Help... failure to thrive?

[Ursuline Chick]

Sorry, just realized I missed the first part of your post. Glad some of the turkeys are doing well also. Do the remainders seem like they are improving?

 

[Lokibinian]

I just saw this thread and I have to say I'm really sad to hear your terrible experiences.

Which hatchery did you order from? Sorry if you already answered that.

I just lost my silkie pullet/cockerel an hour ago and I understand how you feel.

At least your turkeys and remaining guineas seem to be great!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

They refunded the pearl guineas that all but one of died. Now down to 2 purple so they're not faring too much better. They're so much more skittish with less of them. At least they'll have the turkeys around so they aren't the only birds...

I told them I'd prefer a refund since I will never order from them again.

The head of sales guy was off put by the videos of the babies dying but I told him I've lost 3/4 of my order of birds (now it's 19 keets and 1 turkey dead out of 29). I watched them suffer and die and they wanted proof of them dying so photos of a dead pile and videos of them convulsing is what they got. Slightly morbid but it did get a response from them finally.

Shame on them for making you go through the trama of filming your poor babies, as if you have not been through enough with all the care they have gotten by you. You have been so amazing in tending tirelessly to those birds. I believe those of us who have followed this saga, see you as the true example of what animal husbandry is about. The head sales guy sounds like an a**hole.

 

[PolarBerry]

The turkey are growing well. They can fly up to a stick perch I put in their brooder that's about 10" off the ground. They love it! It's hilarious when they fall asleep on it and their head is dangling off until you can tell they had the "falling dream" experience and bolt upright. Sorry it's blurred, they were moving too much! In the next few days I'll be making them a secondary pen for expansion so they get double the space.

The last of the pearl guineas the day before his death... he was 2 weeks old but hadn't grown in days. I gave the stuffed toy because he was getting left behind from the purples running around too fast. Could tell he was getting weak from his posture. At least he passed quickly.

As an FYI and not to slander the hatchery, they were from Cackle. I'd heard good things but looking into it more I've seen others have had issues with the guinea fowl from them.

Original order was 6 bourbon red turkey, 10 royal purple guinea, 10 pearl grey guinea. They sent 1 spare of each.

I'm now down to 6 turkey and 2 purple keets. From 29 to 8 birds.

 

[Leaguinea]

The turkey are growing well. They can fly up to a stick perch I put in their brooder that's about 10" off the ground. They love it! It's hilarious when they fall asleep on it and their head is dangling off until you can tell they had the "falling dream" experience and bolt upright. Sorry it's blurred, they were moving too much! In the next few days I'll be making them a secondary pen for expansion so they get double the space.

View attachment 1120518
View attachment 1120520

The last of the pearl guineas the day before his death... he was 2 weeks old but hadn't grown in days. I gave the stuffed toy because he was getting left behind from the purples running around too fast. Could tell he was getting weak from his posture. At least he passed quickly.

View attachment 1120519

As an FYI and not to slander the hatchery, they were from Cackle. I'd heard good things but looking into it more I've seen others have had issues with the guinea fowl from them.

Original order was 6 bourbon red turkey, 10 royal purple guinea, 10 pearl grey guinea. They sent 1 spare of each.

I'm now down to 6 turkey and 2 purple keets. From 29 to 8 birds.

Your turkey babies are so cute. Sorry to hear of your guineas, are the remaining two still doing okay? This is so disheartening, hopefully you can find a different hatchery and try again in the future.
I had a disheartening hatch from my own eggs my first time around, in that I had 13 fertile and developed guinea eggs, only 3 hatched and the other 10 died in their shells. I was so disappointed. Then 1 of the 3 keets died 6 days later, it just wouldn't eat or drink and was so tiny. I tried to drop vitamins and water etc. on its beak but it wouldn't take anything.
I have the utmost respect for the efforts and energy you have put into your babies.