The turkey poults haven' been eating as much as expected so a quick troll through the "turkey forum" website let me know that incubator babies sometimes don't have the knowledge to feed and drink adequately without a mother to show them how and where.
So....... I have spent a rather uncomfortable time lying on the floor of the shed with a healthy dollop of scrambled egg and chick crumbs in my hand.
With the other hand I have mimicked a sort of pecking motion at the egg mixture and within seconds the three sparky white poults had worked out what to do.
The shy bronze babies have not quite sorted their heads out but hopefully the actions of their brood mates will lead the way.Many turkey babies die within the first couple of days.
The postman went past as I was prostrate on the ground with my head in the cage and asked me what I was doing...."Teaching turkey chicks to eat scrambled egg" I explained....."whatever floats your boat!" he replied cheerfully.
This afternoon I made a large pan of cheapo spaghetti and took the ash grey mixture out on the field. I have been "treating" the whole field population with this favourite treat whenever I can, and use it as a means to call the ranging birds in from the churchyard and beyond.It will prove useful one day
Within seconds of "tutt tutting" and after waving a couple of fistfuls of pasta in all directions all of the hens, ducks and turkeys gallop from their hiding places to join in with an eating frenzy that has to be seen to be believed....
Tonight I am going to an open meeting of the village Community council....which should be interesting
ps. The meeting WAS interesting..........and was a bit of a bun fight actually.........not as well run as I expected, infact some of the answers to public questioning were slap dash to say the least...............
Eggs? Isn't that cannibalism?
ReplyDeletevaluable emergency thing mashed boiled eggs...if you need to boost a chick's condition!!!
ReplyDeletehey didn't you read my book yet - you have to put their little beaks to water within a few hours of hatching to get them going - did you remember they need a little sand for grit and their gullets - sorry to be be bossy just concerned and my book is so easy to follow - i am going to post my new chicks come see ok? sure had a good little chuckle reading this post - peace
ReplyDeletesorry Ruth, I did remember to read the book, just didnt remember to put it all into practice
ReplyDeletejx
The things we do for our birds! The little fellows are lucky to have you as 'dad'. Hubby & I would love to have a turkey or 2 but we are worried about them sharing our little field with hens & ducks. Do you keep yours separate?
ReplyDeleteideally you should as blackhead (the biggestkiller of turkey flocks) is carried by hens .....
ReplyDeletehowever if you regulary treat your hens with wormer, then turkeys and hens should be safe roaming together.
Boris and gloria are in their own large run, but are surrounded by hens, both are fine...
Thanks John! Give my hens diatom regularly & apple cider vinegar but I don't use Flubevet or anything that's not organic. Will it suffice? Have heard about blackhead that's why I want to make sure I've done my homework before getting turkeys. As a man that knows I appreciate your opinions ;-)
ReplyDeletePS Finally got around to updating my blog! x