Turkeys drowning in the rain?

[Beth K.]

I think most people have heard that "turkeys are so dumb that when it rains they look up and drown." Is that true? Are turkeys actually stupid or just misunderstood? People also say chickens are stupid, but since having my own I know that's not true and I'm wondering if it's the same with turkeys.

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

I don't think the drowning in the rain part is true, but I've had a farmer who raises turkey say you have to put something shiny in the hatchling's water dish to get them to drink or they will die of dehydration. That's just the poults though, I don't think it applies to full grown turkeys.

 

[Celie]

I agree, turkeys are very smart and personable. IMO, they are much smarter than chickens, but if hand raised, do need to be shown where the water is, sometimes, so I do hatch a few chicks to do the job for me. Poults are more fragile than chicks and chicks more than ducklings!

 

[Lagerdogger]

I think the turkeys are better at finding food and water than most give them credit for as well. I show them where the food is once, dip their bills once, and they do just fine. No Marbles, no shiny things, no baby chickens. I do put in a few rocks so they can't fall in the water and get wet, but I take them out after a few days.

I think the drowning myth is from very young birds getting hypothermic in the rain.

Turkeys are definitely more curious and personable than chickens.

 

[Jennsbirds]

I thought it wasonly true of factory super domsticated (and thus very poorly raise and probably inbred) turkeys.

 

[wolfie115]

We've had turkeys for two years and our birds will stay out in the rain, sometimes they will hide under things but our toms especially don't mind the rain like the chickens do. They hold their heads high because they are very proud birds. We haven't lost any because they were out in the rain, lol. They are very intelligent birds. They even have an array of different sounds they make with different meanings and once you get to know turkeys you hear it. I've heard a lot of people say that turkeys were stupid but in reality they are far from. Turkeys are my favorite kind of bird.

 

[sandspoultry]

What happens is people put them out to early before they are fully feathered and they get wet, chilled, and die. Once they get older the weather doesn't seem to bother them at all.

 

[De Wet]

What happens is people put them out to early before they are fully feathered and they get wet, chilled, and die. Once they get older the weather doesn't seem to bother them at all.

poults needs gr8 care but mine after 3 months out in the weather

 

[Beth K.]

Thanks for all the great responses! I had a sneaking suspicion that the "turkeys are stupid" mantra was merely an urban legend.

 

[Jesz]

They are several feed stores in my area and almost everytime I go in to check out a new one and their prices, someone there will say that.

And then in the same breathe ask "do you have any for sell?" I'm sure my facial expression says it all.