Hello everyone, I am finally back online (stupid area stores didn't carry the charger I needed to replace after severe weather) I have two broad breasted white turkeys that have come up lame (in the leg (s)) I have fed them game bird starter and the week they came up lame I switched to turkey grower (lower protein) I could only find grower, my store promised to keep game bird starter in stock for them on (the turk LOVED the pellets though)
I was thinking it was because of the large gravel size they have been walking on (the front and part of one side of the house is surrounded by it) It is both a tom and a hen that they injured a leg (a cat of mine doesn't like the gravel size at all, stupid granite state and niether do I, its large and hurts when stepped on)
What are the experts thoughts???
Other than that the silkies are doing great, the one I did CPR on does lay down and has a "limp", he is doing great,eating and gaining weight like everyone else and I am sure he (or she) is happy for the second chance. And gets long just fine except for a slightly lame leg. I have begun to sex my silkies so Backyard I will be emailing you soon.
I am letting my guineas and turkeys (and whatever wants out too) into the fenced in area around the coop. One red silkie has been "mating" a female turkey, he sorta rides her LOL (then she throws him and bites him!!!) (picture a small money riding a pony!!!)
Also, I am so sorry for everyones losses, its so hard to try to out do wild animals, just do the best you can do and if anything happens you know need the best you could to protect your chooks
Lora
Turkey question and update
I know my "big" white turkeys are much larger than my bourban reds or my royal palms and even the narangasett .... the white ones waddle quite a bit. The sudden weight is also hard on their legs/feet so it could be a combination of the gravel and the fast weight gain.
The meat turkeys , like the meat chickens , grow fast and have more health problems if they get too big. I just switched mine from game bird starter to grower . It's a little less protein and much less waste because it comes in the pellet form rather than the crumbles. I bought 200 lbs and will decide whether to switch back but so far 50 lbs is gone and no leg problems.
The game bird starter is harder to come by.... I drive much farther to get it. My local feed store doesn't seem interested in carrying it for me.
I am guessing at the sex of my silkies still...lol. Wish I was more definite cuz I'd like to place a couple but don't want to give away all my hens ya know........
I let them out in the yard (the whole flock of chickens, ducks, turkeys, guinea) to scrounge around in the evenings when I get home from work. I go do their pen/feeders/waterers etc then do my son's home school lessons at the picnic table while everyone "ranges". My son doesn't like the set up as well.... the turkeys are bad for coming along and snatching pencils or walking over books etc... They always have to know what you are doing. Sometimes they will just sit down on the bench across from us and stare at us =0)
~Julie
How are the turkeys doing ??? Still having problems walking ??
Julie
Thanks for asking,
Sorry to say the Tom that had problems died in his sleep last weekend, the hen is doing great. I personally think there was something wrong with Tom, he was beaten/pecked when he was younger to the point of scarring. Maybe there was something wrong with him that I couldn't see. Everyone else enjoys days of FREEDOM! They eat my daylilies, pepper plants hostas and anything else that is nice and tender!
I am making a list of plants chooks and turkeys don't eat. Which is another posting I will do!!!!!!!!
OOooooooooooooo I'll be waiting for the list of plants !!!!
Sorry about the turkey passing, but you're probably right they can sense when something is wrong and they are unmerciful about weakness of any kind.
I know my big whites will have to be butchered way before Thanksgiving as they are heavy now. The smaller heritage breeds will be fine to grow slowly thru the months. One of my bourbon red toms has got waaay too much attitude, I won't miss him but the rest have a sweet personality.
Julie