Feeding baby royal palms. 1/4 died today

[TheJadeChicken]

Okay. I did a boo boo.

I got some baby royal palms, about a week old. I don't have ANY game bird starter. All I have is Medicated Chick starter and Flock Raiser. I didn't know Flock Raiser was for 6 week to laying feed. So now I am stuck with it. I have been giving them, the 1 week olds, Flock Raiser, but now I am so scared for them. Can they have the Medicated Chick Starter, until I can get to the feed store to get some game bird?

Also, it is the Purina Medicated Chick Starter crumbles.

I just gave them some crushed boiled eggs, just now.

Oh! And when I got them. I took them out of the vehicle and straight to the cage they went, it is inside. And the one that died was acting funny, when I placed them into the cage.

 

[TheJadeChicken]

Please, anyone?

 

[mnferalkitty]

I didn't know the answer to your question so I put it in Google and everything I read says they can have medicated feed. I would also put eletrolytes in the water. Make sure they are deinking and eating turkey poults are notorious for not being able to find water or food.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I don't know what could be causing your poult deaths, but I don't think it's the feed if it's fresh and not spoiled. Is what you are feeding them recently milled? The manufacture date should be on the bag somewhere, usually on the tape seam of the bottom. Three months or less is preferable. Is the feed damp, clumpy, or discolored?

Do keep on giving them the boiled egg, chopped. No more than what they can clean up in about ten minutes or so. Some finely chopped dark green leafy veggies as well. Again, not more than what they can clean up in about ten minutes.

Other than that are you keeping them sufficiently warm?

Have you established that they know how to eat and drink? Sometimes poults don't pick it up as fast as chicks. With mine each and every one of them get their beaks dipped (NOT their whole heads) in their water then I set them down on top of the food. If at at least a couple of them don't start eating and drinking on their own within an hour or so I do them all over again. If a few learn they'll teach the rest.

 

[TheJadeChicken]

I didn't know the answer to your question so I put it in Google and everything I read says they can have medicated feed. I would also put eletrolytes in the water. Make sure they are deinking and eating turkey poults are notorious for not being able to find water or food.

I do. Any birds that are in small pens off the ground get electrolytes. The 3 healthy ones are eating and drinking.

I don't know what could be causing your poult deaths, but I don't think it's the feed if it's fresh and not spoiled. Is what you are feeding them recently milled? The manufacture date should be on the bag somewhere, usually on the tape seam of the bottom. Three months or less is preferable. Is the feed damp, clumpy, or discolored?
Do keep on giving them the boiled egg, chopped. No more than what they can clean up in about ten minutes or so. Some finely chopped dark green leafy veggies as well. Again, not more than what they can clean up in about ten minutes.
Other than that are you keeping them sufficiently warm?
Have you established that they know how to eat and drink? Sometimes poults don't pick it up as fast as chicks. With mine each and every one of them get their beaks dipped (NOT their whole heads) in their water then I set them down on top of the food. If at at least a couple of them don't start eating and drinking on their own within an hour or so I do them all over again. If a few learn they'll teach the rest.

We just got this food a couple of days ago. It looks good and normal, not damp, clumpy, or discolored. Along with the boiled egg, they get crickets, meal worms, and they also try to catch the bugs flying around the light. I will stick a thermometer in there to get exact temperature. The 3 healthy ones are eating, drinking, and pooping normally. They are flapping around, jumping, and scratching. I think the one that died was just one that was weaker than the rest.

 

[Charm1704]

Turkey Poults need a higher protein feed than chicks....They need game bird started...not medicated chick starter.....good luck....~Charm1704

 

[ColbyNTX]

Get some gamebird starter. I don't think it was the flock raiser that killed them but I would use the chick starter over that. Isn't flock raiser a pellet? If so, could be hard for a week old RP to eat. If some are eating well, it will usually teach the others to eat. Some poults just don't do well if they have been shipped. Keep them warm, dry, good feed and water and they should be fine.

 

[chicken pickin]

I also agree with a gamebird starter. The poults need a higher protein especially as babies 28 percent is good. The lower protein in the chick starter may not be to good for them. Crumbles over pellets is a better idea like said above and keep on with the electrolytes. How are the rest of your poults doing?

 

[TheJadeChicken]

I can't get the Flock Raiser in a Pellet anywhere here. The crumbles are even smaller than the chick starter. And it is 20% protein, while the chick starter is only 18%. I am going to try and pick up some game bird starter this weekend. I am slowly learning more and more.

They are doing wonderful! They don't like me going to bed, when they are awake. They make A LOT of noise if I get out of their site, when they are out and about. They are getting their butt feathers in now.

Also, I stated above. That I didn't get Game Starter. I know I was supposed to get some. I actually wasn't planning on getting any baby turkeys. But I couldn't help but love them. xD

 

[cupman]

I got turkeys from a friend who fed the medicated chick starter for 4 weeks, then I fed them flock raiser until they were 10 weeks. They both started developing leg problems early on and I was seriously considering putting them down. They can walk now, but it's pathetic looking. They really really hate jumping up and down from ledges.. even as small as 1 foot. I would really try to find game bird feed for the first 8 weeks. They seem to have pulled out of it, they graze with the rest of the birds.. but I wish I had done things differently.

I got a royal palm that I fed flock raiser to for the first 3 or 4 weeks(before I realized flock raiser is for 8 weeks and up). I switched over to game bird and it's currently around 8-10 weeks old with no leg problems. It might vary from heritage breeds versus broad-breasted(meat) turkeys.