rasing day old turkeys

[nadams4]

I tried to raise turkeys last year and something went wrong and there were no survivors. They could have gotten cold or not had enough nutrients (vitamins and minerals) in there standard feed.

I want to try it again this year, but hopefully have success!

What feed should I use: medicated or non medicated?

Should i add electrolytes to their water?

Anyone have any tips for raising turkeys?

Thank you for any information!!

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

Turkeys are very difficult to raise when they are young, you end up loosing some. Give them nonmedicated food. Make sure they have a good heating source.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Make sure the feed is non-medicated gamebird starter. The chicken feeds do not have the protien content that young turkey poults need to grow and thrive. I was successful in brooding mine in the house, just keep them warm and dry with plenty of fresh water to drink and food to eat. To entice them to eat or drink, place a shiny marble or stone in their waterer and feeder. Turkey's looove shiny things!

They're very susceptible to splayed leg problems as babies, so make sure they aren't on any type of slick surface like newspaper, tiled floors, etc...

 

[silkiechicken]

I heard of people raising turkeys with their chicks, do they feed game birds feed to the chicken chicks too!

 

[AprilAWZ]

Ya know, the one time I raised hatchery poults, I kept them with the chicks and fed them all the same non-medicated chick starter. All of them survived to adulthood. I wouldn't recommend it (the chick starter, at least), or do it that way again myself, but it worked for me once...

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Turkeys need more heat, and longer. That is the number one reason they die off, being chilled. Start them at 102 and work down slower than chickens. Totally prevent drafts with them but make sure the ventilation is good. I tend to add a heater with a fan to the brooder set up in the barn so I know there is good air exchange, but it's heated air not cold. Also you need to protect them more from Cocci (I do the milk powder in the feed for the first week) and from themselves. They are very capable of drowning in the waterer or just getting so wet they get chilled. They also need to be trained to eat and drink, don't expect them to figure it out. That is why some folks put chicks in with them for the first week. Yes marbles and shiny things help lots too. They have to have game bird starter and the chicks with them will be fine with that for a week. After a week the chicks don't do as well with the heat, and having them still there exposes the poults to too much cocci risk so remove them to their own area. Always have deep brooder bedding for poults and stir it, don't replace it so they have constant low exposure to cocci. Only remove any soaked bedding near the waterer. Straw is better bedding for them as they can't eat it, shavings seems to attract them eating it, and it plugs them up.

 

[justusnak]

Hmmm, this will be my first year with turkeys as well. So, from what I am reading....I guess momma turkey will NOT be able to raise them, like chickens do hu? Guess I better be setting up a BIG brooder.(I have 3 turkey hens) Can I let her hatch them, just take them from her as they hatch??

 

[Farmer Kitty]

We've raised a couple turkeys two different times with success. Gamebird starter feed and heat are musts. We also used Sulmet in the water for the first week. DH works in a feedmill and that is one of the tips that he had gotten from some of the farmers that raise them. It helps keep them healthy with all the moving/shipping of them until they get settled in at your place.

Good luck!

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:
Mama turkeys do good with their babies if you keep them from distractions like other birds or people (unless you have them in a large free range flight area). I read that it was best to put up a border along the bottom of the pen so they can not see out, otherwise the mama might trample her babies while trying to pace at the edge of the pen.

Your heritage turkeys tend to be more hearty than the double breasted meat turkeys.

 

[justusnak]

My set up is a 6'x6' turkey hut...with a 15x15 yard...covered. In the yard, I placed a 4'x4' crate, with straw....all the hens seem to be interested in the crate. Do you think...if I let them hatch out the babies, they will be ok...even if the tom is in there as well? Or will I have to put the hen and babies in a totally seperate place...alone...inside somewhere?