Turkey Talk for 2014

[BullChick]

Quote:

It doesn't sound like it is your fault. They were eating and drinking, the brooder was clean, they were warm, but not baking. I trust you have a clue as to what you are doing since you are a chicken owner. Being NPIP doesn't hurt either.

 

[B J Hopkins]

I have 4 hens laying eggs. My youngest hen finally went broody last week. I was stupid. I let her make her nest in a brush pile behind the house. Night 3 a coon or Possum ate most of her eggs & tore up a lot of her feathers. I think more likely coon than possum. None of the other hens have gone broody. Although my Cochin hen is now sitting on a nest of 10 turkey eggs

 

[B J Hopkins]

Makes me wonder how on earth wild turkeys have successful hatches.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Makes me wonder how on earth wild turkeys have successful hatches.

Many of them don't. It's all about finding an adequate hiding spot. Nature is set up so that the species can survive even if the majority of young are killed.

 

[desertmarcy]

I bought my first 3 poults ever. I have chickens right now. I have had geese and duck in the past. So I thought no problem. Well within the first 48 hours one died. Then on day three another. I called the person and took over the last one. I was refunded my money for the three. I don't know what I did wrong, temp of brooder was 95 degrees, I feed the meat maker as that is all we can get here. I did boil up some eggs for them for added protein. I added some electrolites and vitamins to their water. I used paper towels over the pine shavings for the three days I had them. I made sure they were eating and drinking. They just got weaker and weaker until death. Their brooder was a brand new tote.

What did I do wrong.??
Please help as I want to get more

I read the posts related to this. It sounds like you did everything right. Sometimes there are just weak poults, but all 3 sounds weird. Is there a possibility they had a reaction to the outgassing of the new tote? Especially if you had a heat lamp over it, assuming the tote is plastic, new plastic can outgas nasty chemicals. I have several brooders, but none are plastic. They are made of stainless steel, galvanized steel, and cardboard.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
I use plastic totes for the majority of my brooders (rubbermade and sterilite)... never had issues with outgassing... there has to be some other issue at hand that we just aren't seeing...

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

I'm so sorry for your loss, Triplell.

I use the clear Sterilite totes as brooders, too - so easy to clean and disinfect. But out-gassing is a very real concern for me. Any new totes sit outside with the lid off in the sun for several days (or out on the deck for a month is even better) before I even think about using them. I am chemical sensitive and the smell of new plastic totes (and a host of other things) gives me a massive headache and causes my throat and chest burn. And perfumes, scented candles and the like get me to coughing something fierce...sometimes so hard I end up dislocating ribs.

Currently I've got 5 and 6 day old chicks a clear under-the-bed Sterilite box that's long and wide, but only 7 inches tall (I don't like to use the deep totes, as I feel the more fresh air that can get to the babies, the better). But as they get more active, I'm probably going to put them in the cavy cage (similar to the one pictured below), since I'm keeping my little ones in the house right now. The cage is out in the storage building right now (I no longer have cavies aka guinea pigs), so I'll be getting it out within the next couple of days for them. I like that I can set the heat lamp (small wattage bulb) on top of the wire on one end and it makes it warm enough for the babies, yet the cage size still gives them plenty of room to run around and away from the heat if they start to get too warm, and the sides are just high enough so that they can't kick the litter out and onto the floor, yet able to see "mamma".




Although occasionally I just set up the oval stock tank in the barn with a heavy gauge wire lid (hubby made a heavy duty frame to fit over the tank) over it, fasten the lamp on top of the wire lid (so no chance it will fall in or get knocked over), and just brood them out in the barn. But this is only after they are at least a week old.

 

[uphilljill]

Just a reminder: 3 more days to enter the CdM Photobomb Contest!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-third-annual-cinco-de-mayo-turkey-hatchathon​

Photobomb Contest
Third Annual Cinco de Mayo Turkey Hatchathon (all poultry welcome)
​

Do you have a camera hog in your flock?
This contest is for photos of domestic poultry who've inserted themselves (uninvited) into your photographs!


​

ANY domestic fowl accepted!
Judges will choose finalists,
and then YOU vote for your favorites!

2 entries per contestant


Winner gets first choice of the prizes below, runners-up (in order of votes)
get choice of remaining prizes:

Prize #1
12+ Hen's Choice Hatching Eggs (donated by uphilljill)
This barnyard mix and may include eggs from Midget White turkey, Pearl Guinea fowl, LF Barred Plymouth Rock, and Barred Rock/BLR Wyandotte crosses (up to the ladies at time of collection)

Prize #2
8+ Olive Egger Hatching Eggs Hatching Eggs (donated by Penny Hen)
Maran/Am cross

Prize #3
Hen Saddle, size L (donated by uphilljill)
​

Contest Rules:
1. Open to all BYC members in the Continental U.S. (due to shipping of eggs.)
2. Contestants may submit no more than 2 photos.
3. Photos of any domestic fowl accepted.
4. Your submission must be your own photo and not used in a previous contest.
5. No photoshop allowed.
6. To submit your entries, simply post your photos in this thread.
7. Judges will choose finalists, and then YOU vote for your favorites.

Deadline for entry is May 1st, 2014 at midnight PST​

 

[kalibus330]

I am trying to get my 2 poults used to being handled so they won't freak out when they are older as I walk by but they seem to run away from being touched when I first got them they were fine with me touching them but now they just run in fear is there something I am doing wrong I am holding them like you should

 

[chickadoodles]

I am trying to get my 2 poults used to being handled so they won't freak out when they are older as I walk by but they seem to run away from being touched when I first got them they were fine with me touching them but now they just run in fear is there something I am doing wrong I am holding them like you should

If you are standing over them when you go to pick them up, they have the fear of a predator attacking them. It's their instinct. Mine do better if I sit by their brooder and talk to them and hold a treat in my hand for them first.