New to this wold and desperately seeking help!

[NewBirdMom]

Hello all. I have recetly acquired some baby chickens, ducks and turkeys. I am having problems with my turkeys. One has already died. The other isn't looking too hot. They are only about 10 days old. He is really weak, won't stand up, isn't eating on his own, doesn't even really open his eyes. He was fine yesterday and this morning he just seemed lifeless. I read somewhere that they don't know how to eat. Is that the problem? Is he starving to death? He was in with the baby ducks and getting wild game feed(per instructions of the store we got them at) now he is in a box in the house and I have been mashing the food with water and trying to force feed him with an eyedropper. Help!!??

 

[LynneP]

I haven't raised turkeys but I imagine that whith an eye dropper or needless syringe you could give him sugar water, as you can with chickens. I sure hope some turkey folk will jump in here fast, and you should go to the emergency section FAST, to be noticed!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Have you been keeping them under a heat lamp? Baby chicks/turkies/ducks/etc all need to be kept quite warm as babies. At 10 days old, they should be kept under a heat lamp at 90-95 degrees. Not sure if this is the issue, but it's always the first thing I ask, since it was not mentioned in the post!

I would not advise keeping them with baby ducks, as they are very messy and like to play with their water. The turkeys almost always end up wet and chilled. This could be your problem. I would suggest warming this little guy up and continue to keep him separated from the ducklings.

Turkeys will eat on their own shortly after they hatch, so that is not a problem. Keep trying to feed him with the eye dropper, but be careful not to drown him!

Unfortunately once they get to this stage, it is quite iffy as to whether or not they will snap out of it.

Please ask if you have more questions. I wish you the best of luck!