My First Turkey Poult Hatched!!!!

[Kansaseq]

So this is my first ever attempt at hatching turkeys; I got 5 Blue Slate eggs, 1 was a clear, 4 developed. The first one has hatched (YAY!!) and at least 2 others are pipping! The incubator is a mass of bodies and eggs, so it's hard to see much of anything right now,but one of the eggs is clearly empty, and I cought a glimpse of a wet, blue/splash looking body. Is it true that 50% is a good hatch for turkeys? If so, I've found a great supplier. I'll update later with pics, when I can get some.
Repeat to self; DO NOT OPEN THE BATOR! DO NOT OPEN THE BATOR!

 

[zatsdeb]

congrats! I also just hatched my first turkeys and out of 10 fertile eggs I ended up with 7 hatching, then lost 2 and the other 5 are doing great!!! Good luck with your babies!

 

[Kansaseq]

Thank you, Zatsdeb!
Sorry to hear you lost some babies. What do you think happened? I SO don't want to loose any, but have heard it happens more easily with poults.

 

[zatsdeb]

They are very sensitive I have heard, the ones I lost.. 1 was trampled, I had ducks in with them and I don't think I had the light low enough. 1 I don't know, just woke up and it was dead. I did have one that was laying down by the water dish, I didn't have enough marbles in the dish and I think it got splashed and wet, and I thought it was dead, I picked it up and it moved, so I went to the bathroom and ran the hair dryer on low, and dried him off real well, and put him back in the brooder under the light, now I can't tell which one that was! Doing great! they are 3 weeks old now. I think just to make sure they eat, I try to hatch chicks with them so the chicks will teach them to drink. Also keep warm and away from drafts.

 

[NCIndiaBlue]

I have had very good luck with hatching Turkey eggs, no problems at all. (I'm scared to say that, I don't want to jinx it lol) My first hatch was last year, and I've hatched about 20 or so this year so far. I've heard so many people talk about having problems with turkey poults, but I haven't had any bad experience. I use both broody hens and an incubator. Once they hatch and are fluffy, I move them to a warm, clean, dis-infected brooder - I have pine shavings on the bottom, with paper towels on top for the first few days (just find it to be cleaner, since they stay in my spare bedroom in their brooder for a few weeks). I put a couple of pieces of cardboard in various places throughout the brooder and put starter feed on that - and they also have Nutri-Drench Vitamins and Minerals added to their fresh water daily. If you really want to make an impression on them, you can gently rub the crop area of their necks with your fingers, they LOVE that and all of mine fight for attention anytime they hear my voice or when my hand goes in the brooder, I could easily pull my arm our full of cute little turkey's.

 

[Kansaseq]

Well, my hatch is complete, and I have 3 poults; 2 black and 1 slate. The 4th, also a slate, had pipped the inside sac but apprared to have drown. So out of 5 eggs, 4 developed and 3 hatched out successfully. 75% is not awesome, but for my first try, I'm fairly pleased. I may just try again!
Anyway, here is a pic of the first 2 to hatch out. Is it normal for the slates splashes to have pink legs? It appears the adults have slate legs. My blacks have black legs and pink feet. I am very new to the breed and have much to learn.

 

[poultryfan73]

I just had my first hatch on saturday as well. I putt 9 eggs in 7 calico and 2 of my own ( blue slate x bourben red hen with blue slate gobbler.) Out of the 7 calico 6 hatched and the 2 of mine 1 hatched so im very happy! I had roughly a 80% hatching rate which im very happy about. I will post pictures sooon!

 

[Kansaseq]

What color do you get with the blue slate/bourbon red x blue slate? Sounds very cool! Congrats on your hatch!
I am already hooked on turkeys the babies are so sweet!

 

[poultryfan73]

Quote:
You get a Red slate but both eggs i think came from my 2 blue slate hens that bred with my blue slate gobbler so i got a pure blue slate. I just putt them into their brooder and all 7 are doing great!

 

[ohioruss]

I just hatched 5 royal palm turkeys and was wondering what to feed them, I have always hatched chicks but never turkeys. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks !!
Russ