Raising turkeys in Tractor question.

[JB8907]

But is the clean brooder necessary? My thought on the matter is their naturally raised in the dirt mud sticks and some poop from dear old mom. Why are people so serious about keeping their brooder clean? My current batch of chicks have done amazing in my "self cleaning" brooder. What am I missing when it comes to poults. Why are they special?

 

[R2elk]

But is the clean brooder necessary? My thought on the matter is their naturally raised in the dirt mud sticks and some poop from dear old mom. Why are people so serious about keeping their brooder clean? My current batch of chicks have done amazing in my "self cleaning" brooder. What am I missing when it comes to poults. Why are they special?

Poults or chicks raised naturally by their mothers is not the same as raising them in a confined space such as a brooder. Running free they do not end up being in a concentrated amount of droppings. If the brooder is not kept clean, at the very least, they can end up with foot problems from constantly being in their own droppings which can get caked on. Chicks do a slightly better job than turkeys of keeping their feet clean. Poults also being larger and faster growing produce more droppings.

Some people are fastidious about keeping their brooders clean because it is their nature and has nothing to do with necessity.