My 4H project for 2015 - No, 2014!

[TheSeedObsesser]

No casualties yet! They're all active and very healthy looking! From watching them it is easy to see that the turkeys have a tendency to peck at each other's feathers, but it hasn't gotten to the point of missing feathers and bleeding areas yet.

 

[Wishin']

I know what you're talking about, these birds were bred to be as big as they can get and unfortunately there are some health issues that go along with that. The neighbors are keeping a grown one as a pet - it can barely walk, drags it's wings on the ground, has trouble breathing, cataracts in one eye and because of that walks around in circles (it's blind in that eye). It's sad to see it suffer like that.

I know it is so sad. We had a neighbor who had two broad-breasted bronze, she loved them and refused to kill them, they ended up over fifty pounds and eventually ones legs snapped under it's weight, the other had a heart attack. I think they ended up with something close to 35 or 40 pounds of meat, per turkey.

 

[Smart Red]

Aw, they are so cute. I hope they do well for you. Someday I want to raise a few turkey's as well. My goal is to have a Thanksgiving meal with only food I have grown or raised myself. Gotta grow a few turkeys for that to happen.

My niece has a trio of heirloom turkeys that she raised with her chickens. They are full grown and have had no problems with diseases.

 

[baymule]

This ought to be a good thread and is one I'll be watching. I want turkeys, but I have no room. I'll live vicariously through your turkeys. They sure are cute and you have a nice set up for them.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

UPDATE (a sort of - kind of late one): So it's been a little bit over a week (I think?) and so far I have a 0% mortality rate!

I have been putting both apple cider vinegar and nutritional supplements in their water (which has been changed everyday, I haven't followed the directions on the back of the nutritional supplements bottle completely). Other than that the only thing that I have been doing different is cleaning out the soiled bedding (once per day now). They now have little tail and shoulder feathers in and you can see their ear holes, so their head down is starting to disappear. Their a little bit larger than the last time you've seen them, but not excitingly so. They are very energetic and almost able to fly/jump out of their tub. They are a little bit on the flighty side but not flighty like guineas.

I'll see if I can get some pictures later.

 

[Smart Red]

Good job, SeedO. They are weakest during the first few weeks, so longer they go the more likely they will survive until mealtime. By nutritional supplements do you mean electrolytes or something more turkey specific? Pictures are always good here.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Here's what I mean by nutritional supplements

It can be used for all kinds of poultry. Molasses and different vitamins are some of the ingredients, along with propylene glycol and some other stuff that I don't understand. I'm mostly using it because I have it, I figure anything that might help.

Here's some pictures of the poults (and chicks)as of today -

 

[PhilaGardener]

Great project! Good luck with your birds!

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Had to put a turkey down this morning (my biggest one). It flew at the side of the tub in an attempt to escape and broke it's leg (it was having a very hard time walking). It appeared as if the leg was broken in two places, one probably being too high on the leg to mend. If I would have bandaged it the growing turkey likely would have put too much weight on the leg.

I'll get some pictures of the survivors within the next few days.

 

[Wishin']

Sorry seed.