I got my day old polts yesterday through the mail. They are survived the mail trip. They were hatched Monday. I have my brooder that I have used before for baby chicks. They turkeys have their heat lamp, game bird crumble, fresh water with a table spoon of sugar added. I've checked their behinds for pasting up. They all seem to be eating and drinking so what is the problem. Is there anything else I can do? I have had 4 die now out of the 20 I ordered.

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), April 11, 2002

Answers

Are they piling up at night? Do you have a thermometer in the brooder to check the temp?(If the problem is piling, try adding another light.) Did you dip all the beaks? It sounds as if you are covering your bases. Maybe they were just too stressed from the trip?

-- mary (mlg@mlg.com), April 11, 2002.

Are they too hot? If it's too warm, they will need to be able to get away from the heat lamp. Best wishes.

-- cowgirlone in ok (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), April 11, 2002.

Do check for drafts. Gertie

-- Gertie (hirefams@mhtc.net), April 11, 2002.

Everyone else seems to be doing okay. No more deaths. The poults are in the house so there aren't any drafts. I did dip their beaks as I put each one in the brooder. Piling might have been a bit of a problem, I have now put an additional heat lamp over them, so they can spread out a bit more. There is plently of room in the brooder for them to move away from the lamps if they get too hot.

Hopefully all the weaklings have died and all the rest will be okay. Thanks for the advice.

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), April 11, 2002.