When can my turkeys take a field trip out on the grass?

[PatS]

Sunny days and nice temps are here. My ten-day old chicken chicks are happily playing in the grass with their mom in a dog kennel.

Can my inside turkeys go out into a (different) covered kennel, too? I have read in posts here that their immune systems are too immature to put them outside until they are 8 weeks old, or 12 weeks old. But if they had a momma hatch them out they'd be outside now.

So what is the recommendation? The lawn is lush...once it has dried out, about mid-day, can the almost month-old poults go out and play?

Also, I have three and a half week old midget whites who are MUCH bigger than our week and a half old bourbon reds. When will the bourbons catch up to the mw's, size-wise?

Thanks.

 

[OmaBird]

I don't leave them long outside but I do take them out into the sun as soon as weather allows.

 

[KOTurkeyRanch]

I let my poults out today. They are about 10 days old. It honestly doesnt matter that much as long as it is sunny and warm. If its not rainy or cloudy they will be good. Make sure its warm. People will tell you not to, but they go by the books. When was the last time 2 hours of sun hurt a poult? Never in my experience...Last year i had 5 bronze that i let out in an uncovered cage made out of chicken wire to keep them fenced in and everyday for about 5 hours they were out. A month old is plenty enough time to be outside for the day, just not nights. I keep them in the brooder until 8 weeks then they go in my barn and pasture.

 

[KOTurkeyRanch]

Forgot to say, make sure there is an area that has direct sunlight and also shaded areas

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
The problem people have putting poults out to early is alot of times they just turn them out. It rains, they run off, the hawk gets them, the neighbors cat or dog and on and on. If the poults are on ground that other poultry has been pooping on then they will more than likely get cocci. If you are putting them out in a protected, virgin area then they will be fine and will do them good.

Your BR's will catch up to your MW's in 2 weeks. But then again your MW's will still be 2 weeks bigger.

..... I know shut up Steve. In time the BR's will hit a growth spurt and outgrow the Midgets.

Steve

 

[PatS]

Quote:
Okay. I'm sure the chickens have walked every square foot of the property by now. I was planning to give the turks an area of freshly mowed grass -- no visible poop, but probably microscopic remnants. The medicated turkey starter won't prevent cocci?

An additional question -- with my chickens, I fed them medicated feed when they were little guys, then when they graduated to big-kid food, I fed them organic. No transition problems or illnesses with that flock. (But I know chickens are more rough-and tumble than turkeys.) Now I have little chicks and poults. I was thinking of doing the same thing with these guys and have been feeding them both their own types of medicated feeds (the turkey has higher protein). I was planning to switch to organic grow crumbles a couple of months down the road. Will I be able to go organic that soon with the turks, or it is better to feed them medicated longer than I do with the chicks?

Thanks so much for your help, Steve and KOTR!