Lost two so far and one on a steep down word slope.

[BigRedRoo]

So Ive called the Freys hatcheri and had aboslutly no help. Ive lost two turkeys One never ate or drank anything and they all seemed to be too cold so I moved them into the house in a brooder cabinet. The heater is on full tilt and the abiant temp wont go over 80 I checked the temp under the light and it seemes to be good at 95. Ive lost two birds since moving them into the indoor brooder. Most of the birds tend to stay to the outside ring of the lamp heatand some pressed against the wall and a couple under the center of the light. This morning I pulled out some meal worms ( have a home made Meally farm been running a year now) after a few minutes of being scared of the worms they began to attack them and gobblem them down. Now a couple of them are juming around and trying to get out but thier is still one more that seems alittle smaller, slower growth and im worried that it might die aswell. some times when I look at the cabinet a couple of the birds are panting like their hot. Im so lost never done turkeys but thought I had done my reaserch. Now with three down (lost one while writing this) Im really worried. Ive done three batches of egg layers and never lost a chick so this is making me depressed and wish I never started.
Some one please help me out with either what may be going on or what to do to correct it.

 

[BigRedRoo]

Ive got the birds on paper towel and change it every 3 or 4 hours (even getting up midnight) because it seems the poop is verry wet and I dont want them to catch a chill

 

[slingshotandLAR]

Where did you have them before they were in the brooder inside?

If they got cold/wet they will die. How come they weren't in brooder sense day one? I'm just wondering not attacking.

Turkey poults are easy, as long as they are warm and dry they stay alive. Make sure they can't spill the water dish on themselves. As long as they are eating on their own they should be fine.

I have not seen any difference in turkey poults and chicken poults. Both are very easy and hearty.


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[BigRedRoo]

I have a loping shed which is insulated and I have plastic covered all the doors and stoped all the draft. They were in theyre own brooding circle for the first day in the shed with all the rest. I have egg layers I hatched that were finishing thier last week in the brooder but as I had 200 birds come in the shed was a more viable option seeing as how they will be moved to tractors out side the shed. (the paddock was planted specialy for new live stock)

I have brooded three batches of egg layers and hatched one full to laying status and never lost a bird. In the same shed as the turkeys were I have 150 White Rock Cornish x and 25 Legghorns. Im yet to loose a leg horn so that tells me that its a breed thing. Lost 4 white rocks and now three turkeys.

 

[ivan3]

Sounds like you got the survivors over the hump. They shouldn't be panting at the edge of the lighted area, however (maybe expand size of brooder, slightly). They should have an area where they simply look comfortable when not active.

Old t-shirts/towels also work well as bedding (absorb more and can be switched out and washed.

Could be that they were shocked by outdoor temp being too low (really do need availability of steady heat).

They will also appreciate moths if you bring them in and hand feed them.

 

[neverbdone]

I agree with slingshot. But, in my experience turkies are more sensitive and more vulnerable than chicks.

I put several drops of polyvisol and just a little sugar in their water to encourage them to drink just for the first week or so. Dip their beaks and watch to see if they are drinking on their own. I've never had to worry about them eating.

Dont overheat or they will dive into their water and die. Just keep the light on so they can get under it if they need. They love to sleep piled together in a corner.

Hope this helps and the rest of your babies do well.

 

[BigRedRoo]

Thanks for that boost. I was also thinking I should expand the brooder ... I can open the doors and use a closet door to make another wall, move the lights farther out so its on the edge of the cabinet.
Thanks for the idea on shirts and towels as I have hunting dogs we have Three laundri tubs full of towels and thats allot cheaper than using paper towel. Moths would be fun if I can catch them. They seem to have really opend up to the meal worms.
The first time I put two in and they all ran from them. Today I put a few in their on my hand and a couple liked them. but not a whole lot of interest. So I just tryed again but this time I put like 25 or 30 of them on my hands and before the minute was up they were going crazy running around eating them up and acting like true birds.
At what point can I take them off of towels and put them on shavings?

 

[neverbdone]

Here's a pic of my bathtub babies. 2 weeks and they go out with the rest as long as it is warm weather

 

[BigRedRoo]

Thanks neverbdone the water thing would make sence as to why thier poop is sooooo wet. The hatcheir has told be that if the cabinet is below 95 then its too cold. I just chekedd the tem and Im 83 on the outside and 98 in the center and the do like to pile ontop of eachother where ever they are.
Maybe I will open the cabinet and just go back to what I know about raising birds. like I said Ive never lost a bird before this!

 

[neverbdone]

Here is a typical pile. Even this young they make me laugh.