One death and the other soon to follow

[Wyogal77]

Hello,
Last week I purchased 2 bourbon red turkey poults. They had hatched the day before I purchased them which would make them a week old today.
I brought them home and put them in a box all set up with water, food (Purina's Start and Grow), heat lamp about a foot away from bottom of box, hay for substrate, etc.
They were doing beautifullly until yesterday. I noticed one was wobbly and generally seemed weak. They seemed to sleep more and were generally lethargic. I Googled care information for poults last night. I learned that they need to be taught to eat. (although I assumed that they had been eating as they had plenty of poo in the box and were energetic until yesterday) Just in case, I put a piece of foil in the box and sprinkled it with food. They didn't seem too interested. I found one poult dead this morning

The other one is soon to follow (pupils are dilated, wobbly, etc.) Does anyone have any idea as to what would cause this? It is very, very upsetting. I am teary as I am typing this. So hard to get attached to the little things then have them die.
Any suggestions would certainly be welcome.
Thanks,
Heartbroken in Wyoming

 

[kuntrygirl]

So sorry to hear about your loss.

It's so hard to lose a little one.

Where did you purchase them from? Do you know if they were eating on their own when you purchased them? What had they been eating when you purchased them? Did you have them on medicated feed? I always feed my poults 30% Gamebird Feed Startena. They do need a higher protein but 30% is not required. Others feed a lower protein because that is the only thing that is available in their area. You said that they were doing beautifully until yesterday.

How far or close were they to the heat lamp? Could they have been too cold or too hot? Not sure but why did you use hay in there with them? Could the hay have been wet and molded? I use an old towel or puppy pad. Are they in a box alone?

Let's try to see what happened and why.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

deleted

 

[Wyogal77]

Quote:
Hi,
Thank you. It has been a tough morning

To answer your questions:
I purchased them from a place call Murdoch's. They sell everything from Carhart clothing to tack for horses. It is my view that they don't know a whole lot about baby poultry. I get a lot of "I don't know" to my questions about this or that concerning poultry. The poults appeared to be eating on their own there at the store. There was plenty of poo in the brooder where they had them. They had food and water in with them and a heat lamp. I do not know what they were feeding them. I assume that they were feeding them the Start and Grow, which is for chicks, and not poults. It is medicated feed. I see on the bag that Purina recommends the Gamebird Feed Startena (should have read this when I got the poults. The people at the store didn't say otherwise) like you feed yours. I will see if I can find some of this before I try again with new poults. They seemed happy with the hear lamp. They were under it sometimes, and at other times little off to the side. No panting or anything like that. Hay was all I had. I had used it for my chicks and they were fine with it. I will use your suggested puppy pad or old towel next time. They were in the box alone. No other birds in there with them. I am a fussy "mother." I always keep a very clean, dry box for my babies. I change the substrate every other day or every day. The hay was dry. Could HAVE been mouldy. That is possible, but the poults did not exhibit any respiratory issues. I have ordered two poults through another feed store here in town. I am hoping to have better luck with them. I LOVE turkeys. They are the best pets.
Thanks so much for your time and suggestions!!

 

[Wyogal77]

Quote:
Thank you, Steve, for the link to the informative article.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Hi,
Thank you. It has been a tough morning

To answer your questions:
I purchased them from a place call Murdoch's. They sell everything from Carhart clothing to tack for horses. It is my view that they don't know a whole lot about baby poultry. I get a lot of "I don't know" to my questions about this or that concerning poultry. The poults appeared to be eating on their own there at the store. There was plenty of poo in the brooder where they had them. They had food and water in with them and a heat lamp. I do not know what they were feeding them. I assume that they were feeding them the Start and Grow, which is for chicks, and not poults. It is medicated feed. I see on the bag that Purina recommends the Gamebird Feed Startena (should have read this when I got the poults. The people at the store didn't say otherwise) like you feed yours. I will see if I can find some of this before I try again with new poults. They seemed happy with the hear lamp. They were under it sometimes, and at other times little off to the side. No panting or anything like that. Hay was all I had. I had used it for my chicks and they were fine with it. I will use your suggested puppy pad or old towel next time. They were in the box alone. No other birds in there with them. I am a fussy "mother." I always keep a very clean, dry box for my babies. I change the substrate every other day or every day. The hay was dry. Could HAVE been mouldy. That is possible, but the poults did not exhibit any respiratory issues. I have ordered two poults through another feed store here in town. I am hoping to have better luck with them. I LOVE turkeys. They are the best pets.
Thanks so much for your time and suggestions!!

