Baby Turkeys have Hatched

[CrealCritter]

Turkey family - I'm trying so hard not to get attached to the babies because they are so delicious

What should I plan on or be on the lookout for raising the babies in with the adults?

 

[NH Homesteader]

Aww what percent protein feed do you use again? We use 24% for the babies. I think as high as 28% is ok. The babies need higher protein than the adults. Other than that.... Nothing I can think of.

Your turkeys are gorgeous.

I did have a tom that killed my chicks one year. But if your tom seems good with the babies you should be ok. I had to separate mine from the tom I had at the time.

 

[baymule]

Never had turkeys, living vicariously through your pictures!

 

[CrealCritter]

Another baby turkey picture. My daughter came over today. While sitting on the porch I heard the weep weep weep of a baby turkey. Didn't think anything about it but it continued for about 15 minutes. Figured I best go see what's going on, my daughter came with me. After search out the weep weep weep we found this baby turkey inside the feeder and couldn't get out - poor little thing... my daughter had to hold it of course.

 

[CrealCritter]

Aww what percent protein feed do you use again? We use 24% for the babies. I think as high as 28% is ok. The babies need higher protein than the adults. Other than that.... Nothing I can think of.

Your turkeys are gorgeous.

I did have a tom that killed my chicks one year. But if your tom seems good with the babies you should be ok. I had to separate mine from the tom I had at the time.

Most I can get is 21% protein (meat bird) that's what I've fed them since I first brooded the adults, from babies. I can see about getting some kind of supplement to increase the protein of their 21 % meat bird

 

[NH Homesteader]

I think @BarredBuff had issues with turkeys with lower protein feed. I've always just gotten the higher protein, I think it's made for turkeys and game birds. Our feed store and Tractor Supply both sell it. I have less of an idea on turkeys than my husband does (I know far more about goats!), but that's what we've always used. You might not have issues with 21% either. If they get to eat bugs there's more protein right there!

 

[CrealCritter]

I checked at the farm store this weekend. They have 22% game bird. I just decided to continue with 21%. They seem to do well with 21 meat bird. I need to roll out a hay round in both the chicken and turkey yards soon - when I do I'll be cricket city

I also need to sprinkle dried habenero flakes over both the chicken and turkey feed. I found it does wonders for their health and they seem to love eating it.

 

[CrealCritter]

I found a baby turkey dead this afternoon, I'm now down to 5 babies. I have no idea what happened. When I found it it was cold but not stiff. I examined it seen no pecks or anything like that. Yesterday morning they we're all running around the yard. Rain started late morning and continued untill this morning. The only thing I can think of is one of adult turkeys might have stepped on it, but that's only a guess. I found it under the trap that I threw over the top of a section of the yard to rain and snow out of their feed. So they might have all been under there to stay out of the rain??? IDK.

I was watching a little turkey TV as I call it this evening. One of the babies came running down board that goes up to the high part of the coop. It ran down caught just a little bit of air and jumped on a hens back. The hen just walked away with the baby turkey on it's back - it was like hey, this is normal -:lol pretty funny the way that it happened though.

Anyways the buff orpengton chick the turkey hens hatched out has been completely adopted by the turkeys. I believe that little chick actually thinks it's a turkey. It's pretty funny to watch it interact with the baby turkeys and hens and follow their calls.

 

[sumi]

One of the babies came running down board that goes up to the high part of the coop. It ran down caught just a little bit of air and jumped on a hens back. The hen just walked away with the baby turkey on it's back - it was like hey, this is normal -:lol pretty funny the way that it happened though.

Anyways the buff orpengton chick the turkey hens hatched out has been completely adopted by the turkeys. I believe that little chick actually thinks it's a turkey. It's pretty funny to watch it interact with the baby turkeys and hens and follow their calls.