News

21 JULY 2006

PROTECT TURKEYS IN A HEATWAVE

Turkeys, especially turkey hens, do love to sunbathe, however, they don’t like it if it gets uncomfortably hot. Adult male turkeys are especially subject to heat prostration (stroke), which usually proves to be fatal but all turkeys, even poults can suffer. Heat prostration is usually associated with humidity accompanying high temperatures or with very low humidity on excessively hot days. The symptoms are laboured breathing, weakness, excessive thirst and high temperature, followed by complete prostration.

To prevent this, ample shade should be provided during the day and plenty of ventilation in the roosting area at night. Keeping them comfortable at night is important but do not be tempted to leave them outside on a hot evening, it is certainly not worth the risk of losing them to the fox!

If birds are outside during the day under trees, then a leafy canopy is about as ideal as you can get, however, if there is little shade available try to erect something that will give them the opportunity of getting out of direct sunlight. Even an old sheet tied across a corner or hung along a fence will help. It may not look particularly attractive but the birds’ health and welfare is the priority. Watch out for the welfare of broodies when it’s hot. If several turkey hens are sitting together - which they love to do - they could overheat and possibly suffocate each other. Put them outside if they are not incubating properly and if necessary, close the door so that they cannot return. This should only be done if there is shade and water outside.

Very few turkeys - with the exception of commercial birds - will be completely housed at this time of year but if they are then the type of accommodation is very important. The larger the house the more comfortable the birds will be. For example, a high barn is much better than a low lean too. In a small house the heat with radiate through very quickly, whereas in a larger house the heat will dissipate and not be quite to overpowering. In a closed shed the humidity level will determine just how uncomfortable the turkeys become. They will pant if warm because like a dog that is how they perspire but excessive panting could show they are really stressed. If the birds are in an open sided house, then the air circulation should be fine.

Fans in housing can be very useful, both to circulate the air available and cool the temperature. Roof fans would be a luxury but any fan, even a desk fan can be temporarily secured to something in the building to make it safe. If the temperature remains quite high at night then run the fan continuously but do point it above the birds so that they do not have cold air blowing at them all the time.

Hosing down the roof and outsides of the shed in the evening before they are put to bed helps to lower the temperature inside the house considerably but with drought orders and hosepipe bans it may not be possible to do this now in some areas.

Clean fresh, cold water should be available at all times and during excessively hot days it is advisable to change it more than daily. Make sure the water container is put in a shady place because water can heat up quickly if in direct sunlight. It is also important to have sufficient water containers out so that birds have no difficulty in getting to it. A long wait for a ‘pecking order’ to be completed is not much fun for a turkey that is desperate for a drink.

In spite of all the precautions taken, if turkeys are overcome by the heat, they should be put in a shady, well-protected place and sprayed with a mist of cold water. Used in time, this procedure should save the birds. Encouraging a bird to drink by dipping its beak in water also helps. In exceptional circumstances only, if a bird looks very dehydrated and stressed you can put some cold water into the crop by means of a syringe and fine rubber tubing. Make absolutely sure that the tubing goes down the back of the throat and not the windpipe – or you will kill the bird.

In hot weather, just like the rest of us, appetites diminish. However, in the cool of the evening the birds will either begin to graze if outside, or have a peck at their feed if indoors. Do not worry if birds are not eating as much in hot weather, the most important thing is water - drinking is a priority.


NEWS ARCHIVE

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