[Honeysuckle]

I collected half of my turkey order today from what I believe to be a well respected turkey breeder here in Essex (I'm sure I remember Grannie Annie saying she had got turkeys from here but I could be wrong!). First disappointment was only half my order was there but we thought ok, these things happen. We're collecting the rest on Friday.

The biggest disappointment was the fact that these 5 week old poults have bald patches    I would say they have been intensively farmed (in my inexperienced opinion  ). I never dreamt this would be the case at this breeder.

Although they've only been here a few hours and are still settling in, I do have concerns with one of them; I've yet to see her stand.

I don't know whether or not to complain or were my expectations a bit high? 

[Lindeggs]

I know nothing about turkeys, but do they moult the way chickens do?  Is it possible your turkeys are going through a natural moult before growing their adult plumage?

I would certainly bring up your concerns with the breeder, but be very careful to make it just a genuine question rather than sounding like you're accusing them of anything.  If you want to get a good result from them you will need to maintain a good relationship.

So do ask, genuinely, why do the turkeys have bald patches?  Also point out that one of your poults hasn't stood up and say you're feeling a little concerned.  Hopefully the breeder will offer a solution (eg replacement if you're still concerned by Friday).

Good luck.

[GrannieAnnie]

I don't think it was me Honeysuckle, as where we get our turkeys from, they only sell them at day old, they don't sell them as growers.

We have never been let down by our breeders, who are one of the biggest in the country.

Sorry you've had a disappointment.  They shouldn't have bald patches at that age, but are you sure they are just not fully feathered yet?

Some of ours do still sit a lot, but that is to make up for the fact that they rush around so much, they tire themselves out.  Ours will be 3 weeks tomorrow!

Mind you, looking on their website, there is a mention of poults, but I hope its not them!

[Honeysuckle]

Thanks for your replies.

I'm pleased to say that the poult that wasn't standing seems to be fine this morning  :happy:

We kept 3 turkeys last year from 2 week old poults; these we got from a friend who in turn had bought from the breeder I bought these from.  Last years turkeys did not have bald patches while they were feathering up so I'm farily confident that this isn't right.  They have bald patches where the wing joins the body and underneath their wings; they're all the same.   

I've searched through the old posts on here - Grannie, I got these from the same place you got last year's white plumpies (mine are also white plumpies). 

We were given a 2 hour slot in which to collect the birds; 10 - 12.  When we arrived at approx 10.30 there was about 100 boxes with birds in awaiting collection.  As there had been a problem with our order (only half there), one of the staff offered to go to the farm to collect the others however, it would take at least 40 minutes.  We offered to go back tomorrow.  However when you take into consideration that it would take 20 minutes to get the birds to the collection point, they'd been sitting there 30 minutes already and some had (possibly) up to another hour and a half before collection and then the journey home - that's a long, long time to be without water.  Ours were incredibly thirsty when we got home and we're only about 40 minutes away. 

Maybe next year we'll bite the bullet and order over 25 so that we can have them at day old.   

[GrannieAnnie]

PMing you Honeysuckle!

[Honeysuckle]

Just to let you all know, I raised my concerns about the condition of the turkeys I collected on Wednesday and was told that unfortunately some do have bald patches due to some feather pecking that goes on and the fact that they clamber over one another.    

I collected the rest this morning and I'm very pleased to say they are in far better condition; only a couple have bald spots. 

As compensation for having to go there twice to collect my order, I was offered, and accepted, a couple of extra poults which was very good of them as it was our choice to collect today, they did offer to deliver. 

My faith has been restored - a bit....