Where Is Baby’s Turkey? A Guide to Raising Poults

Raising baby turkeys also known as poults can be a rewarding yet challenging experience for any poultry farmer. In this article, we will walk through everything you need to know about caring for poults, from what to call them, how to house them, what to feed them, and more.

What Do You Call A Baby Turkey?

Baby turkeys go by a few different names depending on whether they are wild or domesticated

• Wild baby turkeys are referred to as chicks.
• Domesticated baby turkeys raised on farms are called poults. The term poult can be used for any domesticated fowl being raised for food, but is used most often for turkeys.

Other turkey terminology includes:

• Adult male turkey: Tom or gobbler
• Adult female turkey: Hen
• Juvenile male turkey: Jake
• Juvenile female turkey: Jenny

Caring For Poults

Poults require extra special care in their first few weeks of life. Here are some tips for keeping them healthy and safe:

Provide a Heat Source

Poults cannot regulate their own body temperature well in the first four weeks. Provide a heat lamp or brooder set to 95-100°F for the first week, then lower it by 5°F each week after that. Watch their behavior to gauge if they need it warmer or cooler.

Give Them Extra Protein

Poults need 28% protein feed for the first 6-8 weeks of life compared to the 24% protein chick starter. Look for a turkey or game bird starter feed. They can switch to a grower feed at 8 weeks old.

Keep Them Dry

Use pine shavings or rice hulls for bird-safe bedding. Make sure their waterers are clean and full at all times. Change bedding frequently to prevent diseases.

Allow Space to Move

Overcrowding causes stress and feather picking. Allow at least 1 square foot per poult in the brooder. Increase space as they grow.

Keep Predators Away

Poults are vulnerable to predators. Use a solid brooder and coop to keep them safe from raccoons, foxes, coyotes, hawks, and neighborhood dogs.

Housing Poults

Poults need an enclosed, predator-proof housing setup with special considerations for their temperature and space requirements.

Brooder

A brooder is a warm, safe enclosure for young poults. Use a plastic storage tote or build a wooden brooder box. Place a heat source at one end and bedding on the floor. Make sure to start with the right poult density and increase space as they grow. Clean the brooder daily.

Coop

Around 4-8 weeks old, poults can move to a more permanent coop. Make sure they have enough space as they continue to grow. Provide roosts low to the ground at first. Ensure proper ventilation and predator protection. Clean coops regularly.

Pasture Access

After 8-12 weeks, poults can begin exploring an outside run or pasture, but they should be closed in the coop at night until fully feathered around 14-16 weeks old. Provide shelters and roosts in the outdoor space. Rotate pastures to keep the ground clean.

Feeding Poults

Feeding poults the right rations for their age is crucial to getting them off to a healthy start.

0-8 weeks: Turkey starter feed with 28% protein

8 weeks – 6 months: Turkey grower feed with 24-26% protein

6+ months: Turkey finisher feed with 16-18% protein, or layer pellets

Free choice treats can include greens, garden trimmings, kitchen scraps. Provide fresh, clean water at all times. Avoid rhubarb leaves, potato peels, avocados, and other potentially toxic foods.

With the proper feed, housing setup, and attentive care, your poults will thrive into adulthood. Pay close attention in those vulnerable first few weeks and you’ll have healthy, happy turkeys roaming your property in no time. Let us know if you have any other questions about raising these special birds!