Turkeys For 2013

[Sally8]

Question about this one, Kuntrygirl. Would it be beneficial at all to bring in some soil and put a box of that in the brooder for them to pick through? Or would it do more harm than good? From, say, after the time when they are eating well on their own and from an area that does not have blackhead?

Hopefully I'll be getting a call from Porters before too long saying my poults are on their way, and I want to make sure I don't kill them.

Thanks!

My vote would be no. I'm not exactly sure why you would want to, maybe to try to condition them? Anyway, my grandfather, way back in the 1920's would never let his poults feet touch the ground until they got to a certain age. My mother can't remember just how long. I think I'll try to do a little research in that and get back. I know some thing's are like urban legends. Something we do because our parents and grandparents do.

 

[TexasLisa]

My vote would be no. I'm not exactly sure why you would want to, maybe to try to condition them? Anyway, my grandfather, way back in the 1920's would never let his poults feet touch the ground until they got to a certain age. My mother can't remember just how long. I think I'll try to do a little research in that and get back. I know some thing's are like urban legends. Something we do because our parents and grandparents do.

That reminds me of the young newlywed who was fixing pot roast for dinner one night. Her husband asked her why she was cutting the end off the pot roast before putting it in the pan. She said, ' This is the way my mom fixed it. I will ask her why.' The next day she called her mom and asked her. Her mom said, ' Well that is the way my mom fixed it. I will call and ask her.' So she called her mom and asked her. The newlywed's grandmother reply: 'My pan was too small, so I had to cut the end off to make it fit.'

Lisa

 

[chicken pickin]

That reminds me of the young newlywed who was fixing pot roast for dinner one night. Her husband asked her why she was cutting the end off the pot roast before putting it in the pan. She said, ' This is the way my mom fixed it. I will ask her why.' The next day she called her mom and asked her. Her mom said, ' Well that is the way my mom fixed it. I will call and ask her.' So she called her mom and asked her. The newlywed's grandmother reply: 'My pan was too small, so I had to cut the end off to make it fit.'

Lisa

That is hilariuous

 

[Sally8]

That reminds me of the young newlywed who was fixing pot roast for dinner one night. Her husband asked her why she was cutting the end off the pot roast before putting it in the pan. She said, ' This is the way my mom fixed it. I will ask her why.' The next day she called her mom and asked her. Her mom said, ' Well that is the way my mom fixed it. I will call and ask her.' So she called her mom and asked her. The newlywed's grandmother reply: 'My pan was too small, so I had to cut the end off to make it fit.'

Lisa

That's exactly what I mean. I heard that story before. I did call Mom and she said it was because of some disease (I'm thinking Blackhead) I think it was this thread where I posted that I called my county ag department and found out that Blackhead was not common in my area. My easy answer here is that it won't be warm enough for me to feel comfortable to put them out on the ground. ITS STILL SNOWING HERE!
Good post!

 

[Bitterroot]

I'm not exactly sure why you would want to,  

To expose them early to microorganisms in my soil, so that it's not so much of a shock to their systems when they do finally go outside. They'll be out there eating grass and bugs when they're older, why not when they're younger? Also, to give them something to do. I plan to do this with chicks, and figured I'd seek advice from someone with a lot of poult experience as to whether or not it can be done.

I'm okay with "don't", just please have an explanation as to why. I'm a naturalist, the scientist side of me always asks why.

ITS STILL SNOWING HERE!

Blech! You can keep it. It's been in the mid sixties and gorgeous here for about the last week.

 

[Sally8]

To expose them early to microorganisms in my soil, so that it's not so much of a shock to their systems when they do finally go outside. They'll be out there eating grass and bugs when they're older, why not when they're younger? Also, to give them something to do. I plan to do this with chicks, and figured I'd seek advice from someone with a lot of poult experience as to whether or not it can be done.

I'm okay with "don't", just please have an explanation as to why. I'm a naturalist, the scientist side of me always asks why.

