I bought 15 turkeys from Porter's and they arrived Friday. One was dead in the box, but I expected as much as I have had turkeys shipped before and it seems that one never does well in the box. They gave me three extra, and so I still had 17. The one that had died was a Pencilled Palm. Alright, so I take them home and give them food, water, and heat. (I'll elaborate on what below) By that night 2 are dead, through the weekend 2 others die. Yesterday, Tuesday, another died. In all 3 Bourbons, 2 Pencilled palms, and an unmarked poult I think is a red-pencilled palm. I called porter's twice and talked to them, but I felt like they were just assuring me it wasn't their problem. They gave me some tips but I was following their instructions on the paper that came with the box, putting sugar in the water, and such. It could be trauma from the shipping, maybe they were shook or handled badly, but would they still be dying 5 days later? I've raised turkeys before just never this many, always 2-3 whites or bronzes. All of these died within an hour of showing symptoms (laying on back, gasping, closing eyes). Each one I've brought inside and warmed up alone, given water, feed, ect. But all die no matter what I do. I know that Porter's isn't liable and won't replace them, but I just want to know whats wrong and am I going to loose more?
They are about 5 days old since getting here, some look a day or two older, but generally they are the same. I have them in a large 6x8 brooder in my garage, it is framed with wood and covered with chicken wire on all the sides. I would keep them in a tub but they peck each other far to much and it is crowded, so I put them in here. I put some sides up on the garage door side incase there is a draft. They have a 150 w bulb, but plenty of room to get away from it. They seem very comfortable and play and run around. They have turkey starter, and a gallon waterer with karo syrup in it. There are a couple of shiney things on the ground to keep them distracted from pecking. Marker dots on the paper towels, some bright colored chicken scratch spread in some of the corners, a big stuffed goose plushy they sit on, and some jingly toys when they aren't being played with by the gosling in the other pen. I've used this brooder for all my birds and all have been fine so far? Before putting them in it I cleaned it out completely, bleached the bottom, wiped it off, and then put three layers of paper towels in along the entire brooder. I'm not sure exactly how high the light is, I adjust it to how they are behaving, I would guess a little less then a foot. I get their water from the tap, and we get our water from a well. It doesn't have a softer (porter's asked that) so it shouldn't be too salty.
Any idea on what is wrong with them? Or if I am doing something wrong?
Thank you,
Sierra
They are about 5 days old since getting here, some look a day or two older, but generally they are the same. I have them in a large 6x8 brooder in my garage, it is framed with wood and covered with chicken wire on all the sides. I would keep them in a tub but they peck each other far to much and it is crowded, so I put them in here. I put some sides up on the garage door side incase there is a draft. They have a 150 w bulb, but plenty of room to get away from it. They seem very comfortable and play and run around. They have turkey starter, and a gallon waterer with karo syrup in it. There are a couple of shiney things on the ground to keep them distracted from pecking. Marker dots on the paper towels, some bright colored chicken scratch spread in some of the corners, a big stuffed goose plushy they sit on, and some jingly toys when they aren't being played with by the gosling in the other pen. I've used this brooder for all my birds and all have been fine so far? Before putting them in it I cleaned it out completely, bleached the bottom, wiped it off, and then put three layers of paper towels in along the entire brooder. I'm not sure exactly how high the light is, I adjust it to how they are behaving, I would guess a little less then a foot. I get their water from the tap, and we get our water from a well. It doesn't have a softer (porter's asked that) so it shouldn't be too salty.
Any idea on what is wrong with them? Or if I am doing something wrong?
Thank you,
Sierra
