I lost a message from someone that had turkeys before and I have questions...
My Tom who sat on eggs what seemed like forever was off them today and I noticed one baby and one trying to come thru the shell with 19 more eggs still in the hole... WHOOO HOOO I have a turkey.
Here is where the questions start. First off I know they are not smart like chickens, so do I leave them with the parents? we have had some cold weather here the last few days, I am hoping they survive. I have the brooder int eh house clean and ready to go just incase.
I know they can drown in the water, and the turkey water is a huge high bowl, any suggestions on what I can put there for the babies?
The hole is behind a big log, how will the babies get over it to eat?
Yes you can say I am a bit stressed, we are so happy there are babies... so any advise that I can get will come in handy..
Turkey advise (Again)
Hi, well wild turkeys pretty much take care of their own. Baby turkeys cannot take the cold and will kill them. I would watch the parents to see if they stay in with the babies but good idea to keep the brooder on stand by. I put my baby turkeys with baby standard size chicks which taught them out to eat and drink out of a waterer until they are old enough to be on their own. I wouldn't leave a huge high bowl since they will get nosy and see what is on the other side. I have observe them trying to do that. Yes, I have 2 male turkeys living with my chickens and have not gotten blackhead on my turkeys. I was told it was not a good idea to mix chickens and turkeys because of a blackhead problems with turkeys but I keep an eye on them.
I used a baby chick waterer and feeder for mine. I use just regular chick starter since game feed or turkey starter has too much protein in it and makes my birds have the runs..as they get older then I can go half and half with the feed..just have to watch the % on the protein part..too much gives mine the runs...
My turkeys also free range with my chickens and ducks as well but they go back into their house for the nite..lol..
Thanks ever so much! I am hoping they made it thru the night, I will see in a few minutes.
Moved Billy Bob in the house tonight. It is like the Tom has left the nest and the one that was trying to hatch out was still in the same spot in the egg, and the baby was in the corner shivering. I watched for about an half an hour, so I went in there scooped it up and brought it in to the brooder. After it warmed up, it drank a little and to my surprise it ate some chick starter I threw on the ground. After about an hour more of water and feed it got rather loud. So I moved one of my babies in with it, but it kept pecking it. So the baby went back to its mates, and I moved tank and all next to the baby chicks and it quieted right down. My chickens butted up to the turkeys and the baby was always hearing the chickens.. So we shall see. Billy decided to call this turkey Billy Bob.
Got pictures today so I will post some tomorrow, and I am leaving the other eggs there to see what will happen..
OH and got some more baby geese... WHOO HOOO I love them and will be separating them soon, and keeping one to hand raise...
So we ill be hand raising a goose and a Turkey, hey maybe putting them in the same pen while they grow up.
Billy Bob and BillyBob the turkey
Billybob the turkey
Front View
wait till billy bob gets bigger and you try to weed the garden. you will be weeding with a turkey on your back. my turkeys are just 2 months old, and when they and the guinneas see me, or hear me calling, they come running
Jordan What breed is your turkeys? Mine are wild and I am afraid that it will fly away when it gets older.
mine are broad breasted bronze. when your turkey gets older the wild ones will most likely call him to join them.
hopefully he will choose to stay with you. forgot to tell you what a handsome bird he is
We dont really have wild turkeys around here, these are the eastern version. I know that up on the res they have some but that is many miles away... I hope he does stay....
Here is his momma and daddy, I think she was just too young this year.
beautiful birds. if you want to sell her eggs next time she lays, let me know
Thank you Jordankittyjo, I love them and when I got home today I saw her sitting on her nest so I am glad I did not take out the rest of the eggs, heck its up to mother nature if we get more...