Getting ready for your new poults

Getting Ready for New Turkey Poults

Its always exciting to have new turkey poults coming. Wether they are raised from your own eggs or bought from another turkey hatchery. Theres a lot of work to be done before they arrive. To give them a healthy coop to grow in. This will give you the best turkeys for sale

Preparing the coop for the new poults

•  Remove all equipment possible, such as: feeders, waterers, brooders, etc., from the house.
• Wash all equipment with a soap or detergent and rinse thoroughly. If possible, place in the sun to dry-this will help disinfect the equipment.
• Remove used litter and rubbish from the hutch, such as: bags, paper, tools, buckets, etc.
• Clean the building thoroughly - sweep ceilings, walls, remove and wash windows, remove any caked material on the floor.
• Use a high pressure sprayer to completely wash down the building interior or soak caked materials to loosen them.
• Apply an approved insecticide in buildings where lice, mites, beetles or other insects have been a problem.
• Use a good rodent control program inside and outside of the building.
• Rinse equipment with a disinfectant. Quaternary ammonium and chlorine bleaching agents are good disinfectants. Follow instructions on the container.
• Put clean, dry litter in the building after it has been cleaned, disinfected and dried. Chopped straw, wood shavings or crushed or coarsely ground corn cobs make good litter.

Brooder Stoves for Turkey Chicks

You must provide heat for the baby chicks. Brooder stoves are available that use gas and oil. These stoves have hovers that contain or retain the heat close to the floor. Electric heat lamps (without hovers) are also used to brood chicks.

Start the brooder stove at least 24 hours before the chicks arrive to properly adjust the stove and dry out the house.

Provide a temperature of 90-95 degrees F at chick level. Use only new or cleaned chick guards at least 2-3 feet from edge of brooder hover for first 7 days. Use solid chick guards in cold houses.

A chick guard is a paper, cardboard or a fine wire mesh ring around the heat source (brooder stove) that confines the birds to the warmed area.

Reduce temperature under the hover gradually over a period of weeks. It is good to have heat under the hover and have the rest of the pen or house cool. Chicks will gradually learn to regulate their location in the
temperature zone most comfortable for them.

Over a period of several weeks (outside temperature will make a difference) gradually raise the brooder hover or heat lamps. Birds should gradually become accustomed to the idea that the heat source is not necessary. Remember, the brooder has been a foster mother to them.

Chicks indicate when they are too cold or too warm. When too cold, they chirp-complain a lot; when too hot, they will lay down or try to pile in corners. When comfortable, young chicks form a ring on the floor under the heat source.

Litter for turkey poults

The purpose of litter is to provide comfort, and absorb droppings and excess moisture.

Use clean, dry, dustless litter 2-3 inches deep on concrete or wood floors. Dirt floors are not to be used as
it is impossible to clean and disinfect them.

Remove wet and caked spots in the litter immediately;replace with dry litter.

Day-old (and up to a week old) chicks may eat the litter instead of the feed. Cover the litter with rough paper or egg filler flats to prevent litter eating. When the birds are eating the feed well, remove the paper (slippery paper may cause leg problems).

Caring for Turkey Poults

Caring for your turkey poults can be a wonderful experience. Keep them clean, well fed and happy. This will give you the best turkeys for sale

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