is it ok to put babies on hay bedding

[julieschickens]

i moved my 2 baby turkeys from a box in kitchen to brooder at barn with light. i put some hay in the corner and there feed and water off to the side. is this ok? they seem to not fall over so easily on the hay. they are 3 and 5 days old.

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

yes hay/straw are fine. You'll have to manually fluffthe bedding everyday or so as they will not be strong enough to get it fluffed/turned so that it does not cake but other then that they will be fine. My older birds love hay as they pick thru it for all the seeds and what not. bed changing day is a messy one for they will not leave untill they have it all in one corner or pushed out then put it back and they leave it alone.

 

[julieschickens]

thanks. they have a hard time staying up on their feet on the paper towels in the box. i often find them on their backs and have to set them back up. the hay seemed better for them. is this normal for turkey babies to fall over on their backs the first few days?

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

is this normal for turkey babies to fall over on their backs the first few days?

No, its not normal. But if they are shipped they could just be weak from the shipping .

Usually indicates a late hatcher or a non healthy poult.

Most of the time when they start flipping they die because they are too weak. Pamper them for the next few days to make sure they are eating and drinking really good so they have better chances.​

 

[julieschickens]

thanks. will do

 

[ma2babygurl13]

my very first poult would sleep on his back occasionally, but as soon as you would touch him he'd flip right on over...I think he just liked it! Now he is 2 1/2 weeks old and going strong...doesn't sleep on his back anymore though... but now he has buddies in with him, wonder if it was to absorb more heat?

 

[toredano]

When I got mine he was just in very poor condition.I went to Walmart and got Poly Vi Sol ( no iron formula)for him to put into the water.I put around 5 drops or so in a small waterer. Seemed to perk him up a bit.

Try that and see if it makes a difference

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Straw is not good to use as bedding, it absorbs and holds water. Also the straw itself is hollow and once it gets wet or damp it allows mold and mildew to grow and that is very bad for young poults and will cause repiratory problems in short order. I would never use that for poults, it mats down and makes a nasty mess. I can't belive anybody would say that is ok. Another problem is the hollow straw gives mites and fleas a place to hide and breed. You would be better off using pine shavings, you don't to use cedar the oils in the shavings can irratate the skin. We start ours on pine shavings and after a few weeks switch to sand.

Steve in NC

 

[ma2babygurl13]

Quote:
so you don't have to worry about them eating the shavings? At what age do you suggest switching to sand? I have some that are 5 days, 1 that is almost 2 wks and one that is almost 3 wks. The 5 day olds are by themselves, and the older 2 are together, when should I beable to put them together?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

The shavings we use are pretty course so there is no problem with them eating them. I wouldn't use what comes in the pet stores like for guinea pigs, that is pretty fine and I can see them eating that. We switch to sand at about 2 months when they go to the brooder barn. We find the sand works very well, you can scoop it like cat litter, any spilled water soaks right to the bottom and the top stays dry. When it does need changing we put the sand in the flower beds or out into the garden. Once your younger batch is eating and drinking well, about 2 weeks you can put them together, at two weeks they should be growing well and active. Just make sure they have enough room and keep an eye on the older 2 to make sure they don't single a younger one out and pick on it.

Steve in NC