I know a lot of folks who've been scared off of trying to raise poultry because the loss rates are so high in store-bought factory-produced birds! Yes, there are plenty more that don't have bas experiences, but you just never know the chick's history or the parents' health!
Unhealthy birds produce unhealthy offspring. Illness or deficieny in an adult will pass into the egg. Incubation trauma can result in weak chicks. High stress in transit and handling can weaken poults. Medicated feed and screw with their immune system and cause death very early on (and if you don't agree, no need to open the can of worms, just my observations here). Being too hot or too cold can weaken a chick. And like oldhen said, yeah, vitamins are a big part of it, too!
Point being, when you buy a chick from a mystery source you never know what oyu're getting. It's probably not something you've done. It could be your feed, or it very well might not be! Electrolytes, warmth, and a little TLC are key. Is the poult alone? They thrive so much better with other baby poultry around; chicks, poults, ducks, whatever. But they need friends.
I've noticed turkey poults are more sensitive to their dietary requirements than chicken chicks. I can't skirt around with cheap feed or scratch grains on my poults, even if they're free-ranging. But it sounds like you've done right by getting the game bird grower
Keep us posted! Best of luck!
