Losing my turkey poults...please help!

[sswishpaul]

I ordered turkey poults from a breeder in my state. They were shipped Tuesday morning and arrived yesterday morning. They were all alive upon arrival. However as soon as I got home, two started looking bad. By late afternoon, they both died. Overnight, two more died. Then another died just now. I made sure they had the heat lamp on them last night but it's too hot during the day to have it on them. I have made sure they have plenty of water. I have raised turkeys for over 12 years and have never had so many die right away. Don't know what to do

Thanks!

 

[Denninmi]

I would sure contact the hatchery ASAP and let them know.

All I can think to suggest are trying to make sure the remaining ones get electrolytes, nutrition, and perhaps try some antibiotics (yeah, I know, I always say that, its NOT a good practice long-term, develops resistance, etc., but if there is an infection, it helps).

 

[ray2310]

I'm really sorry that you lost your poults - i wish i could offer you some help..
I lost my 9 week old female bourbon red turkey today

 

[ChickenCrazy01]

I agree contact the breeder and tell them about the losses. As for others make sure they are eating and drinking and not just staring at it. I have a poult now I am having to watch closely because it is just staring at the food and water.

 

[lilchick]

I brood my turkey poults in the basement. Large cardboard shipping crate and their heat lamp 250 watt red is on continuously.

I got call from Porters Tues. mid afternoon that they were shipped. Set brooder up. Newspaper down instead of bedding the first few days. They will eat anything. I spread their turkey starter feed out over the newspaper. Filled the waterer and added vitamin/electrolytes and marbles in the rim. They arrived next a.m. and are doing well.

Maybe yours got chilled in transit. Or chilled when you left heat lamp off.

I have been raising turkeys for several years and find they are a challenge compared to chickens.. After you get them thru the first few weeks they seem to get easier to care for.

Sorry you are having problems. You should contact the person you bought them from and discuss it.

 

[petunia7]

i have raised turkey poults for years. and had them shipped. in the begining i had alot of losses. now i give them warm water about 90 degrees for the first week or so. shipping is hard on birds and its hard to know how the post office shook them up. as for the heat lamp, they need it all the time, but enough room to get away when they need to. they get chilled during shipping i am sure because they are not at hatching temperature. warm them up and give them warm water and they should do fine.

 

[MoriahQuilts]

I had to feed one water with an eye-dropper the first three days. It just wouldn't drink enough on its own. I hadn't raised them before and was watching them constantly (to learn), or I wouldn't have noticed because it did drink some.

Good luck!

 

[sswishpaul]

Thanks so much for the replies! I have contacted the breeder (this is the first time I've ordered from them) but have received no response as of yet. Anyhow, I will try all your suggestions. Again..thank you!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

So sorry about your loss.

 

[NYRIR]

Sorry for your loss...hope you figure it out....