March hatch along

[matlock585]

Matlock, that's super cool! I would love to hatch some turkey eggs! How are they different than chicken eggs?

Well, basically, they just take an extra 5 days or so, and they aren't as smart as chicks about figuring out the food and water after they hatch. I usually have to use big colored beads in the food and water to encourage them to peck at it, and hope they come up with something. Also, baby chicks are pretty hardy, but turkey poults are always super quick to die for me.

 

[subhanalah]

Are turkey eggs expensive? Are they hard to come by?

 

[matlock585]

Are turkey eggs expensive? Are they hard to come by?

They aren't THAT hard to come by, but the cost on them varies. Cheap end is 3 bucks an egg and high end is around 10. Not much different than chickens.
I'm happy with these because the male in the pair is one I hatched 2 years ago and had to splint his feet. He was a loner too. Because he was a loner the four of us was his only interaction with another living thing while we raised him, and he is exceptionally tight with our family, but he's mean to everybody else.

 

[matlock585]

They aren't THAT hard to come by, but the cost on them varies. Cheap end is 3 bucks an egg and high end is around 10. Not much different than chickens.
I'm happy with these because the male in the pair is one I hatched 2 years ago and had to splint his feet. He was a loner too. Because he was a loner the four of us was his only interaction with another living thing while we raised him, and he is exceptionally tight with our family, but he's mean to everybody else.

But you should know they do have the possibility of getting very large. I'd have to say he is in the 30 pound range now, so that's like having 4 big roosters all together in one bird. And they are quite stubborn sometimes.

 

[johnderosa1]

But you should know they do have the possibility of getting very large. I'd have to say he is in the 30 pound range now, so that's like having 4 big roosters all together in one bird. And they are quite stubborn sometimes.

Matlock it's interesting that you find Turkey poults relatively frail. I hatched some wild turkey eggs a few years back and they low maintenance for me . I had a weak one that died but the rest managed well with little care. They didnt even seem to need a heat source for very long. Just shows that every hatch is different and you never know how it will play out.

 

[GR Chicks]

Don't beat yourself up over it. Things like that will just happen to you. One time I had a batch of chicks that were maybe 6 weeks old or so, and I had a cocci outbreak. I had one buff orpington pullet that suffered some pretty heavy pecking to her rear end but I found her in time to help her. I had her isolated in a tub on the front porch because her rear end was basically prolapsed. I soaked her in a salt/sugar bath every day and gently applied preparation h. I nursed her back to the point where she was healthy and I was about ready to introduce her back into the "group". We had a late cold snap that I didn't know was coming and she got too cold by herself on the porch and died after I nursed her through all that. I was heartbroken, but that's the stuff that just makes you smarter about them.

Thanks for the word of understanding. I just hate learning those types of lessons.

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

Yay for fluffy babies!!

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

11 lavender ameraucanas going in to lock down tomorrow... Hmmm or is it thursday?

Nice!

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

DEVASTATED!!!  I was just giving my little one (the tiny one that was on the mend) some molasses water with a dropper and it was fine.  I checked its vent to make sure it was clear, and it wasn't.  As I was trying to clear it, I didn't realize I had put any pressure on its neck, the next thing I know its limp and bubbles coming out its mouth.  I think I broke its little neck.  I am so sick, I can't even believe I killed it.  It was getting better ten minutes ago, and now its gone. I feel horrible.

I'm so sorry about your little one! It was an accident, so dont be mad at yourself.

 

[AandAranch]

Out of the 18 that I knew had viable chicks at lock down, 17 made it. The other had pipped but never got out. This hatch was a little before schedule. I had to do a little assisting on a couple and a few pipped on the wrong side but they got out just fine. Overall, I'm pleased with the number of chicks but not the whole process. I had a lot of temp fluctuations and humidity was a pain. I'm not sure how I feel about my new incubator. I blame its weird turner for all the wrong end pippers. It was turning eggs end over end with some staying in the pointy end up position for extended periods of time. Oh well. Everyone who hatched is alive and happy at their new home. I think it's my last hatch of the year but I'm so tempted to do it again...

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This last pic is of the very last chick that hatched. Over a full day after the first one hatched.