sick turkeys

[birdsgalore]

just had first hatching from incubator, 4 so far, a couple of days old, getting weaker everyday, won't eat or drink, I've been getting water in them with eyedropper, heat lamp is keeping at 90 degrees and they are able to move from the light if need be, they mostly just flop over like they'll die any minute, when I give them water they chirp and right now I hear them but I don't know how to help them

please help

 

[silkiechicken]

What kind of bedding are they on? Pine covered by paper towels? I hear lots of times, you have to really encourage them to eat, or add in a chicken chick to "teach" them. Not sure how true that is though. Hope they can make it. Hopefully someone with more turkey experience can help.

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

Turkeys are basically the hardest bird to raise from a itty bitty poult.

Turkeys are.... just plain stupid when they are just born. Sorry to say, but when they are little their intelligence level is very low.
It is very hard to get them to understand that they must eat and drink to survive. Once they get the hang of everything they'll start to understand.

I suggest keeping them on the eyedropper for a little bit longer to help them build up their strength, also add some sugar to it.

And once they build their strength up add food coloring to their water in their waterer and make sure to dip them multiple times. Dip their heads in the food dish also.

Best of luck and I hope they get better!

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
LOL. Reminds me when I got my first three poults a month ago... I kept them with the chicks till I was sure they were eating and drinking on their own... they never really learned that if they just press the water bottle, water would come out... no.. they would try to eat the whole dang tube to get water and make a mess! Chickens got it pretty fast, within a few days!

My first thought when they came out of the box was... they are either not cold, or too stupid to realize they are cold and thus are not huddling under the lamp with the other 20 chicks... I think it was the latter....

If they are not taking much food, a poultry vitamin may give them a boost too.

 

[birdsgalore]

thanks everyone for responding, yep they are stupid, I read to put colored marbles in their food and water and with the ones I got last year from a hatchery I did that and never had a bit of trouble, someone told me about honey or sugar and a boiled egg, I have them lined with a thin layer of straw, what bothers me the most is the way they just flop like its almost the end,but when I get one out its fiesty til I put it back down, I'll keep checking back,thanks in advance

 

[jkcove08]

Is there any way you can get a couple chicks to put in with them? I always make sure there will be some chicks hatched are young ones when I have turkey poults hatching. This saves a lot of head ache. Sometimes one or 2 still wont get it and doesnt make it but there is a better chance with chicks. Jenn

 

[birdsgalore]

I don't have any chicks due for another week, just went to check and try the eye dropper and one was about gone, sounds like its gurgling, I rubbed around on him trying to make sure,well I don't know of what,but when I layed him back down he went right back to being limp,I doubt he'll make it much longer

 

[chickenzoo]

I put food coloring in their water and make a wet mash with the chick starter, also putting in coloring. Green and blue or red works well. It also helps to tell if any are eating or drinking by the color in there poo. I have to do this with turkeys and peachicks if I don't have chicks at the time.

 

[birdsgalore]

thanks everyone for all the help with my sick turkeys

I lost 3 yesterday, they sound like they are gurgling, I'm taking all the suggestions and anything else someone can think of

 

[chickenzoo]

It sounds like they me sick if they are gurgley sounding. May explain why they don't want to eat or drink. They might have caught cold.If you listen to their lungs is it noisy? If so they may need something like tylan. Hope this helps