When should I pick them up?

[boxermom]

The feed store is expecting the order of BR's tomorrow. I'm getting 4-5. My question is, should I pick them up tomorrow? (one big stress day) or pick them up at a later date? (stretch out the stress) I don't want to lose any. These are also my first turkeys so I have no experience. I'm all set up w/28% game starter and a new stock tank for a brooder.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I would pick them up right away and get them under your care. They will be stressed from shipping and alot of times a feed store won't care for them like we would. I would pick the most active poults from the bunch. That's another reason not to wait, everybody else will do the same thing.

Steve in NC

 

[farmerlor]

I agree. I think the longer they stay there the more exposed to germs and diseases they'll be so I'd get them out of there. I'd also stock up on some plain, unflavored yogurt just in case they need it or just to give them a little mixed in their feed to make it easier to eat for the first few days.

 

[Struttn1]

I agree also. Be the 1st there and get the picks of the litter.

be sure to rig a screen for the top of the brooder. One of the BR's I hatched from Steve's eggs is flying out of the brooder at barely over a week old. Their wing feathers grow really fast.

 

[farmerlor]

Oh yeah, Jefferson is my bourbon pet turk and he was definitely flying out of his big rubbermaid tub at one week.

 

[boxermom]

Thank you all for your replies. I will go as soon as the feed store calls. I have the yogurt and the acv. Anything else I need? Also, DH and I just finished applying the hardware cloth to the top of the brooder. Not necessarily to keep them in, but to keep predators out!
Also, do they need to be on wire? I know to have them on paper towels for the first few days, but can they be on pine shavings after that? Thanks again for all your help and expertise. We "newbies" really appreciate it.

 

[Struttn1]

If you are planning to brood these poults outside you need to have them off the ground on wire but completely cover the floor with cardboard or newspaper then with shavings. You also had better have a way to make the brooder completely windproof with multiple heatlamps or you will find chilled dead poults. It will have to be out of the weather with no chance of blowing rain hitting the poults. A wet turkey poult is a dead poult.

I would strongly recommend you brood them indoors for at least the first 3 to 4 weeks.

 

[boxermom]

They will be in the barn with heat lamps. The brooder is a new galvanized stock tank. My DH built a wood brooder for the chicks, but we decided we only need one box, but we needed a stock tank, so this way we can have another brooder and a stock tank when the turkeys are done with it. Can I have pine shavings in that or do they need to be up on wire in the tank?

 

[Struttn1]

shavings will be fine since the tank has a solid bottom. Just be sure cool drafts can't reach them.

 

[boxermom]

Thanks Struttn1, My DH is relieved. He was not looking forward to making a round wire frame to fit in the tank. Looks like we're good to go...