eggs in the incubator need advice

[laseterlass]

I have raised several brooders full of coturnix quail. BUT my understanding is turkey poults are a bit more delicate. I am getting the impression alot of the problems are nutrition related. I already know they need chicken chicks as teachers. I give all hatchlings probiotics and electrolytes for at least the first month. And feed a 25% protien gamebird starter. Anything Turkeys need other than this?

 

[Lagerdogger]

Turkeys don't need the chick teacher. They really do quite well on their own. I think this myth has grown because you hardly ever see a turkey eat, but if you start playing with the food, they respond by eating. I think they just casually pick at food here and there all day long. As a result, people think the turkeys are not eating, when they are actually doing fine.

MOST of the time, you raise them just like any other bird. Regulate the heat, provide food and water, and voila, in a few months you have turkeys. There are some disaster stories of people losing high proportions of their flocks. I am not a disease expert, but apparently they have relatively weak immune systems for the first six weeks or so. It seems to be important to limit their exposure to other birds at this time. Some people suggest making sure they stay off the ground for six weeks. Of course, this doesn't explain how a hen can raise her own brood on the ground.

The gamebird starter I get is 30% protein. The numbers I have read for recommended levels are 26% to 28%. I'm sure 25% will work, especially for broad-breasteds which are such efficient converters (not saying yours are BB, just saying).

 

[laseterlass]

I am sure a turkey hen has secrets that we will never know! These will be in a brooder till at least 6 weeks. I wonder if supplementation with cat food like some supplement quail with would raise the protien for them. 25% is the highest I can get that is milled in Anchorage. The other feed here is awful quality wise by the time it fits the stores off of the barge.