gimp turkey chick

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ohioburns

ohioburns

Hatching
6 Years
Apr 10, 2013
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perfectly healthy 3 week old turkey chick suddenly could no longer stand. no walks on his knees. unaware of any injury unless the others in the pen. still eating drinking feet up under wings walking on knees. concerned keeper
 
Welcome to BYC:

What variety of turkey? What, exactly, are you feeding it?

Separate from others. You could try Polyvisol Enfamil vitamins (no iron formulation) at three drops a day for a week.
Has the poult been out on the ground (particularly wet, there, lately? Or rapid temp swings)?
Are the toes curled? (also, pick poult up and see if it can move legs/use toes to grasp your finger).

This can be caused by anything from genetic predisposition to fungus.
 
It's a Broad Breasted Bourbon. Feeding Purina Start and Grow Medicated along with Vi-Tal water supplement. They have been kept indoors the entire time with adequate heat. The toes are not curled. He can hold your finger lightly but can't grip. One of the remaining 14 turkeys has started this with his left leg. His right leg works but his left leg doesn't.
 
Are they Bourbons (heritage variety), or Broad Breasted Bronze (commercial variety)? The commercial Broad Breasted (both White & Bronze) varieties are very prone to develop Spraddle Leg (owing to their being bred for just enough skeletal `strength' to make it to the oven in a matter of a few months (many don't even make it that far).

This is less common in Heritage varieties, though not unknown.

the Starter/Grower is fine for chooks (18% protein). Gamebird Starter (30% protein) is best choice for turks. Augment their diets with crushed hard boiled eggs/meal worms in the meantime (Gamebird Starter up to 12 weeks is the general rule).

Take a look at links in post #3 of this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750498/help-hatchlings-and-spraddle-leg

Use Advanced Search for Spraddle Leg (try: Posts only/Emergencies Forum And use the SEARCH button at the bottom of the page).

You can also post up more turkey Q's? over on BYC's Turkey (sub)forum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/20/turkeys

Good luck!
 
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The Mammoth is a naturally breeding heritage variety. What you are seeing `might' be a result of diet (you can also add a poultry vitamin supplement to water - and/or give the affected turks 3 drops of Polyvisol Enfamil (no iron formulation) a day for a week and then taper off (`might' be vitamin deficiency). Please look at Spraddle leg info (often times - if legs can be positioned properly - splints - hobbles - set in cup where legs can dangle - the improvement in diet and rapid growth will clear this up), it might help.

However, problems with legs/feet can result from anything from poor maternal diet, to too high a temp. during incubation, genetic propensity, etc.

The bedding/floor of pen/brooder doesn't have any slippery areas where they can't get a grip, yes? (just a thought, maybe it's merely mechanical - which can be easily remedied).

Here is a guide you might find to be of some utility: http://www.albc-usa.org/downloads.html#turkey

Good luck!
 
Last edited:
Starting my recovery tonight. Eggs for all! Thanks everyone for the help. I think maybe I should move over to the turkey "sub" now.
 

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