Just rescued a poult and need help

[bigbird]

When do poults start eating. This one was born yesterday morning and was apparently picked on by the other 9. The feed store gave her to me because they didn't think she was going to live. Today she is still alive and peeping loudly, however her eyes are squinting (the left one worse) and not wanting to eat or drink yet. Is this normal? When do I start worrying? I've offered corn meal, chick start and water. Thanks.

 

[Angiebubs]

Water is the most important thing the first couple of days. Make sure to dip its beak into the water a every couple hours until you see it drinking on its own. Chicks do not need food for te first 2-3 days as they are still absorbing the yolk. However, since this came froma feed store, I would imagine it had been shipped to them? And then it probably is already a few days old. If you sprinkle the food around in front of it, the movement can entice it to try to eat. You can also try a lil warm water mixed into the food to make a mash and put some on its beak to get it started. GOod luck!

 

[kuntrygirl]

That is not normal. She will die if she does not eat and drink soon. You will have to teach it to eat and drink. This is what I suggest. However, if it is at a point of not responsive, that is not good. Please read the info below.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/512320/how-do-i-get-the-poults-to-eat/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-need-to-know-information-thread-for-everyone

Feeding Practices
I'm a personal fan of starting my poults on 30% protein but I do know that a high protein feed like 30% may not be available in your area. Poults need a higher protein feed than chicks do. Your poults will be ok on lower protein feed but they may not put on as much weight as you would like if they are on a lower protein. I personally would not feed my poults anything lower than 20% protein. If you are housing poults with chicks, chicks can eat a higher protein feed occasionally but 30% is just too high for chicks to eat every day (in my opinion). From personal experience, your chicks will end up to be HUGE chickens. So you may want to decide upon a happy medium in terms of what percentage you will feed both birds (poults and chicks) if they are to be housed together. You can always throw in a boiled egg to help boost the protein a little. VERY small pieces fresh fruits and veggies are also good for them to eat. They will also have fun running around the brooder playing "get away with the food" from their brooder-mates.

Most people leave feed available 24/7 for their poults. Your birds are growing birds and will probably eat when they are hungry, so it would be great if their feeder was always full. And of course, they should have access to a safe waterer all day/every day. NOTE: DO NOT give your new born poults COLD WATER. Make sure that their water is at room temp. As they get older, the cooler water is ok.

NOTE: If you notice that your poults are dieing day in and day out, you may want to make sure that your poults are eating. Don't assume that your poults are eating. You will need to actually SEE them eating and drinking. If not, it is possible that your poult died from starvation. Sad but true.

If you ARE seeing that your poults are eating and still dieing, you may want to look at problems with temps, surroundings (bedding, chemicals/poison present) and possible diseases.

You may wonder how long should you keep your poults on a high protein feed and when should you lower the protein. That is a personal choice. I like to keep mine on high protein at all times as they are growing. The high protein will not kill them. But if they will be running with a free ranging with chickens, you will have to decrease the protein level to accommodate your chickens.


Waterers and Feeders
DO NOT put deep water dishes in with your poults. They can slip in and drown. If your poult gets wet and does not warm up quickly, it can die. You can put marbles in your shallow waterers for them to drink. The marbles will also help them to drink if they are alone with no other chicks or mama is not there to teach them to eat. You can also place marbles in their feeder or put their feed on aluminum foil so that they can see the reflection of the foil and peck the food. This will teach them how to eat. If there are no cases of Blackhead in your area that you know about, you can brood a few chicks with turkeys. The chicks will teach them to eat. You can also use egg flats and put the feed in the flats and the poults will eat the feed that way. Whatever you do, DO NOT brood poults with waterfowl. This will be a disaster.

Here is a pic of how I set up my waterers and feeders for my poults.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/512320/how-do-i-get-the-poults-to-eat/10

 

[bigbird]

It has found the water and food. Goes to each bowl and tries to eat and drink. When it takes a drink, it shuts its eyes, holds its head back and opens its mouth. Kind of the same look as of it had somethimg stuck in its throat. ( I don't think
It does). It then immediately drops its head and goes to sleep. I have never had a turkey so I really haven't a clue as to what is normal for them and what is not. Any idea what could be causing this or what I could try to help it? Thanks.

 

[kuntrygirl]

How is the poult doing?

 

[bigbird]

Wonderful, thank you . I have it outside with me now and it is just running all over. Eating grass and bugs. What a difference few days and a lot of hard work will do.
I also have a rescued goose. Do you think they would get along?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Wonderful, thank you . I have it outside with me now and it is just running all over. Eating grass and bugs. What a difference few days and a lot of hard work will do.
I also have a rescued goose. Do you think they would get along?

This is great news!!! You did a good job keep her alive.

How old is the rescued goose? Not sure how they will get along once they are older but my geese (Satan's Army) hates every single animal on my farm. Go figure. And the turkeys will repay the "love" when they can. :/

I ONCE brooded poults and goslings together (I would say about 1 month ago). Let's just say that was THE worst idea I ever had. The goslings started chewing the poults feathers. I had to remove the poults, clean them up and put some blue kote on the poults due to injuries. The turkeys still had purple feathers when I sold them last weekend.

Soooooo, from experience, I wouldn't put them together. And also the goose will require a lot more water than the poult needs.

 

[bigbird]

)-: I think I did something really, really stupid yesterday. It was doing so well I checked the temperature outside and it said it was 101 in the sun so I took her out to get some fresh air in the grass. She ran, tried to fly,ate some grass and dried bugs. Today she looks lathaegic again, doesn't want to eat and I'm back to dropper feedings of water. I started her on baytril which is all I've got as far as a poultry friendly antibiotic. She is getting 10 mg's per mg's per day. Does that sound about right to you? Anything else I should do? I've got her temp in her brooder at 98•
Thanks again in advance for your help.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Sorry to hear about her. How much does she weigh? I would try some ACV and yogurt.

 

[bigbird]

She is growing like a weed now! Thank goodness or didn't die. I put it on antibiotics for four days and its doing great. It still likes an egg/mealworms/ baby pear and turkey mash mashed with warm water. Lol. It certainly is spoiled. I also give it the turkey crumbles dry.
It is three weeks one day today. Is it ok to take it outside now? I don't want it to get sick again. Thanks.