Turkey is Having Seizures

[R2elk]

Thanks for your response. We enlarged our coop when we put in out last order for 45. Approx. 8sf per bird not counting the coop space. They also free range for several hours a day.

I think the lack of water may have had something to do with it as well. I also feed our turkeys the layer feed that I feed the hens. Im not sure if that could be a factor as well.

Thanks for the info as well about submitting video through youtube had not idea that is how it works.

For coop space, I consider 10 sq. ft. of clear area the absolute minimum per adult turkey. That amount of space is in addition to any space requirements for the chickens. They need a run with even more than that in addition to the coop space.

It is amazing that you haven't lost most of your poultry because of them not having any water for 48 hours.

Adult turkeys can do fine on a quality chicken layer feed. Once they get stressed it is better to offer them a quality all flock feed that has 20% protein.

Can anyone tell me if it is ok to have the hen, tom & poult's together in the same space after the eggs hatch? Will the Tom harm the babies. Right now the hen is sitting on them in the corner of the coop, pretty much hidden from the chickens but they still have access to her but they do not seem to pay much attention to her. I guess I should wait until all the poult's hatch them move her to the new pen. Any suggestions...this is my first time hatching out poult's. We are super excited and anxious but feel like we are very inexperienced at the same time.

All toms can react differently to new poults as well as the hens not all reacting the same. Toms that start out very good with the poults can change without warning. I would keep the tom separate from the hen and her poults until they are older and getting around well enough to be able to get out of the way of clumsy feet or intentional pecks.

 

[R2elk]

Chicken layer feed is not "good enough" for turkeys.

Turkeys need higher protein amounts than chickens do.
View attachment 1408689
https://www.nap.edu/read/2114/chapter/5#36

A quality layer feed of at least 16% protein is fine for adult turkeys. Turkey poults do require a higher percentage of protein and higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin than chicks need.

 

[ojust4today]

Thank you all so much!! I really mean that. I feel relieved knowing I’m getting info from people who have first hand dealt with turkeys to know and understand their needs. Also that I’m gaining the information when I really need it.
My guy was on his back again this morning. As long as his feet can reach or hit something he can guide himself up. If not he just kicks and kicks wearing himself out. I’m sure that takes a lot of energy that he does not have right now.
Thanks for the info for run space needed which now is adequate and dealing with the Tom around the poults.

When the poults begin to hatch should I do anything right away? I should not do anything until all the all the eggs are hatched? As of last night she is still sitting looks as though she has not moved in days. When she first started sitting I would see her come out to eat and move around. I have not seen her do either in a long while.

 

[R2elk]

When the poults begin to hatch should I do anything right away? I should not do anything until all the all the eggs are hatched? As of last night she is still sitting looks as though she has not moved in days. When she first started sitting I would see her come out to eat and move around. I have not seen her do either in a long while.

The poults can go for up to 3 days without eating or drinking while they finish absorbing the egg yolk.

Unfortunately not all hens are good mothers and some don't give the new poults the attention they need. Most are good mothers and simply providing water and turkey starter nearby is all that is needed.

Be prepared to capture the poults and move them to a brooder if the hen is not taking proper care of them.

Depending when all of the eggs are due, it is most likely that the hen will get off of the nest before they all hatch especially if it is going to be an extended hatch.

Just because you don't see the hen off of the nest does not mean it doesn't happen. I just had a hen hatch poults over the weekend. I had only seen her off of the nest 4 times during the 28 days it took her for the hatch but she was off the nest at least once every day. Another hen is due this coming weekend and I have not seen her off the nest in over a week but evidence indicates that she is off the nest daily.

Good luck.

 

[ojust4today]

The poults can go for up to 3 days without eating or drinking while they finish absorbing the egg yolk.

Unfortunately not all hens are good mothers and some don't give the new poults the attention they need. Most are good mothers and simply providing water and turkey starter nearby is all that is needed.

Be prepared to capture the poults and move them to a brooder if the hen is not taking proper care of them.

Depending when all of the eggs are due, it is most likely that the hen will get off of the nest before they all hatch especially if it is going to be an extended hatch.

Just because you don't see the hen off of the nest does not mean it doesn't happen. I just had a hen hatch poults over the weekend. I had only seen her off of the nest 4 times during the 28 days it took her for the hatch but she was off the nest at least once every day. Another hen is due this coming weekend and I have not seen her off the nest in over a week but evidence indicates that she is off the nest daily.

Good luck.

WOW good to know. This is valuable information. I will keep an eye out and do everything suggested here. Can you explain further the extended hatch. I get the concepts since all the eggs were laid at a separate time and she did not begin sitting until the last one was laid I believe is how it works why would there be an extended hatch. Do they most not hatch around the same time...are there days apart or most likely hours? Thanks again so so much.

