Turkey Poult Being a Turd

[PolarBerry]

So I have 7 bourbon red turkey poults, 5 days old today.

Two of them arrived squinting but now one of them has decided to open its eye. I have one left who has decided to squint and be a brat while he's at it.

He (I'll just assume) will peck at the other poults and not just at beaks, he grabs eyelids, pokes eyes, grabs feathers and toes. Most others will occasionally peck around or at each other but they don't grab like he does.

They have plenty of food scattered about and I even put in a stick and a hanging tp tube for things to peck at.

Temps are about 95-97 (they get really vocal when it's out of this range).

They're in a 4 ft round kiddie pool with sides and so it's about 12 sq ft for the time being.

Question is, what can I do to stop this? Do I need to trim his beak? I have a red light but it being on or off makes no difference.

When I see him doing it I take him out into "timeout" near me in a cardboard box or hold him for a while. Usually he behaves for a little bit after but I obviously can't babysit 24/7.

Is it because his depth perception is off from squinting so he hits eyes and other birds too hard? Is he going to have to be thanksgiving dinner?

His eye is fully formed and functional when I opened it (he focused on me) but he holds it closed.

Any advice?

(Picture added of non-peckers just because they're being silly)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That can be normal behavior. Generally they grow out of it. I scatter glass stones to give them something to peck at. If it continues to be a problem make a small separation fence, a circle of wire to contain it for a while, letting it out to eat and drink, confining when it gets pecking too much. What you call a turd, I call a vigorous bird.

 

[PolarBerry]

Everyone seems to be getting equally pecked at. They're learning to fly so I've seen a few jump up and hop away as they're getting pecked. Thanks for the tips, I'll get some glass globs to take some of the pecks.

 

[PolarBerry]

One of the turkeys died overnight... I've lost 10 of my 22 guineas as well. If anyone has insight please help... Really disheartening to do everything right and get attached and have spent so much money and have them dropping like flies... fine one minute then dead the next.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's not normal. Generally they will get sick first before dying. We're they shipped to you as day olds?

 

[PolarBerry]

Yes, shipped as day olds. On 28% protein gamebird feed, clean water refreshed usually twice daily, kept on paper towels changed 2x daily. No diarrhea/pasty butts/abnormal stools, Heat spot of 95, no drafts, no other pets around them to spook them.

None show symptoms up until 10-15 minutes prior to death and it's a loss of motor control, seizure, gasping with head flailing, and death. After death their crops seem fine, they have food in stomach, no odd odors from face or any discharge... just dead.

The hatchery is at a loss as am I...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That does sound very odd. Are they choking? Probably not though. I will always add some sugar to their water during the first week to help them from getting low blood sugars, but it doesn't sound like that really, so I'm not sure if that would help.

Sometimes they spend too much time in transit and can never recover. Are you making sure they are eating. Turkeys need to be shown the food a few times a day by pecking your finger at it until they get it. Those shiny glass rocks can help to draw in their attention. Otherwise it sounds like you are doing everything right.

 

[PolarBerry]

The turkeys know where to find food and are voracious eaters. I sprinkle in new food by the feeder every few hours and they come running to peck around.

I'm tempted to try giving them all an antibiotic round, since the worst it could do is kill my already dying off poultry... I dislike potentially causing any antibiotic resistance but if it's not environmental and not coccidia and can rule out bacterial... then that'd mean it's most likely viral or genetic and just has to run its course.

Hatchery wants me to call them back today. Their suggestion was treat for coccidia and put on pine shavings since the paper towels are killing them *rolls eyes*

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Killer paper towels? That's a new one. It certainly couldn't hurt to try antibiotics at this point. Hopefully the hatchery is reimbursing you for the loses since it sounds like they are concerned.

It is very odd that such vigorous sounding birds are dropping so rapidly.

 

[PolarBerry]

Yes, they said it was odd. I even spoke with their resident guinea owner and she said I'm doing everything right. Only thing noticed is after death they have slight signs of dehydration. I'm expecting to lose more too with the rate they're dying.

Guess it's time to head back to the feed store. With the hundreds of dollars I spent on just the birds, then add in feed and medicines and other supplies it's getting quite costly.. I've kept the most recent bodies in the fridge in the event I can find someone to do a necropsy that doesn't charge more than replacing the entire flock..