Blech! You can keep it. It's been in the mid sixties and gorgeous here for about the last week.

As I posted, I did ask Mom, then went on to research it a little. All I found was to make sure they were fully feathered out esp, under wings. They need heat and protection longer than chicks and they were very accident prone as they were nosy (my words, not their's) Blackhead, along with other diseases can be picked up from the soil. Personally, this is just me, but when it warms up enough and I have a spot away from the bigger chickens, I'll be putting mine out. But that goes against everything I've been taught. I can't wait for sunny, warmer weather. The problem is we go from snow and cold to hot and humid.

 

[chicks and hens2]

awesome!

 

[r4eboxer]

I don't quite understand the not putting poults on the ground until a certain age either. If I were to let my broodies hatch them they surely would be taking those poults after a few days onto the soil. I talked to my Ag agent last week about blackhead, he said that as long as they were being fed a good feed there isn't much worry about it. It is when they are compromised in other ways that blackhead is able to attack them.

I wonder if the poults get immunities from the mother and hatchery turkeys or turkeys who were never exposed to soil are the ones with compromised immune systems.

 

[r4eboxer]

That reminds me of the young newlywed who was fixing pot roast for dinner one night. Her husband asked her why she was cutting the end off the pot roast before putting it in the pan. She said, ' This is the way my mom fixed it. I will ask her why.' The next day she called her mom and asked her. Her mom said, ' Well that is the way my mom fixed it. I will call and ask her.' So she called her mom and asked her. The newlywed's grandmother reply: 'My pan was too small, so I had to cut the end off to make it fit.'

Lisa

lol. I've heard that story before, but every time it makes me giggle

 

[kuntrygirl]

10. Keep your poults off of the ground for as long as you can, so their immune system and body can get strong enough to be able to handle what is in the ground and what is in their environment..

Question about this one, Kuntrygirl. Would it be beneficial at all to bring in some soil and put a box of that in the brooder for them to pick through? Or would it do more harm than good? From, say, after the time when they are eating well on their own and from an area that does not have blackhead?

Hopefully I'll be getting a call from Porters before too long saying my poults are on their way, and I want to make sure I don't kill them.

Thanks!

Good question. I wouldn't put any soil in the box at such a young age. They will be just fine without the soil.

Here is an excellent article about hatching and raising poults, (to help explain keeping them off of the ground).
http://www.motherearthnews.com/The-Happy-Homesteader/Raising-Turkey-Poults.aspx#axzz2PPXfAIrB

Natural Hatching Tips

It’s best to have your hen sit in a secure area. Many times the hens will seek a quiet place to make a nest, such as a bush or brush pile, which makes them easy targets for predators, especially at night. After the hen hatches her brood, we move them all to a “maternity” pen for at least the first two months. The maternity area is covered to keep out the rain, plus it keeps the hen and her poults in a smaller area and closer together. We always put a fresh layer of sand down for each group to help prevent soil-borne diseases. Coccidiosis can be a major problem for poults raised on the ground if other poultry has occupied the area before.

I use this same method. When I place my poults outside, they are placed on sand. They NEVER touch the soil. (SEE PICS BELOW).

When my hens hatch their babies, I move the hen and babies to a breeding pen with sand. (SEE PICS BELOW)

And like I always say, everyone will have a different view on putting them on soil as opposed to putting them on sand and that is ok. I can only speak about my experiences and what I have been VERY successful doing with ALL of my poults and not losing 1 single poult. Some people may put their poults on the ground early after hatching with no problem. I am too afraid to do that, so I take every precaution that I know about. It may be "over kill" on my part but I would rather be safe than sorry.

Please let me know if you have ANY questions. Did that kinda clear it up about not putting them on the ground too early?

Keep the questions coming everyone. We are all learning.

PS. And always check with your local AG department to see if Blackhead is common in your area.