Turkey Talk for 2014

[SilkieSensation]

It may not be that noticeable in this photo, but the one on the right is nearly twice as big as the one on the left, the snood is also evident, he walks taller and with more purpose, We believe this one is a Jake, first to hatch and hasn't had to "follow" the chicks to food and water, he attacks the water like its his enemy lol...

Size at hatch isn't near as accurate as a size difference in 2-3 weeks.

 

[AmericanMom]

Size at hatch isn't near as accurate as a size difference in 2-3 weeks.

Well there goes my theory lol

 

[SilkieSensation]

Size at hatch isn't near as accurate as a size difference in 2-3 weeks.

Well there goes my theory lol

Hatch size depends more on egg size. Once they grow a couple weeks, males will usually have noticably larger snoods, thicker legs, stand a bit taller, slightly heavier bodies & begin to strut. I can sex pretty accurately on broad breasted by 2 weeks & heritage by 3-4 weeks.

 

[chickadoodles]

AmericanMom your poults are very adorable they look like my BR's. What kind are they?

I have not had a problem with the legs as of yet. Knock on wood.... I used some of that rubber shelf liner from the dollar general store in the bottom of my bators while hatching and also in the bottom of the brooder for a few days till I switched to sand.
My chicks still get pine shavings but I also use the shelf liner for a few days till they are up walking good and have their balance. Keep in mind I am still only on my 3rd year of poultry so I am still new and learning also.

 

[AmericanMom]

AmericanMom your poults are very adorable they look like my BR's. What kind are they?

I have not had a problem with the legs as of yet. Knock on wood.... I used some of that rubber shelf liner from the dollar general store in the bottom of my bators while hatching and also in the bottom of the brooder for a few days till I switched to sand.
My chicks still get pine shavings but I also use the shelf liner for a few days till they are up walking good and have their balance. Keep in mind I am still only on my 3rd year of poultry so I am still new and learning also.

They are Bourbon Reds... I am a bit partial, I think they are adorable, the larger one is a spaz lol, he runs around pushing everyone out of his way and getting the goods first, or atleast investigating what the commotion is about, unless that is she/he is causing the commotion..
I do alot of thrift store shopping and pic up the rubber shelf liner when I find it cheap, Got quite the collection lol, I use that in the hatcher but switch to paper towels in the brooder until they get moved to the big galvanized tub at a week old, then they get the pine shavings, easier to clean ... When I first started incubating I used newspaper in the brooder, after the third chicken chick that developed splay leg I switched to paper towels and haven't had an issue since..
My Grandmother once told me that in life we don't stop learning until we die, I guess hatching is the same lol

 

[ksandvig]

We have 8 chickens & last weekend picked up 2 turkey poults from a feed store. They are a hoot! We have one that has a dirty little bum, we keep cleaning it. Thinking of adding a little acv to see if that helps
an other suggestions.

 

[AmericanMom]

We have 8 chickens & last weekend picked up 2 turkey poults from a feed store. They are a hoot! We have one that has a dirty little bum, we keep cleaning it. Thinking of adding a little acv to see if that helps
an other suggestions.

Are they getting grit or finely ground corn? I had one poult that had hatching debris stuck to its bum... I gave it a partial bath and cleaned it off, it squatted right away and discharged a mass of poo lol.. AVC is really good for the poultry, I always give free choice of that and just plain water in the brooders.

 

[ksandvig]

Yes they are getting grit, I am going to do acv I just wasn't sure if they were too young I have cracked corn I will give them a treat of that also
thanks for the response!

 

[chickadoodles]

Yes hatching is something we keep learning new things about all the time. They were hatching back in the days of the Roman Empire and we have come along way. lol

I thought they looked like bourbons. Love them too.

I don't give cracked corn to mine till they are a few months old. From what I read they can't handle it in their systems yet. I read a lot online about raising turkey some stuck some did not. lol

 

[chickadoodles]

Newly hatched this morning.