Turkey Poults and Chicks together?

[moonlitechick]

My babies are doing great!!! They are eating and drinking well. Then only problem I am having is keeping them in their brooder pen. I have 3 brooders that are divided by 1x2 wire. Some of the smaller poults can squeeze through the wire and are getting in with the older chicks that are 2 weeks older and some are getting in with the chicks that are 5 weeks older. The chicks don't seem to be bothering them though. I put them back in their spot and they go right back through the wire. I finally had to put some cardbaord up between them and the chicks that are 5 weeks older. They are adorable and so much fun to watch.

 

[kuntrygirl]

No, they are not that dumb, but they do take a little extra care for those first three days.

I've hatched and raised poults with chicks and without. MOST of the time the poults learn to eat and drink just fine on their own after I've done the "dip their beaks in their water and set them down on top of their feed" routine with each one of them. I do the same with chicks as well. But occasionally I'll have some that don't pick it up as fast so I have to repeat the routine again. With a couple of chicks in the mix they'll do it for you.

Raise them with or without. It's up to you. Either way you need to pay attention those first few days to make sure they are all eating and drinking properly.

I agree.

 

[frank53061]

I have turkey poults due any day. I have never raised turkeys before. I have been told that I need to have a couple of chicks the same age as my poults to show the poults what to do. (find the water/food) Is this true???? Are turkey poults that dumb that they have to have a chick to show them how to eat and drink?

This is my first time with Turkeys but I did read and hear that raising Turkeys with Chics would help the Turkeys along may be a little less worries.
At 10 weeks of age now they are doing great no pecking that I have found.
When they are full grown I will pull the Chickens out and add to my older birds.
I incubated eggs from my flock and set them to hatch the same time I was to get my poults in the mail so they would be the same age when putting them together.
Check out the videos that I just put up Red Bourbon Turkeys and Chics with my Daughter.

 

[Flock Runner]

it isn't needed to have chicks to teach them how to eat and drink. i've always done worse with them because the turkey's are prone to getting sick. if they are having trouble learning to eat put some shiny stuff like old jewelry in the food so that they start pecking at it. if they don't know how to drink just dip their beaks in the water and they'll get it eventually.

 

[ccrawf]

I try to raise my poults with chicks, it just works better I think. But turkeys are more sensitive the first few days. My brooders also have wire bottoms, and what I do is lay paper towels in the bottom for the first weeks or so. It gives them something better to walk on and all. Just peel it up and replace as needed. I also sprinkle some of the game starter right on the towel. When I take them out of the hatcher, I dip their beak and then set them down with the food around them.
As far as mixing birds of different ages, to me I think a lot of that depends on the chicks themselves. If they will accept them then it isn’t a problem. But you do have to watch because once they get started pecking on a baby, they will continue until it is dead. You will have to separate it. I find this mostly when one has an injury or something like that. And if you put the new babies in with the older ones, they will help teach them how to eat and drink with out needing the chickens.
Clay

 

[irisblues]

We have Seramas - they are small and mild-mannered and a week-old Serama makes a good turkey mentor.