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Turkey poult care basics?
Raising turkey poults (baby turkeys) successfully requires specific care during their first few weeks, particularly regarding heat, food, water, and safety. Poults are fragile and mistakes in the brooder stage can lead to high mortality rates. Understanding their basic needs is essential.
📅 Created: 4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
- Proper Brooder Setup5
- Solution: Prepare a draft-free brooder space with appropriate bedding.
- Explanation: Use a container like a stock tank, large plastic tote, or a sectioned-off area. Ensure it's safe from drafts. Line the bottom with 2-4 inches of absorbent bedding (pine shavings recommended, avoid cedar). Avoid slippery surfaces like newspaper for the first week to prevent leg issues.
- Notes: Ensure the brooder is cleaned before poults arrive.
📌 setup 🛠️ Brooder container, pine shavings, feeder, waterer4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - Correct Brooding Temperature5
- Solution: Maintain a temperature of 95°F (35°C) at poult level for the first week.
- Explanation: Use a heat lamp (red bulb preferred) securely suspended over part of the brooder. Monitor temperature with a thermometer placed at poult height. Reduce the temperature by 5°F (approx. 3°C) each week until poults are fully feathered (around 6-8 weeks) or match ambient temperature.
- Notes: Observe poult behavior: huddling under lamp = too cold; staying far away = too hot; evenly spread = just right.
📌 management 🛠️ Heat lamp (250W red bulb recommended), reliable thermometer, secure hanging chain/clamp4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - High-Protein Starter Feed5
- Solution: Provide a fresh, high-protein (28%) turkey starter crumble.
- Explanation: Poults have high protein requirements for rapid growth. Use a feed specifically formulated for turkeys (or game birds). Ensure feed is always available in a shallow feeder they can easily access.
- Notes: Do NOT use chick starter, as protein levels are too low. Medicated starter (with amprolium) is recommended to prevent coccidiosis.
📌 feeding 🛠️ Turkey/Game Bird Starter Feed (28% protein), poult feeder4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - Clean, Fresh Water Access5
- Solution: Provide constant access to clean, fresh water in a shallow waterer.
- Explanation: Poults can drown easily. Use a waterer designed for chicks/poults. Adding clean marbles or pebbles to the water trough for the first few days can prevent accidental drowning and attract them to water. Clean the waterer daily.
- Notes: Dip each poult's beak in water upon arrival to ensure they know where it is.
📌 watering 🛠️ Poult waterer, clean marbles/pebbles (optional)4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - Prevent Piling and Smothering4
- Solution: Use a brooder with rounded corners or block off square corners.
- Explanation: Poults can sometimes pile into corners if scared or cold, leading to smothering. Rounding corners prevents this. Ensure temperature is correct to avoid huddling due to cold.
- Notes: Check on poults frequently, especially during the first few days.
📌 setup/management 🛠️ Round brooder or cardboard inserts for corners4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - Monitor for Pasty Butt4
- Solution: Check poults' vents daily for the first week for 'pasty butt'.
- Explanation: This is where droppings dry and clog the vent, which can be fatal. If found, gently clean the area with a warm, damp cloth and carefully dry.
- Notes: Often caused by stress or incorrect temperatures.
📌 health check 🛠️ Warm water, soft cloths/paper towels4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
solution - Provide Adequate Space4
- Solution: Start with 1-2 sq ft per poult and increase space as they grow.
- Explanation: Overcrowding leads to stress, pecking, and disease. Be prepared to expand their brooder area or move them to larger quarters as they quickly grow.
- Notes: Ensure feeder and waterer space is sufficient for all poults.
📌 management 🛠️ Expandable brooder area or larger pens4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
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