Bedding up turkeys

[Wheatonrotty]

Just wondering how others bed turkeys up. We're currently rolling bales out and forking them around as the birds don't spread it that much. Anyone using a chopper and blowing it in? If so do you get eye/ lung problems from it?
Thanks

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Surely sawdust would be better for turkeys?

 

[bobk]

Surely sawdust would be better for turkeys?

Shavings

 

[v8willy]

A neighbour used to do his with a Teagle chopper, but it was a fine chop straw processor type model higher spec than the norm, he no longer keeps turkeys.

 

[Wheatonrotty]

They're on shavings up to 5/6 weeks when they go from the brooder room into the bigger yards. Normally put in a couple of bales per thousand birds 2 to 3 times a week depending on the weather.

 

[multi power]

I just chuck in some shavings every day or two

 

[Philip Watkins]

Just wondering how others bed turkeys up. We're currently rolling bales out and forking them around as the birds don't spread it that much. Anyone using a chopper and blowing it in? If so do you get eye/ lung problems from it?
Thanks

We used to use round bales like you but have moved to chopped straw (bought in chopped and bagged, treat like shavings) due to biosecurity worries and less than perfect (mouldy) straw.
Some of our growers have used straw choppers but most have moved from that. Lung problems is a big issue, especially with intensive turkeys. They suffer enough without the dust caused by chopping straw.

 

[It was already broken.]

Neighbour of ours blows in straw. Has 12000 in two old cattle sheds at present. He has had a contract for several years so don't think he has had any problems. He isn't the sort of bloke who does a job properly if half a job will do though.

 

[Mr always wrong]

When we used to keep turkeys in lambing shed bloke who owned them wouldn't let us use straw chopper as he reckoned when he tried it he had loads with broken wings caused by them rushing out of the way.

 

[theboytheboy]

Surely sawdust would be better for turkeys?

We found sawdust could get stuck in their eyes. Quite often had to catch them and try and rinse it out. Moved to shavings or chopped rape straw when young and straw when they were bigger

 

[Valmetal Inc]

I have loads of farmers > 100 in France using a self propelled chopper for duck and turkey

 

[Valmetal Inc]

 

[Wheatonrotty]

Thanks for the replies. We've got a Kidd chopper with a long pipe coming on demo soon, that has a long pipe to blow the straw in. Will be interesting to see how the birds react to the pipe and how much dust it creates.

 

[Valmetal Inc]

I have an agrichopper with a pipe kit being delivered to a customer north of Luton next month for the same application

 

[Wheatonrotty]

I have an agrichopper with a pipe kit being delivered to a customer north of Luton next month for the same application

Can't be to far from us as we're just west of Bedford.

 

[Wheatonrotty]

The valmetal chopper arrived last week to try, having not got on over well with a Kidd chopper with a pipe.
Works well, you can fit about a 1/4 of a 120x90 bale in (tried a 1/3 and it fits but didn't run through as well). The whole bale covered a similar area to 3 x 4 foot 6 rounds. The birds didn't seem to mind it too much just moved out the way and there wasn't much more dust than throwing straw about with a fork.
Only downside is that I'm going to have to join a gym for exercise now!