Rice Lake Animal Hospital - Wild Baby Turkeys

In late June 2016, Dr. Susan Gambling, Owner of Rice Lake Animal Hospital became the guardian of ten wild turkey eggs. Her exquisite veterinary care and allowed the babies to hatch and thrive. They are now being raised at Sandy Pine Wildlife Centre in Napanee ON, Canada, until they are ready for release back into the wild later this fall.
Rice Lake Animal Hospital is a full service animal hospital and welcomes both emergency treatment cases, as well as pet patients in need of routine medical, surgical, and dental care. Dr. Gambling DVM has years of experience treating serious conditions and offering regular veterinary wellness and holistic pet care.
Rice Lake Animal Hospital | 905-797-2182
9333 County Road 28 (just north of Bewdley)
Bailieborough, ON K0L 1B0
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Video produced by Mary Giuffre & Paul L Clark
inspirtainment.com
Music courtesy Kevin MacLeod
incompetech.com

[@jimmyyounger618]

We hatched 11 out of 11 wild turkey eggs picked up after the power company cleared under a power line and left the eggs exposed right next to the road. We had to help two hatch; one pipped but quit so we helped that one, and a small egg didn't pip for over 24 hours after the rest had hatched. I could hear it chirp and peck from inside the shell, but the runt poult needed help to hatch and then did fine. A 100% hatch and survival beyond two weeks is rare and unheard of in the wild, so by some amount of luck we did well.
I'm surprised they didn't imprint at all despite feeding and handling them daily. They are definitely wild and compared to our chickens seem incredibly stupid. Beginning at about 2 weeks old they became so nervous and flighty that they nearly kill themselves repeatedly running into brooder walls when we tend them. At 4 weeks of age we moved them to a pen where they race back and forth at the sight of anything that moves, and after hundreds of impacts with the pen wire they still haven't figured out that they can't run though the wire. At a week old, when weather allows us to move chickens from the brooder early, the docile domestic chicks quickly figure out how to use the ramp to get into the coop for food, water, and to roost at night. The turkeys have yet to figure it out and can only get back into the coop by fluttering up the walls until they make it in by pure luck. To get the remaining poults into the coop, we have to wait until dark, blind them with a flashlight, pick them up and place them in the coop. Because of their tremendously flighty behavior, I'm baffled that some wild flocks have taken up residence in suburban neighborhoods and don't show fear of people. Our rural turkeys spook and run at the sight of a human from over 200 yards away, and these turkey poults certainly exhibit that characteristic despite incubation and brood raising the same way we'd proceed with domestic poultry.
We're hoping to release them in early fall and let the wild instincts they already exhibit guide them. Any that wish to stick around for support as they otherwise free range are welcome, but that doesn't seem likely with these characters.

[@amirahsadre4570]

So cute, thank you for taking care of them.

[@ElmerCat]

Adorable!

[@paijoaf]

Amazing 😍👍 💯😍😍👍

[@krystynafaroe9603]

Love Rice Lake Animal Hospital! It is set in a beautiful area, I may be bias here since we are only minutes away. Dr. Gambling is a wonderful vet, she has an amazing way with all animals. Her approach is serene to both pets and owners. She has saved my Boston Terrier from awful seizures and given a kitten I found sight again in an eye that was almost closed from scar tissue and her inner lid. Our pets love her as much as we do! Thank you from Harmony Farm Rice Lake. ❤
Gorgeous video! Well done #inspirtainment.

[@WaveCreativeDesign]

Thanks so much for your kind words Krystyna. We love her too!

[@myfirstloopfavourite47]

Beautiful, thank you

[@strawberrybird]

D'aww, look at the baby dinosaurs

[@asmrcritique6565]

They already know how to whistle

[@fbgaming6987]

I'm crying right now I miss my turkeys so much 😭💔

[@dragonempress8367]

Aaaahhh so cute I can't take it!

[@adanhernandez6350]

Now they are home babies turkey 😁

[@edielbalam8430]

adorable no 💖

[@suafa4920]

Que lindo e fofos 😍😍😍😍😍😍😘😘😘😘😘😘😘

[@jacksont9455]

lol I don't know what that means, but I am so glad "fofos" is a word in your language. What a fun word

[@suafa4920]

@@jacksont9455 não entendi nada

[@elizabethwatson3193]

can I let my chicken that set on my turkey egg take care of them?

[@Mumoso]

Those look like baby peacocks

[@annaritaranalli2902]

U.s.a?

[@misguidedangel6550]

Yes