First try at a turkey

[Backyardfarmer1001]

This is my first time rasing a turkey. Not sure of the gender but the species of turkey is broad breasted white turkey. My turkey is 4 months old and looks very sick. The turkey has been raised with 3 Cornish cross it whole life. It eats very little, drinks very little and does little walking. I have since seperated the turkey but still it doesnt seem interested in eating or wondering the grass or garden. Ive tried to put edible green's in his food to make it more excited to eat but still it won't eat more than a few bites here and there. It has been fed chicken starter mixed with ground corn which we buy by the ton. The turkey only weighs about 3 to 4 pounds. It pulls it own feathers out and has very little feathers to begin with. I wonder if he didn't fully feather as a poult.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Pics?
When did you get it?
I suspect it needs vastly more protein. Exactly how much chicken starter are you mixing with the corn? Why not gamebird or turkey starter? It's not a chicken.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It probably isn't getting enough protein. It's always best to start poults on a higher game bird starter at around 28% protein than step it down as the poult grows. Chick starters often have only 18%.

You could try feeding it a higher protein feed to see if it helps as well as trying a daily treat of a scrambled egg. It may be too late though to correct it unfortunately.

 

[Backyardfarmer1001]

 

[Northern.Ontario]

View attachment 1487961

Oh dear lord that is a sad looking turkey, sorry to say. It needs to be on a 28% TURKEY FEED. Look into vitamins, like nutria-drench or poul-vite ASAP. You might just want to cull this one, I don't know if it can be saved.

 

[Fishkeeper]

That is an extremely unhealthy bird. You need to get it on turkey feed IMMEDIATELY, supplemented with vitamins and probably scrambled eggs, or cull it and put it out of its misery.