Anna

 

[R2elk]

WOW good to know. This is valuable information. I will keep an eye out and do everything suggested here. Can you explain further the extended hatch. I get the concepts since all the eggs were laid at a separate time and she did not begin sitting until the last one was laid I believe is how it works why would there be an extended hatch. Do they most not hatch around the same time...are there days apart or most likely hours? Thanks again so so much.

Anna

If eggs are laid after the hen has started setting constantly, they will hatch after the other eggs that were laid. Most hens will sit long enough to hatch most but not all of the eggs especially if eggs were added continuously while they were already setting.

I normally steal the poults as they hatch and move them to a brooder since there is far less that can happen to them in the brooder than if they are allowed to remain in the general population. Because I keep taking the poults my hens tend to stay on the nest until every last egg is hatched even if it is a week later.

In the case of the hen that hatched poults over the weekend, I took her poults and put them in the brooder with a tutor chick. I allowed her to have the opportunity to adopt the 3 week old poults from my incubator hatch. It has taken her 3 days and now those poults are starting to accept her as their mother. At 3 weeks old those poults are much less susceptible to accidental deaths in the general population than her 3 day old babies.

If your hen did not have any eggs added to her nest after she began setting, it is likely that all eggs that are going to hatch will do so within a day or two of each other.

 

[ojust4today]

Again Wow, this is awesome information...did not know about a tutor chick ( would that be a chicken hen with turkey babies or either as long as they take on the role does not make a difference?

Ok, I have a brooder ready to go. I will keep an eye out for poults that have hatched. How do they act when you take the babies are they defensive? Do you do it a night or day...doesnt make a difference. How do you know which hen would make a good tutor. I have a pullet that I believe has gone broody. She is always in the nesting boxes hangs out there even where I take her eggs..feed time does not phase her. Would she make a good tutor or is she too young. I only have one male and one female turkey.

 

[R2elk]

Again Wow, this is awesome information...did not know about a tutor chick ( would that be a chicken hen with turkey babies or either as long as they take on the role does not make a difference?

Ok, I have a brooder ready to go. I will keep an eye out for poults that have hatched. How do they act when you take the babies are they defensive? Do you do it a night or day...doesn't make a difference. How do you know which hen would make a good tutor. I have a pullet that I believe has gone broody. She is always in the nesting boxes hangs out there even where I take her eggs..feed time does not phase her. Would she make a good tutor or is she too young. I only have one male and one female turkey.

A tutor chick is just that. It is a chick about the same age as the poults. Chicks usually take right to eating very quickly while turkey poults can be difficult to get to start eating and drinking if there are only a few of them. I usually don't bother with a tutor chick since I normally have a large group of poults to start at the same time. I live on a sand dune so I use the "free" sand for bedding in my brooder. I sprinkle turkey starter on the sand along with providing a feeder full of turkey starter. The poult's natural tendency is to peck at things on the ground so they find the starter pretty quickly. It can often take several days before mine start eating out of the feeder.

If the poults are left with their mother, they will learn to eat and drink by mimicking her feeding and drinking motions. You do not have to take the poults away from the mother and you can allow her to raise them, just observe her to make sure she is being a good mother.

Each individual hen reacts differently to having her babies stolen. I have been bitten and flogged as I steal the poults or in this last case I had no problems swiping the poults.

I just heard from a neighbor who had crows steal two of his several week old poults from one of his hens. There are just so many different bad things that can happen to young poults.

 

[ojust4today]

Bob thanks so much. Not sure I could go through all this without all your help. I cant thank you enough!!

 

[ojust4today]

A tutor chick is just that. It is a chick about the same age as the poults. Chicks usually take right to eating very quickly while turkey poults can be difficult to get to start eating and drinking if there are only a few of them. I usually don't bother with a tutor chick since I normally have a large group of poults to start at the same time. I live on a sand dune so I use the "free" sand for bedding in my brooder. I sprinkle turkey starter on the sand along with providing a feeder full of turkey starter. The poult's natural tendency is to peck at things on the ground so they find the starter pretty quickly. It can often take several days before mine start eating out of the feeder.

If the poults are left with their mother, they will learn to eat and drink by mimicking her feeding and drinking motions. You do not have to take the poults away from the mother and you can allow her to raise them, just observe her to make sure she is being a good mother.

Each individual hen reacts differently to having her babies stolen. I have been bitten and flogged as I steal the poults or in this last case I had no problems swiping the poults.

I just heard from a neighbor who had crows steal two of his several week old poults from one of his hens. There are just so many different bad things that can happen to young poults.

Ok, still no poults. However she has changed position completely. Picks at straw to make her nest bigger/better and today she pushed an egg away from her about 1ft away.

When a poult hatches will there be any obvious signs I should listen or look for? I have made a few attempts to get near her she was not having it... before she changed positions. I go in everyday with the expectation there will be these lil babies and I just am unsure of how I will know.

Thanks!!!