Sorry again to hear that. I always get teary eyed when I lose any animals as well. Turkeys really are the best pets of all time. How is the other poult doing?

Steve's link with info is a great read. He is one of this thread's expert on turkeys. He has a lot of good information that can help you as well.

Check out my thread below and look at the pic on Post #4 and see how I have my little cardboard box set up with food and water. I would totally get rid of the hay. That could be the thing that has killed the first and affecting the 2nd poult.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=466253

Good luck with the new poults. Please keep us posted and continue to post when you need help or have a question.

 

[kagedgoddess]

Im sorry for your loss.
Is it possible they were sick before? Idk how long it takes for diseases to show symptoms, but maybe tell your feed store, if anyone elses die as well they ll know its a problem. Although since its been a week i doubt theyll do anything.

 

[Wyogal77]

Quote:
Hi,
Yes, I called the store this morning. They told me that they had had no one else report problems with their poults. Odd. They seemed perfectly heathy when I brought them home.

 

[Wyogal77]

Quote:
Hi,
Thank you. It has been a tough morning

To answer your questions:
I purchased them from a place call Murdoch's. They sell everything from Carhart clothing to tack for horses. It is my view that they don't know a whole lot about baby poultry. I get a lot of "I don't know" to my questions about this or that concerning poultry. The poults appeared to be eating on their own there at the store. There was plenty of poo in the brooder where they had them. They had food and water in with them and a heat lamp. I do not know what they were feeding them. I assume that they were feeding them the Start and Grow, which is for chicks, and not poults. It is medicated feed. I see on the bag that Purina recommends the Gamebird Feed Startena (should have read this when I got the poults. The people at the store didn't say otherwise) like you feed yours. I will see if I can find some of this before I try again with new poults. They seemed happy with the hear lamp. They were under it sometimes, and at other times little off to the side. No panting or anything like that. Hay was all I had. I had used it for my chicks and they were fine with it. I will use your suggested puppy pad or old towel next time. They were in the box alone. No other birds in there with them. I am a fussy "mother." I always keep a very clean, dry box for my babies. I change the substrate every other day or every day. The hay was dry. Could HAVE been mouldy. That is possible, but the poults did not exhibit any respiratory issues. I have ordered two poults through another feed store here in town. I am hoping to have better luck with them. I LOVE turkeys. They are the best pets.
Thanks so much for your time and suggestions!!

Sorry again to hear that. I always get teary eyed when I lose any animals as well. Turkeys really are the best pets of all time. How is the other poult doing?

Steve's link with info is a great read. He is one of this thread's expert on turkeys. He has a lot of good information that can help you as well.

Check out my thread below and look at the pic on Post #4 and see how I have my little cardboard box set up with food and water. I would totally get rid of the hay. That could be the thing that has killed the first and affecting the 2nd poult.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=466253

Good luck with the new poults. Please keep us posted and continue to post when you need help or have a question.

I am sorry to say the the other poult went the way of his/her nestmate

I will get rid of the hay and start anew with an old towel.
I will check out your picture, too.
Thanks a million for your help!! I will post when I get the new poults.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Sorry again to hear that. I always get teary eyed when I lose any animals as well. Turkeys really are the best pets of all time. How is the other poult doing?

Steve's link with info is a great read. He is one of this thread's expert on turkeys. He has a lot of good information that can help you as well.

Check out my thread below and look at the pic on Post #4 and see how I have my little cardboard box set up with food and water. I would totally get rid of the hay. That could be the thing that has killed the first and affecting the 2nd poult.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=466253

Good luck with the new poults. Please keep us posted and continue to post when you need help or have a question.

I am sorry to say the the other poult went the way of his/her nestmate

I will get rid of the hay and start anew with an old towel.
I will check out your picture, too.
Thanks a million for your help!! I will post when I get the new poults.

Awwwwwwww, so sorry to hear about the other poult. Makes me sad.