Im raising turkey that I bought from a hatchery. Two of my turkeys have died and I don’t know why. Any ideas?
Question by chigga: Im raising turkey that I bought from a hatchery. Two of my turkeys have died and I don’t know why. Any ideas?
They’re about 5 weeks old and this is my first time raising turkeys, so I dont really know exactly what to do.
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2 Responses to Im raising turkey that I bought from a hatchery. Two of my turkeys have died and I don’t know why. Any ideas?
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maby they were sick get a vets opinion
free2but2001
May 28, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Several ideas;
1)Sometimes hatcheries sell sick chicks or dying chicks.
2)What are you feeding them? How much are you feeding them
3)There might be something that is killing them, such as if you have sprayed weed killer or have roach powder down they could have injested it
4) Have you checked the area where they are at to make sure there is nothing dangerous living there, such as black widows, scorpions?
5) You have to make sure the food and water is kept clean, especially when they are babies or they will die from infectious diseases
6) What is the temperature you are keeping them in? Are they getting enough protection from the elements?
7) Sometimes feed has been contaiminated and contains agents that are toxic and can kill poultry
8) Out of all the poultry: chickens, ducks, geese etc… Turkeys are the most “sensitive”. They will literally die from hurt feelings, being threatned or being scared. It will also “opt” to die if it feel that it is not given enough love.
My turkeys used to sometimes annoy me in that they would “stalk” me nonstop when I got them at about 5-7 weeks old. It was horrible, in that they would not let me go into the house, leave them and would gather around my ankles and demand to be held. I had one particular female whom would fly onto my shoulder and perch there. She would fight me when I tried to get her off (not attacking me, but moving herself to stop me from unperching her) when I would do so, she would simply just fly back up again. Drove me crazy!!! She continued to do this till she got too big to fly and then she would simply wrap a wing around my leg and would “claim” me as hers and would attack the other turkeys and chickens whom dared to try to seek my attention.
She refused to allow the male to mate with her and started considering me her mate and would position herself for me to “mount” her when she was of breeding age and act overly affectionate towards me, which was bizarre in that I am human, and I am female. A couple times I pushed her away and it “hurt” her feelings and she opted to kill herself and started to die. She simply froze and then collapsed. I saved her life by hold her neck away from her back, a thing poultry does before they die and petted and sung to her, it brought her back both times. So to prevent her from her “suicides” I opted to allow her to claim me as her “mate”.
I also had a male turkey whom would try to “mate” my leg, since my females wouldn’t let him mate them, and he was too big to mate my chickens. (though he did try). And the same thing happened with him and my other turkeys, in that when ever I shooed them away or did not allow them to perch on me or I did not spend time with them or allow them to show their affection towards me the took it badly and opted to “die”.
All in all you can also check with a vet that specializes in poultry.
DARQUE
May 28, 2011 at 8:08 pm