Injured Wild Turkey

As I left my house yesterday morning my friend and I noticed what looked like a wild turkey (probably 4 months old) walking down the road near my house, we remarked on how odd it was as since moving in 12 years ago we have seen turkeys maybe twice... Didn't think much more about it but when I got home that evening and went out to gather eggs I was amazed to see the turkey in with the chickens. Mind you, its young and the chickens didn't seem to care that it was there.. I threw out some scratch grains and it came right up to me, it was then I noticed its foot was pretty mangled, My best guess is that it was caught on fencing or wire.. One of the toes is missing and the other is swollen (like 6 times its normal size) and twisted. The foot itself is very swollen. It walks with a slight limp and yes, it can run but didn't try and fly away.. From what I gather turkeys are not native to our area (they were introduced in the 60's-70's) I was told that if it has no fear then it is probably a feed store turkey that someone dumped...

We are giving it today and then plan to try and help it tonight. I thought soaking the foot in Epsom salt water and cleaning it and antibiotic cream daily?? I am not worried about the legalities as I have already checked around. Had I been home and noticed it right away I would have quarantined it but it spent the day with my very large flock, even hanging out in the coop last night. My chooks are pretty laid back and I have never had an issue with introducing new flock members so that may be why this one was allowed to enter so easily.
What would be the best treatment? I will try and get photo's later today when DH gets home, I cannot hold it and take pics at the same time.

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Aww, poor thing how's it doing so far?

lilfitz2006 said:

Aww, poor thing

how's it doing so far?

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By law we cannot attempt to cage it so it comes and goes at will, we cleaned its foot and its walking with barely a limp. It will walk off the property only to show back up some 30 min later, lol... It eats in the coop, takes its turn at the scraps/grain thrown out to the chickens and for the most part seems ok with being here, Time will tell.... I couldn't get a good photo, once captured its pretty wary of us now...

AmericanMom said:

By law we cannot attempt to cage it so it comes and goes at will, we cleaned its foot and its walking with barely a limp. It will walk off the property only to show back up some 30 min later, lol... It eats in the coop, takes its turn at the scraps/grain thrown out to the chickens and for the most part seems ok with being here, Time will tell....   I couldn't get a good photo, once captured its pretty wary of us now...

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I'm glad she's doing better! Maybe because she's kind of weary to come close means that she will be able to go back into the wild on her own. But you may have made a friend for life

lilfitz2006 said:

I'm glad she's doing better! Maybe because she's kind of weary to come close means that she will be able to go back into the wild on her own. But you may have made a friend for life

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today she got up close and personal with the Bourbon red chicks.. LOL, I didn't know who was the bigger bully, the poults or her... She finally won by default (she is actually bigger)

how is the turkey doing now?

jennychick45 said:

how is the turkey doing now?

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Hi, sorry, I saw your reply but was busy and then forgot to reply...

Turkey hen is still with us, her foot is about the same, I believe it was an old injury so we haven't messed with her anymore... She has decided for whatever reason that this place is home. She started laying eggs and I called OFW to see what the laws were concerning that, long story short, were eating the eggs as she is not nesting, laying them everywhere, even in water. We have tried running her off because since her eggs are protected I do not want any issues next spring when my turkeys start mating and laying but alas, she refuses, she is always back the next morning. She has been accepted by the flock and even the Turkey pullets and her hang together. I thought if she tried to nest I would allow her, that maybe that's what she needs, hatch a brood and then she would leave but I have no place out there and its against the law for me to "cage" her ....

So as of today the old girl is a part of my very large flock