not lethargic or exhibit any listlessness and were eating & drinking well and did not show any outward signs.
2.The cage was freshly made and filled up with fresh earth so no chance of any old droppings.
3. The way they died was just abruptly fall down on their backs & writhe their legs up in the air.
Thanks for the suggestions on the medications and precautionary methods - I've not done it earlier, I'll do it with the next batch.
There was no toxic plant in the area & no chance of animal/reptile to get into the cage - because of the mesh.

What have you been feeding them?

I fed them chicken starter feed with added protein & some supplemental grains like sorghum & pearl millet.

 

[casportpony]

I fed them chicken starter feed with added protein & some supplemental grains like sorghum & pearl millet.

Poults need a high protein *turkey* starter because they need different amounts of vitamins and minerals.

 

[bycjohn]

Poults need a high protein *turkey* starter because they need different amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Yes I concur, however I don't get Turkey feed where I live so I've used chicken feed with added protein + supplements. This is the diet I fed the first turkeys I raised from 1 month old, who are healthy adults now (who's eggs & poults we're discussing about now)