Baby Turkeys have Hatched

Miss Lydia

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Your cow itch sounds similar to our stinging nettle although it doesn't grow that tall.

Those babies are sure cute, Mamas are pretty too.
 

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Hmm I hadn't heard that. I think most heritage hens are good mommas. Glad yours are doing well!
 

CrealCritter

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Turkey family - I'm trying so hard not to get attached to the babies because they are so delicious :)
IMG_20170730_110403264.jpg


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

NH Homesteader

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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

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Never had turkeys, living vicariously through your pictures!
 

CrealCritter

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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
 

CrealCritter

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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

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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.
:love
 
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