I have cheeping!

[WalnutHill]

Thanks! I hope those toes do straighten out. Turkeys and chicks are really close so if it's true for chickens it should hold true for turkeys too, at least at such a young age. Cheep seems to be weak on her right leg, letting it thrust out at odd angles, so I have tied the shins and she can now stand up just fine. I will let her keep doing her squats in a deli tub until she can stand easily and straight. I took her tape shoe off as having something on her foot and something on her legs seemed to confuse her so much she'd just topple right over trying to look at her feet.

Teaching turkey poults to drink is sometimes interesting, I've had some act like the water was poison and others who like to play in it, and others who fill their crops until they drool. So this time, I used a bright shiny candle screw on top, and put a handful of transparent jewel colored marbles in the water. They are very curious, so they tap at the marbles and the shiny metal below them, are finding the water between the marbles, and are sipping nicely.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

If you think turkeys are hard--you should see peachicks. Personally, I would not attempt to raise either without chicks to show them what to do. They can be a challenge and chicks make it so much easier--they teach them to eat and drink.

 

[WalnutHill]

It's amazing how fragile these little lives are. After flopping around in the brooder today, one seems to have taken a bad chill (not surprised as they were so cold and wet this morning). She's in the fringe of the lamp, nestled in a bed of paper towel, with clean water with a touch of Tylan 50 in it. I hope she recovers, she is a beauty.