In case you’re beginning your turkey flock with day-old poults (child turkeys), it’s possible you’ll be questioning how to ensure they develop into wholesome, glad grownup turkeys. With some preparation and care, your child turkeys will thrive. Learn to arrange a turkey brooder, what to do once you carry them dwelling, the way to stop issues, the way to feed them correctly, and when to maneuver the turkeys exterior.
Set Up a Turkey Brooder
Similar to for child chicks, you will have to arrange a brooder to your turkey poults. A turkey poult brooder is simply the identical as one for child chickens—a spot to maintain them heat, dry, and contained—so you should use these sources to design your brooder. Use pine shavings—by no means cedar—for the underside of the brooder. (As soon as poults are three weeks outdated, some farmers like to make use of clear sand. It may be cleaned similar to cat litter and retains the brooder dry.) Along with creating the construction, you will have to control the temperature and arrange meals and water.
You need to have all the things arrange and able to go earlier than you carry dwelling the turkey poults, together with having the brooder warmed to 95 to 98 levels Fahrenheit. The poults will huddle underneath the lamp in the event that they’re too chilly or keep on the edges of the warmth supply in the event that they’re too scorching. So whereas a thermometer is usually a useful device, particularly earlier than the poults arrive, use their habits as your information as soon as they’re dwelling. Elevate the warmth lamp a couple of inches every week (and decrease the temperature roughly 5 levels Fahrenheit) till the temperature within the brooder is 70 levels. Keep this degree of warmth till the poults are six weeks outdated.
You additionally have to have feeders and waterers crammed and positioned correctly. You don’t need them proper underneath the lamp, however you additionally don’t need them too removed from the middle. Place them in order that the poults can get to them simply with out getting both chilled or overheated. Hanging feeders can stop poults from standing—and pooping—within the feed or knocking it over.
As Quickly as They Get Residence
There are some things you are able to do as soon as your poults arrive dwelling to be sure to are beginning on the proper foot. First, examine every one as you take away it from the transport field. Then dip its beak in water as quickly as you set them into the brooder in order that they be taught the place the water is and the way to drink. Do not forget that particularly for shipped poults, they are going to be burdened from the transport course of. Be sure they eat and drink effectively for the primary two weeks.
Stopping Issues
Turkey poults are significantly vulnerable to “ravenous out,” which signifies that some poults will get pushed away from the feeder or hold again, and can starve to dying regardless of the meals being obtainable. Hold a detailed eye on poults whereas they’re feeding to ensure this does not occur.
Overcrowding may also contribute to ravenous out, so be sure to have loads of room to your poults. You will need at the least a 10-by-10-foot area for a dozen day-old poults, and as they get greater they’ll want extra room. As your poults develop, it’s possible you’ll have to make the brooder greater so they don’t seem to be crowded.
Add a Roost
By three weeks of age, you’ll be able to add a roost to your brooder. Instructing turkeys to roost early helps after they’re finally moved to roosts later. Plus, they’ll sleep hotter and extra comfortably. Be sure you have their roosts and pen prepared for them to maneuver to after they outgrow the necessity for the warmth lamp and are prepared to maneuver to pasture.
Feed Them Correctly
There are a lot of totally different feeds for poultry—medicated, unmedicated, starter, grower—it might be difficult figuring out what to decide on. Turkeys want excessive protein, extra so than chickens. A recreation hen or poultry starter that has round 28 p.c protein works for the primary 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the feed will be lowered to twenty p.c, however any decrease and your turkeys will not develop as huge as they may. Whether or not you select medicated or not is your selection—many small growers like to make use of unmedicated feed.
Transfer Them Exterior
Very like greens, you will have to “harden off” your turkey poults by progressively exposing them to exterior temperatures. By three weeks, they will have entry to an enclosed “solar porch” on good days however preserve them inside on wet or chilly days.
Be sure they’re absolutely feathered and at the least eight weeks outdated earlier than shifting poults to their new out of doors housing. You may give them entry to outdoor however nonetheless present the lamp at evening for every week or two, after which lastly transfer them to their new, grown-up turkey roosts and pen. Test on them nightly for a couple of days after the transition and ensure they do not get damp or chilled.