The effects of stray voltage on turkey poults

Three successive flocks of turkey poults experienced cumulative mortality of 10% to 26% through the fifth week of brooding. Stray electrical voltage was suspected after no definitive laboratory diagnosis could be made and no evidence of management deficiency was found. Alternating current voltages of 0.2 to 2.5 volts were detected between waterers and the floor and between the water line and gas line. When the water line was equipment-grounded to the electrical service entrance, the subsequent flock had no mortality problem. A series of experiments was conducted to determine the sensitivity of turkey poults to alternating current. Based on these experiments, the voltage levels measured at the farm probably did not cause the mortality experienced in the three flocks. The reason for the farm problem could have been 1) the poults experienced higher voltage than was present when measurements were taken, 2) the voltage may have been intermittent, or 3) there was a difference between the farm environment and the cage battery environment in the experiments.