New... with keets and turkeys!

[PolarBerry]

Hello all,

New here. Years ago I had chickens and ducks but I bought some last-of-the-season bourbon red turkeys and some pearl and royal purple guinea fowl.

I ordered about 2 dozen but 7 turkey and 22 keets arrived. I have them all in a makeshift kiddie pool brooder (with wire around it). They have a red brooder lamp on a dimmer and a ceramic heat emitter on a rhetostat keeping it over 90 on the cooler side. They still have escape from the heat but so far they're all spread out everywhere fairly evenly.

I've got all of them on a turkey starter 28% and giving warm water with probiotics/electrolytes.

They already found a cricket that got in and dispatched it quickly (was like watching a game of keep away). I've added in a sprinkle of granite chick grit.

As far as bedding I have them on shelf liner covered in paper towels to avoid any dreaded splay leg.

All 29 survived shipping and are eating and drinking well!

Just wanted to introduce myself and how I've got them set up! If anyone has tips I'm open to them.

Otherwise, hello from Oregon! I'll be spamming with pictures soon enough!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us. I've never kept either turkeys or guineas, but here are the respective links to each forum, should you have any questions -https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/turkeys.20/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/guinea-fowl.45/

You may wish to consider joining your state thread as it will put you in touch with other BYC members in your area - http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread#post_3239224

All the best

Pork Pie

 

[drumstick diva]

They are going to outgrow that very fast and be flying out of your brooder. Good luck with the turkey poults and the keets.

 

[PolarBerry]

They are going to outgrow that very fast and be flying out of your brooder. Good luck with the turkey poults and the keets.

Oh, I know. I have 2 extra pools available. And more wire for the top! Just keeping them in closer confinement for the initial week.

 

[Robin37]

Hello all,

New here. Years ago I had chickens and ducks but I bought some last-of-the-season bourbon red turkeys and some pearl and royal purple guinea fowl.

I ordered about 2 dozen but 7 turkey and 22 keets arrived. I have them all in a makeshift kiddie pool brooder (with wire around it). They have a red brooder lamp on a dimmer and a ceramic heat emitter on a rhetostat keeping it over 90 on the cooler side. They still have escape from the heat but so far they're all spread out everywhere fairly evenly.

I've got all of them on a turkey starter 28% and giving warm water with probiotics/electrolytes.

They already found a cricket that got in and dispatched it quickly (was like watching a game of keep away). I've added in a sprinkle of granite chick grit.

As far as bedding I have them on shelf liner covered in paper towels to avoid any dreaded splay leg.

All 29 survived shipping and are eating and drinking well!

Just wanted to introduce myself and how I've got them set up! If anyone has tips I'm open to them.

Otherwise, hello from Oregon! I'll be spamming with pictures soon enough!

Hello Polarberry, my name is Robin and it is nice to meet you . WELCOME TO BYC!

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to Backyardchickens.com aka BYC!
We are so glad you joined our flock.

This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC Add pine shavings over the paper towels... I can't speak to Keets, but turkeys revel in finding inventive ways to commit suicide for the first 8 weeks of life. I've found chickens to be good mentors, hopefully the keets will fill the same role. They will be fully capable of flight within a week so a top net of some kind would be appropriate. And they will outgrow that brooder very fast. Here's a pic of mine and it will comfortably hold 25 turkeys and 5 chicks for 3 weeks. It's 8' X 8'

Sorry about the ducks, but best pic I had. I use 2X4 framing and https://www.uline.com/BL_1854/Plastic-Corrugated-Pads?keywords=Corrugated+Plastic+Sheets and it works well.

 

[PolarBerry]

So far I've had 5 pearl grey keets die randomly. The turkeys are set up in their own kiddie pool brooder now that they can find food and water. Not sure what's going on with the keets