Issues with new turkey poults

Groesbeck Hurricane · 06-25-2010, 01:39 PM

We bought birds from two separate hatcheries to check out who we liked best. We also have our own chickens we hatched out at the same time. All birds were kept in separate containers. All birds were started on natural, unmedicated feed and water from the same source. All containers were cleaned the same. All birds are on sasafrass and pine wood shavings.

Our birds: zero deaths, growing healthy. Cross Rhode Island Red and Chochin rooster. Small birds with feathery feet.

First vendor: sixty birds arrived at same time broken by us into two lots. Zero deaths, growing healthy and fast. We had to move them to the "holding cell" a 12x12 cleaned horse stall. Cackle Hatchery. Mixed heritage breeds.

Second vendor: shipped in two lots. First lot arrived same day as above. Within 24 hours all five chocolate turkeys were dead. We switched to a medicated feed. One more dead different breed on saturday. Monday vendor agrees to ship replacements. Thursday, 22 more arrive including five replacements. We start them on medicated food and two more of the original lot die. Friday the second lot is looking ok and two more of the original lot are dying. 50% mortality on the original lot.

Do not know about the first five to die but the rest have demonstrated dipped wings and appeared to be in distress. Their vents are not stopped up. Food and water is readily available and is not allowed to go dry. Heat lamps are provided, except for the first vendor's lot of 60 and my chickens. They all complained about the heat and went to the opposite end of the pens.

Any thoughts on the deaths? Vendor claims they have no other complaints. I find it hard to believe? To me this is more than just birds, they are part of a paycheck around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Losing 8 or more is a little bit of spending money, basically $30.00 per bird on the sale end! And yes, farming is risky business...

vash · vash's Garage

that is crazy! not like you are some rookie right?

you have a picture of your operation? would love to see it. you sell all these birds..for food? do you do all the butchering and plucking?

i need to visit indiana...as i understand it..it is ground zero for big whitetails..right?

Taz's Master · 06-25-2010, 02:36 PM

Are they drinking?

Groesbeck Hurricane · 06-25-2010, 03:06 PM

Vash,

We sell live and processed. And yes, we are rather new to birds, this is the second year. But this is the WORST mortality rate! First year our worst was 2 out of 25 and they were OUR fault! I dropped a board on them.

Operation is very small. We have a 12 x 10 sunroom with windows on three sides. Birds are in cleaned large plastic containers, room stays about 85, lamps available. The other week old birds are in a large horse stall, no heat lamps and lots of food and water. Not a single dead bird in over a week out of 60.

Check, big whitetails!! We have about 60 acres and multiple paths they use to cross. Growing more cover for them right now...

Taz's,

They appear to be drinking. The water levels go down and we re-fill. They have a quart to what is now 8 birds. Water is changed daily as is food. Food never goes dry but they are eating it down. I am not sure all birds are drinking or if just some birds are drinking.

Thoughts?

Taz's Master · 06-26-2010, 05:14 AM

I have heard that turkeys are not smart animals, and that a guy I know talked about how he had to put a marble in the water to make them curious, and start pecking at it, otherwise they didn't know enough to drink. I would expect that if some were drinking all would (never raised turkeys), kind of a long shot, but thought it was worth asking.

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

Have you had a post mortem exam done on them? Most vets would not know what to look for but an avian specialist or University path dept. would.

stealthn · 06-26-2010, 07:18 AM

Probably dying from late night S&M exploits with NoS....

Groesbeck Hurricane · 06:08 AM

EDITED: to add information about funds/payment for loss and remove annotations about payment in the main dialogue.

Hatchery just came through with a refund on the birds they had not already replaced! We are, at least, not out the purchase price on the birds! We are not whole but this is better than we were standing and I am willing to accept it.

Man, this has been DEPRESSING!!!!! From 17 birds we are down to four!!! Hatchery replaced the first five. The second lot (we paid for both lots at the same time) have had zero mortalities. The lot of 60 had one death when my dog sat on it.

And they are a recommended source... It is upsetting watching 13 birds waste away and die. It is doubly so when you are medicating and they are eating and drinking. There are four lonely birds in a container who have no one to mix with. I'm still suspect they are sick and do NOT want to mix them with anyone else!!! All other birds are doing fine and in 12 x 12 horse stalls. And there are escape artists in the group of 60!

Yes turkeys are not so very smart. BUT there is a bigger margin in them than chickens. We are working towards the money for goats as there is a larger percentage of money in them than even cows. More of a local market for Muslims. I need to study back up on Halil requirements, but I believe we already meet all of them!