A baby turkey, also called a poult, requires specific care to ensure survival and growth. Poults are delicate and can perish quickly if their environment, food, or water isn’t adequate. Raising healthy poults starts with understanding their unique needs, such as warmth, proper diet, and protection from rain and predators.
The following guide provides practical steps and solutions for raising poults successfully. Whether you have a mother hen or are raising poults in a brooder, these tips will help you avoid common pitfalls.
Essential Information for Raising Baby Turkey
| Aspect | Details |
| Diet | High-protein game bird starter; adjust feed height as they grow |
| Water | Shallow, clean, and frequently replaced; add shiny objects to encourage drinking |
| Warmth | Natural warmth from a hen; supplemental heat lamps for early/late season |
| Shelter | Predator-proof, rain-protected pens with .5-inch welded wire |
| Hygiene | Daily cleaning of food and water containers to prevent disease |
| Floor Material | Pine shavings preferred; avoid sawdust to prevent choking or dust issues |
| Mortality Risks | Hypothermia from rain, choking on inedible objects, and respiratory dust |
Turkey Eggs and Hatching
Turkeys lay eggs in the spring. Collect clean eggs daily. Store them in cool, dry spaces. Use an incubator set to 100.5°F for 28 days. Turn eggs often until day 26. On day 26, increase humidity. This helps poults hatch more easily.
Preparing for Hatchlings
Turkeys pip the eggshells around day 28. Pipping begins with a crack made by the poult. Hatching takes hours. Ensure your brooder is ready. Maintain the brooder temperature between 95°F and 100°F. Avoid opening the incubator too often to prevent moisture loss.
Brooding Baby Turkey
Brooders must be warm, safe, and dry. Use pine bedding. Include a thermometer to check heat levels. Raise heat lamps weekly to lower temperatures gradually. Provide shaded areas in the brooder for poults to cool down.
Preparing the Pen for Baby Turkeys
Baby turkeys need a safe, clean environment. Inspect your pen for small holes where poults might escape or where predators could enter. Use 0.5-inch welded wire for durability, as chicken wire rusts quickly and needs frequent replacement. Ensure there’s a rainproof cover so the hen and poults can seek shelter during bad weather.
Protecting Baby Turkeys from Rain
Rain is the leading cause of mortality in poults. Even a brief downpour can lead to hypothermia, causing what some farmers call “short neck syndrome.” Baby turkeys exposed to rain often droop their necks and wings, a precursor to death. Always provide a dry, covered area where the hen can protect her brood.
Feeding Baby Turkeys
A high-protein diet is essential for baby turkeys. Use game bird starter or sporting bird starter for the best results. In emergencies, chick starter can work temporarily, but it’s not recommended long-term. Raise food containers as the poults grow to prevent them from fouling their food.
Providing Clean Water
Clean water is vital for poults. Use shallow bowls with low edges to prevent drowning. Change water daily and raise containers as the poults grow. Adding shiny objects to the water can encourage poults to drink, mimicking the glint of natural water sources.
Bedding and Floor Material
Pine shavings make the best bedding material for poults. Avoid sawdust, which can cause respiratory problems or lead to blockages if ingested. Clean the bedding regularly to reduce dust and disease risk.
Warmth Requirements for Poults
While poults with a hen usually stay warm, supplemental heat lamps are useful in cold seasons. Watch for signs of distress like crying or huddling. Poults that get too cold may not recover, even with additional heat.
Understanding Mortality Risks
Poults face several unique risks:
- Hypothermia: Wet conditions can kill within hours.
- Choking: Poults may eat inedible objects mistaken for insects.
- Dust Exposure: Fine particles in bedding can harm their lungs.
Monitor poults closely and address any health concerns immediately.
Encouraging Eating and Drinking
Poults often learn from their mother to eat and drink, but additional steps help. Tap your fingers near their food to attract their attention. Use shiny objects in water bowls or feed small grass clippings by hand to teach them to forage.
Turkey Breeding Basics
Turkeys breed naturally. Select a healthy tom and hens for breeding. Fertile eggs come from regular mating. Collect eggs within 10 days of mating. Fertility declines over time. Handle eggs with clean hands to avoid blocking shell pores.
Candling Turkey Eggs
Candling checks egg fertility. Use a flashlight in a dark room. Look for veins spreading inside the shell. This is visible by day six. Thick shells may need more time. Discard infertile eggs after careful observation.
Raising Heritage Breeds
Heritage turkeys, like Black Spanish, take longer to mature. They start laying eggs around 10 months old. Unlike chickens, turkeys don’t lay consistently. They produce fewer eggs but are excellent for sustainable farming.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleanliness is critical for healthy poults. Change water and clean containers daily to prevent contamination. Clean the pen floor regularly to remove waste and spilled feed.
Long-Term Care for Baby Turkeys
As poults grow, adjust their food and water containers for size. Transition them to outdoor pens when they are large enough to avoid predators and weather dangers. Always monitor their health for signs of illness, and ensure they have enough space to roam safely.
This structured approach to baby turkey care will help you raise healthy, thriving poults with minimal risk.
