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Most often poults will be fully feathered and will be ready to move into their outdoor housing around 6-7 weeks of age. But until they are fully feathered they need to be kept in a draft-free, temperature-controlled brooder space protected from predators and supplied with fresh food and water.
How long do turkey poults need heat?
Turkey poults love heat. They will be happiest if you keep their brooder temperature at 95-100 degrees for the first week, then lower the temperature by about 5 degrees per week until they are fully feathered, approximately 6-8 weeks old.
How cold is too cold for turkey poults?
Poults, the baby turkeys, have no ability to regulate their body temperature during the first ten days of their lives and thus, need extra care in the temperature being maintained. The area that the poults are to be kept at should be 95°F-100°F and be reduced 5°F every week and the area should be free of drafts.
At what age can turkeys free range?
Depending on the weather, you can move them to a shelter or an outbuilding when they are 2-3 weeks old. We use those giant cardboard watermelon bins from the grocery store as a large corral for the second stage of raising the turkeys.
How long do turkey poults stay in brooder?
Poults often remain in a brooder until they are fully feathered, roughly six to eight weeks of life, potentially longer depending on the weather. During the time in the brooder, it is imperative to provide adequate space to ensure livability without hindering the growth of the birds.
Can 3 week old turkeys go outside?
Move Them Outside 6 By three weeks, they can have access to an enclosed “sun porch” on nice days but keep them inside on rainy or cold days. Make sure they are fully feathered and at least eight weeks old before moving poults to their new outdoor housing.
Can turkey poults eat chick starter?
Use a chick starter or game bird starter for turkey poults. Protein should be at least 28 percent for this starter, and you can feed it for the first eight weeks. It should have at least 20 percent protein (higher than that required for chickens).
What temperature can turkeys tolerate?
Turkeys are generally most comfortable when temperatures range from 70-79° F (Anonymous, 2003). Feed intake and growth may be affected as temperatures rise above 80° F and temperatures exceeding 90° F, can result in heat exhaustion or heat prostration.
Can turkeys handle cold weather?
Northern-range turkeys have been resilient through frigid winters, although they aren’t invincible. If food is available during winter, turkeys can often survive extended periods of extreme cold and snow. However, deep snow and limited amounts of food can greatly decrease the turkeys’ chance of survival.
Can domestic turkeys handle cold weather?
How to Care for Domestic Turkey Breeds in Winter. By Don Schrider – Turkeys are remarkably hardy birds. By the time turkeys reach maturity, they are very easy to care for, and are capable of surviving winter weather in great shape.
Will pet turkeys fly away?
Because turkeys are able to fly, those birds have been confined to the caged yard. We wanted to allow them free range in the fenced-in grassy area. However, because it has an open top, the turkeys would be able to fly away. Clipping the wings, a painless procedure, prevents the birds from taking flight.
Do turkeys return to coop at night?
Once the poults outgrow their brooder, they will need a secure coop at night, just like any other type of poultry. If you raise your turkeys among chickens, then the turkeys may learn to go into the coop at night by following the example set by the chickens.
Do turkeys need to be fenced in?
Turkey Fencing As turkeys are big in size and good flyers, so the fencing should be as high as possible. The fencing have to be at least four feet high. If you want to avoid flying, then trim their wing feathers. And thus your birds will stay inside happily unless something disturbs them.
Can turkeys live outside?
First, turkeys, when given the choice, will opt to spend the night roosting outdoors, usually in a tree. Unlike our chickens, they don’t seem to mind being out in the rain or snow; the toms especially seem disinclined to get out of the weather.
What do you feed turkey poults?
Poults should be fed 28% protein turkey starter until 8 weeks of age. 24-26% protein turkey grower crumbles should be fed after the first 8 weeks until they are approximately 6 months of age. At that time, they can be switched to 16% – 18% lay pellets, crumbles, or mash.
How tall should a turkey brooder be?
The brooder guard should be 18-24 inches high and must be a minimum of 5 feet in diameter for 50 birds. For turkeys, you may need to have a top cover to prevent the birds from jumping out of the brooder circle. When chicks are 7-10 days old, remove the guard and allow the birds full run of the pen.
What should you not feed turkeys?
Things That Are Toxic To Turkeys Blue-Green Algae. Botulism. Cantharidiasis (Blister Beetle Poisoning) Cedar. Hardware Disease. Lead Toxicity. Mycotoxins. Pesticides, Herbicides, And Rodenticides.
Do turkey poults need medicated feed?
If you are unable to find “turkey feeds”, start and grow your poults on a 20-22% Chick Starter (medicated) for the first 12 weeks. From that time on to the time of slaughter, provide them with an 18% Chick Grower ration. All rations should be medicated. The chicks will lead the turkeys to feed and water.
How long does it take turkey to start laying eggs?
“Turkeys have a longer life cycle so they need to get to about 7 months before they are able to produce laying eggs,” says Kimmon Williams of the National Turkey Federation.
What is a group of turkeys called?
Very young birds are poults, while juvenile males are jakes, and juvenile females are jennies. A group of turkeys is called a rafter or a flock. A wild turkey’s gobble can be heard up to one mile away and is a primary means for a tom to communicate with his harem of hens.
