What is the average loss for turkey poults?

[the simple life]

I am wondering what the average loss would be on an order of turkey poults and what the biggest cause is.
I hear that turkeys are always finding new ways to get themselves killed so if you were to keep them in the brooding pen in the coop and off the soil for the first 8-10 weeks will that head off the biggest cause of loss, between disease and accidents?
I could put a couple of chicks in with them to get them off to a good start on eating and drinking.
Is 8 weeks too long for their size for them to be confined or should they be allowed in the run?
If you wanted to end up with a certain amount of turkeys how many extra would you order on top of that?

 

[houndit]

When we ordered 50 Broad Breasted Whites, we usually lost about 5 or so. A lot of factors can change though. They are not very bright. They can get wet, and die, they can get cold and die, a cat might eat them, or they might just die. You have to be very careful. Usually not many die unless there is something really bad like mentioned above. The hardiest breed I have raised is the White Holland.

 

[the simple life]

Thank you. I have heard good things about the white holland.
I guess its better to order more than I need and if I end up with too many I will just sell them off.

 

[chseeads]

I've only ordered poults once, this past summer, and didn't lose any. 15 ordered, 16 arrived, all survived.


When I had turkeys in the past, years ago, I had got them at the feed store and raised any suceeding generations myself.

 

[sandspoultry]

Quote:
We have 6 varietes of turkeys and the poults aren't that hard to raise.

Sharon

 

[ivan3]

the simple life wrote: Is 8 weeks too long for their size for them to be confined or should they be allowed in the run?

As long as they are given a chance to adjust to the outdoor temps it shouldn't be a problem. If they are in the run and not crowding together, they're probably warm enough.​

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

I probably hatched out 4-500 last year, kept back 50 or so, Lost 1, heat lamp bulb blew during a rain storm. They are a lot tougher than people give them credit for, as long as you use good sense with them, warm, dry, clean brooder, good feed, and yes I keep all mine on wire brooders til at least 8 weeks, just build a bigger brooder. I never put biddies in with them though, they figure it out pretty quick. Dip their beak in the water, teaches them to drink, tap your finger in the food dish , they know how to eat... Pretty easy, once one gets it, they plat follow the leader....

 

[teckkev]

Chicken Chicks do help with turkey poult's survival? I'm getting 200 chicks and thought about getting 15 Bronze Breasted. If I put some of the chicks in with the poults, poults will do fine? 2nd year for chickens here. I went from 6 chicks at tractor supply to incubating neighbor's chicken eggs (poor hatch rate - my fault) to now going full speed

I'm glad I found this forum for useful info.

Kevin

 

[the simple life]

Here is a link to an article a member here wrote regarding starting turkeys out, you may find it helpful.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=295424

 

[chickenannie]

Quote:
Just a note: When I put one poult in with 25 chicks of the same age, the turkey was often a bit pushed around. The chicks were always rushing around and the turkey seemed to contemplate things a bit more. It's hard to describe but I took the poult out after a week or so because I didn't think he was getting a fair shake at the food etc. Kinda got pushed around. they have mildly different styles and with that big of a ratio 1:25 it was in favor of the chicks. So I'm not sure how 15 poults would do in the same pen with 200 chicks.