Ducklings & Poults?

[Maranera]

A friend of mine has 4 ducklings and 1 poult (the only ones that hatched) in a brooder together as the turkey panics when taken away from the ducklings. Are there any health concerns my friend should be aware of?

 

[Bantambird]

Not sure about the ducklings, but poults can be very fragile when first hatched. Cold, hot, wet, and drafts can do in poults, and they are very social creatures and can die from loneliness (by refusing to eat). If you need to find it another friend, a chick is a good friend. Poults aren't very bright and can end up hurting or killing themselves, and many of us have found that "guide chicks" can help teach poults not to kill themselves and provide them with good company. Turkey poults are more reliant on their mothers than chicks are if raised by broodies.

 

[lastco]

Turkeys poults tend to be a bit finicky, according to most of the information out there. I know people have successfully raised them with chickens (never heard of mixing them with ducks though).

I didn't even try it. Everything I read said that poults have delicate immune systems. I got 4 poults last year from a friend. Out of the 12 that they sold to various people, my 4 were the only ones to make it. Well, they made it to Thanksgiving! Lol. My friend knew all the folks that got them, and she confirmed that they were all keeping them with other poultry. I kept mine separate from my other birds. I can't be certain if that was the key to my success, but it was an interesting observation.

The fact that it's a single poult is a concern. It certainly won't be happy alone. Can they get another one?

 

[chickens really]

Turkey Babies need at the least Chicks to teach it the ropes...Its not going to do well with Ducks at all...If it even survives...Ducklings need water to duck their heads to keep nares clean..

 

[Old Philosopher]

Sorry...dumb question. My Muscovy hen is about to hatch a clutch. What is the best way to insure the new ducklings get water to drink? My duck water dispenser is too high for them to reach as newborns.

 

[chickens really]

Sorry...dumb question. My Muscovy hen is about to hatch a clutch. What is the best way to insure the new ducklings get water to drink? My duck water dispenser is too high for them to reach as newborns.

Use shallow containers....

 

[Old Philosopher]

Use shallow containers....

Duh....
I think I have an old Frisbee laying around somewhere....