Poult Needs a Buddy

[Jkbaca]

I have a single BBW poult who is about a month old. I had her DNA sexed as a hen. I want the get her a buddy.

I found a gal who has 2 month old poults that are heritage breeds, so I should be ok if I end up with a male, right?

Not at all experienced With turkeys, so any advice is appreciated!

 

[R2elk]

I have a single BBW poult who is about a month old. I had her DNA sexed as a hen. I want the get her a buddy.

I found a gal who has 2 month old poults that are heritage breeds, so I should be ok if I end up with a male, right?

Not at all experienced With turkeys, so any advice is appreciated!

If you are just keeping them for pets, try to get 2 more females. A lone hen kept with a tom can end up bad for the hen from over breeding. It will be okay to wait a couple of months so that you can get poults locally that are old enough to be sexed without needing DNA sexing.

The reason for getting two more hens is so that they will still have each other for company after she passes.

 

[Jkbaca]

If you are just keeping them for pets, try to get 2 more females. A lone hen kept with a tom can end up bad for the hen from over breeding. It will be okay to wait a couple of months so that you can get poults locally that are old enough to be sexed without needing DNA sexing.

The reason for getting two more hens is so that they will still have each other for company after she passes.

Good point. I'll get two more.

Any advice for how to integrate them? Or will they do ok since they are still so young?

 

[R2elk]

Good point. I'll get two more.

Any advice for how to integrate them? Or will they do ok since they are still so young?

Put them together in a pen and watch. Be ready to separate them if necessary. If the first try doesn't go well, put them where they ca see each other but not touch for a couple of days. Then try again.

 

[Jkbaca]

Put them together in a pen and watch. Be ready to separate them if necessary. If the first try doesn't go well, put them where they ca see each other but not touch for a couple of days. Then try again.

I just brought 2 more home. They are 3 weeks old, but so much smaller than my BBW!

These new ones are bronzes (standard - not BB).

I'll set up two pens and see what transpires. Thanks for all your helpful advice!

 

[Jkbaca]

I just brought 2 more home. They are 3 weeks old, but so much smaller than my BBW!

These new ones are bronzes (standard - not BB).

I'll set up two pens and see what transpires. Thanks for all your helpful advice!

They are all terrified of each other. And my big ol BBW looks like a giant next to them. I'm separating them for now. I'll have them next to each other, though. We will see how they feel tomorrow

 

[Jkbaca]

Put them together in a pen and watch. Be ready to separate them if necessary. If the first try doesn't go well, put them where they ca see each other but not touch for a couple of days. Then try again.

These new poults are TERRIFIED. Is it just a matter of giving them time to adjust? Any idea about how long it might take? They are more skittish thanmy guineas. I didn't think that was possible.

 

[R2elk]

These new poults are TERRIFIED. Is it just a matter of giving them time to adjust? Any idea about how long it might take? They are more skittish than my guineas. I didn't think that was possible.

Stand back nearly out of sight, stay still and just watch. Do not make any sudden moves around them.

Once they make friends with your original poult, they will start calming down.

 

[Jkbaca]

Stand back nearly out of sight, stay still and just watch. Do not make any sudden moves around them.

Once they make friends with your original poult, they will start calming down.

Ok. That's reassuring. I've just kind of left them alone so far.

Sorry to keep bothering you, but I'm worried they haven't eaten or had any water yet.

I made their set up as close as I could to the one they came from.