Turkey drinks almost a gallon of water a day.

[NellyCrowe]

I am new to turkeys so forgive me if this is normal behavior. My hen drinks nearly a gallon of water a day while my tom drinks nothing close to that. Suffice to say, this makes for a lot of moisture in the shavings. I have to clear out the damp litter everyday and completely replace this bedding.

Is this normal? She suffered from a respiratory ailment earlier in the season but after much tending seems to have come back and is in good health.

Any input would be helpful.

Many thanks.

 

[fawndane]

Are you sure she is drinking a gallon or is the waterer leaking? I would check for punctures in the waterer, and be sure you have set it up correctly. I had this problem before, turns out I wasn’t screwing the cover on tight enough and it leaked through the fountain and spilled out of the tray onto the ground.

 

[NellyCrowe]

Yes. The metal bucket is sound with no leaks. Her poop is very watery which I've been told is normal.

 

[casportpony]

Watery poop is not normal.

How much does she weigh?

Is she laying?

 

[NellyCrowe]

She is six months old and layed for a few weeks and then stopped. The watery poop started up a month after. I don't have a scale so am unable to weigh her. Her appetite and energy are good. I'm grateful for any ideas you might have on her condition.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

@duluthralphie and @rjohns39 are the go to turkey guys. Tagging for an assist

 

[DwayneNLiz]

can you post a picture of her poop?

 

[NellyCrowe]

Thanks. Yes I will post a photo. I'm heading to the coop in a half an hour. Not quite seven here on the Olympic Peninsula.

 

[Mama Runner]

I have to ask only. Because this happened to me. Can any little birds get to her water? After we lost our Tom we had to make an emergency coop for our girl turkey we used a hudge dog cage. I thought I was going crazy because I had a 3 gallon water container in with her, and it was always empty. We put up a camera to see what was going on.

The finches and other wild birds would go in and take baths and drink her water. We ended up wrapping the cage with fencing so the could no longer free load her food and water.

 

[NellyCrowe]

Hi, and thanks for your reply. Yes - the birds can, song sparrows mostly. I haven't seen them in the house, but definitely underneath the house. The watering bucket is disinfected once a day.