Turkey Poult Question

[dangerouschicken]

Is he old enough to live outside now? My two turkeys are now 5 weeks or so old.

 

[reallemons1]

Mine are outside in a pen at that age. They should be okay as long as they are in a safe enclosure.

 

[dangerouschicken]

note to self -- MUST GET DUCKS TO PROCESSOR. MAKE ROOM FOR TURKEYS.

Thanks!

 

[mtnchicks]

Mine aren't out yet, at that age, but I'm in Colorado and the weather is a bit different. I can't wait until mine can go out: I'm so tired of cleaning brooder boxes!

 

[lengel]

Quote:

Went to get the last two turkey poults at the feed store today and they practically threw them at me so they could clean out the box and retire it for the season.

Good to know that they can go out at five weeks. Our keets need our extra large brooder box in a month so the poults will have to be gone by them.

 

[dangerouschicken]

I know I know, it's funny how they all move from brooder to brooder as they get bigger. I have one that first was for chicks, then ducks, now turkeys, and soon guineas

I think my meat chickens are gonna have to have one whole brooder each they are eating so much!

 

[pdpatch]

At 5 weeks we took ours out to an outside pen and returned them at night to their indoor pen. That got to be to much for us so when I got the indoor pens done we have left them in there for now. We started then in plastic tots, and they have been through 4 different sized brooders so far.

I believe that the Turkey imune system is not developed completely until 7 to 9 weeks of age.
So it could be somewhat risky for them.

They are still in the Pens:

We bring in grass for then every other day, and provide grit for them. About once a week we still have to change there litter. I am hoping to get started on there outside mobile coop and run shortly.

Tom

 

[mtnchicks]

pdpatch, I was told the same thing, at 8 wks they can be out, but not on the ground, and at 16 to 20 weeks they can be out if seperated from others. But many people don't do that, so ours go out (at 6 weeks) for a short time if the weather's nice, and then back to the brooder. Like I said, if the weather was nicer, and more predictable, here, they'd be out more. Today, we had 40 -50 degrees and strong winds. Two days ago it was almost 90 degrees.
Also, I don't think blackhead is a problem here. Mine are in a portion of the chicken run when they are out, so they have been exposed already. So far, so good.
One more thing, about the brooders. When I first started, I told my husband I'd have a box in the garage with a heat lamp. His garage is precious, but that sounded o.k. to him. Then, my order of chicks ended up being seperated over a month, so I had three different ages of chicks in 3 boxes. This year, I had ducks, then the turkeys. One of the turkeys picked on the others (bloody toes), so they had to be seperated. I always have several brooders, electrical cords running everwhere, different feed, etc. And then to top it off, I have the nerve to ask him not to run the air compressor, power tools too much because it might stress the birds. He had no idea what he was getting into!

 

[mtnchicks]

Dangerouschicken, I wish I could have guineas. I live in town, though, and they would be a nuisance. I really like them, though. I really need to win the lotto so I can buy my 1000 acre ranch!

 

[priszilla]

ME too- I don't ever ever ever want to move again -- but IF I won a big lottery and could buy a huge amount of acreage and have my dream farm..... but I don't buy lottery tickets-since so many pppl have to lose for so few too win something it seems somehow wrong to me. I heard once onthe radio that most big lottery winners end up divorced and bankrupt within 5 years of winning- I would be curious how they found out that- wonder if there is a book about? Bet it is fun to dream - what would you do with the BIG MONEY- but someone here has a great sig line- about it it is not what i would do witht eh 10 million I don't have but the 1$ I do- or somehting to that affect-
I am rambling now as I hijacked this thread-LOL