Poults for first time

[KayElle]

They don't seem to take to the water and food like baby chicks do? Normal? How to get them to drink/eat on their own?

 

[TattooedMama]

Yes thats normal. You have to show them where the food and water is several times by dipping their beak in each. I have rewad on her several times that shiny marbles in the water does wonders for getting them to drink!! I went to walmart and got a mixed back of shiny/not shiny decorative stones for 99 cents. It was all I could find but worked fine. There was plenty enough to throw some in the water. My poults seemed to figure it out fairly quickly. Some people also suggest putting a baby chick in with them as they will mimic the chick, others don't advise mixing the two because of blackhead.

Are your babies hatched by you or are they from a feedstore?

Just keep trying and good luck!!

 

[KayElle]

They're from a local farm stand! Not sure where they get them. We've had chickens a couple years. This is the first tjme we've tried turkey's... The idea is to have them for thanksgiving

 

[TattooedMama]

I'm just starting out with them too. I have read a lot of people find they need supervision for at least a day to ensure they are eating and drinking. I was really worried when I got mine after hearing that but they did well. Just keep trying and definitely try the marbles in the water. Especially with their warm environment you don't want them to get dehydrated so I would dip each of their beaks several times throughout the day until they figure it out.

 

[KayElle]

Ok!! Thanks, I'll def get some marbles!

 

[KayElle]

And they've definitely found the food.

 

[KayElle]

Now they're chirping rather loudly!? They're warm have water and food. They stop when I go out there!! So different than chickens!

 

[Turkeytruff]

so true! I have 4 5 day old poults with 5 1 week old chicks in a brooder at the moment. They watched the chicks carefully and finally figured out eating and drinking - but for the first day they kept pecking at the chick's mouth to get the food and not peck at it for themselves. Also when I go away from the poults, they chirrup loudly with that rising note at the end. They don't necessarily want to be picked up, they just want to know some 'mommy' figure is there for them LOL!

 

[TattooedMama]

Ok!! Thanks, I'll def get some marbles!

And they've definitely found the food.

Now they're chirping rather loudly!? They're warm have water and food. They stop when I go out there!! So different than chickens!

I'm glad they found the food, thats great!! I had one do that chirping thing. I thought it was really funny. of 4, I only had 1 that would chirp super loudly and be walking around kinda on its own. Then would stare at me and come closer when I came in the room to look in the brooder box. They are definitely different than chickens. I think I may end up liking them more than chickens