2 Day Old Turkey Doing the Splits

[weebles&wobblesmom]

I got a 2 day old turkey today (never had turkeys before). It was purchased at the local farm store where I work, but we didn't give it to the person who ordered it because it cant stand. 1 leg goes front and the other goes backward.
Does anyone know what it could be caused from?

My supervisor was thinking that it might be what ever that nerve problem is.

Could someone help me?

Thanks

 

[Kevin565]

It's spraddle leg

http://www.helium.com/items/2131525-how-to-fix-splay-or-spraddle-leg-in-chicks

 

[weebles&wobblesmom]

I had wondered if that was what it is, but I'm still "new" to owning birds. Only had chickens for a yr. I did what your link said. It seems like it cant put weight on that 1 leg, but at least its able to lay down without having its legs go 2 directions. Plus it can eat without laying on its side. We'll see what happens.

When we get chicks/ducklings in that have something wrong and the people who ordered them reject them, I'm the "sucker" who takes them home. Unless I can tell that it is something that it will not live because of. So far I have gotten a duckling who fell over when it walked, a chick with wry neck and now this turkey. The duck and the chick grew up just fine. Keeping fingers crossed for the turkey.

Thanks so much for the advice.

 

[GobbleGobbleBaw]

I'm having a similar problem with mine, which is 3 days old today. It's still not standing, let alone walking and it seems to be "tilting" to the right side only. That's the side it keeps falling over to. The right leg seems to not be right, it's not broken but its not putting much weight on it and the toes are often in a grab like position (it won't spread it's toes out to stand up). Since I figured this little one won't have much of a chance anyway like this, I've been interfering and helping it to stand properly and of course helping it into an up position whenever it falls on its side and ends up just kicking its legs around, trying to get back but can't. If it wasn't so sad, it almost be funny. I hope whatever it is can be corrected. I'm not sure if taping of the legs would be something try with this one, too? They are both pointing the correct way, the only problem seems to be the tilt to the right it keeps doing and the toes not spreading apart.

 

[weebles&wobblesmom]

My little 1 is standing now but wont walk. Just glad to see it standing. I felt like I was torturing it by taping its legs, but it seems to be working. I dont have water in with it because I'm afraid its gonna fall into it and drowned. My husband and I have been holding him up while he drinks but tomorrow neither 1 of us will be home, not sure what to do then.

 

[weebles&wobblesmom]

Do you all think I should leave thelegs taped for at least 3 days or can I take it off after 2 since it can at least stand up now?

 

[Wayne&Kim1963]

I wrap a baby turkey doing that in washrage flolded like newborn in blanket tightly to keep legs together and give them drinks of sugar water (I take koolade scoop add pinch of salt and about 2 tsp of sugar then water and give weak babies drinks of this) I will give them drinks even when it gets cold it all dissolves better in warm water. If they keep getting out of washrag then I will wrap them in coban or self adhesive dressing in horse area at vet supply or coflex. I will cut 2 small slits and put legs through it then wrap several layers to keep them in sitting position with legs up tight and leave them in incubator so constant temp so they are not too hot or not too cold cause they can't move about and after like 12 hours they can walk normally. The are weak at first but usually can walk. I will just keep doing this releasing them every few hours to stretch their legs till they can walk normal.. I have never not had one get ok they always get to walk. Several things cause this. Weak babies, slick surface in incubator for them to walk on, in egg too long, or delivered with help from egg too soon. I have noticed that with too low humidity some babies do this too. Then I also notice it just happens sometimes too with incubator eggs not so much under broody hen or turkey hen.

 

[GobbleGobbleBaw]

Just an update on mine:
We had 2 more hatch, 1 was totally fine and the other was even worse than the first one. It couldn't stand at all and kept just laying on it's side. His neck seemed somehow "stiff" and turned down and to the left. I told my husband that if he wasn't going to be any better by today, then we would have to send him to turkey heaven cause it's been 5 days since hatch (which he needed assistance with). Well, guess what? The little bugger must have heard me because today he is standing, walking (somewhat wobbly) and seems chipper whereas before, he seemed like he was about to die any moment.

Thank you so much for the information on spraddle leg. I'm not sure if that is what it was as the symptoms on both seemed different, but the taping of the legs worked regardless. I don't think either of them would have made it if I hadn't found the info here. THANK YOU!

 

[Wayne&Kim1963]

Thank you for saying that. I am so glad your babies are better. I have had them be like that for days and then do better with time. I am sure they will be nothing but pets now. I find those that were so sick as babies are very very tame when they grow up.

 

[GobbleGobbleBaw]

My little 1 is standing now but wont walk. Just glad to see it standing. I felt like I was torturing it by taping its legs, but it seems to be working. I dont have water in with it because I'm afraid its gonna fall into it and drowned. My husband and I have been holding him up while he drinks but tomorrow neither 1 of us will be home, not sure what to do then.

I would most definitely leave water accessible to them at all times. What I do for the little ones, I use just the bottom of a small waterer and put marbles in it (in the center of it as well as around the area the water usually is when the top is attached). That way, I don't run any risk of water leaking out and getting the little ones wet and I found that the shiny marbles encourage them to drink, plus they can't drown cause there won't be enough water for them to drown in (well, at least it greatly reduces the risk of drowning). After they have gained some strength and are reliable with standing/walking and not falling all over the place, then I attach the top part and use it like I normally would for everyone else.
The only downside to this is that you will have to change the water frequently as the heatlamp will dry the water up pretty quickly.