Aging Tom Turkey

[Rocknominoe2]

Hello!

I’ve recently purchased a property that came with poultry.

One is a Tom Turkey who’s out guard dog. That’s what I’ve heard anyways.

When we came to view the home in late April, the turkey was fine. Matching around. No issues I could see.

6 weeks later is another story. He’s looking pretty miserable. He can’t walk. His feet are pretty swollen. He lays around and sometimes limps from place to place. He’s also missing almost the entirety of his tail feathers, not due to molting.

From what I can tell he’s a Broad Breasted Bronze and he’s about 2 years old.

I feel bad for him and feel like it’s time to cull him.

Any thoughts or suggestions on what I should do.

And if culling is the answer, what do I do with the carcass?

 

[R2elk]

Hello!

I’ve recently purchased a property that came with poultry.

One is a Tom Turkey who’s out guard dog. That’s what I’ve heard anyways.

When we came to view the home in late April, the turkey was fine. Matching around. No issues I could see.

6 weeks later is another story. He’s looking pretty miserable. He can’t walk. His feet are pretty swollen. He lays around and sometimes limps from place to place. He’s also missing almost the entirety of his tail feathers, not due to molting.

From what I can tell he’s a Broad Breasted Bronze and he’s about 2 years old.

I feel bad for him and feel like it’s time to cull him.

Any thoughts or suggestions on what I should do.

And if culling is the answer, what do I do with the carcass?

You can try daily Epsom salt water soaks for the feet.

Make sure he is not being fed layer feed. You can put him on Purina's Game Bird Maintenance feed which is 12.5% protein and even at that the quantity needs to be limited.

If culling for food, I would want him in better condition. Right now, he won't taste very good.

Don't worry about the tail feather loss. If he survives the feathers will grow back.

 

[Rocknominoe2]

You can try daily Epsom salt water soaks for the feet.

Make sure he is not being fed layer feed. You can put him on Purina's Game Bird Maintenance feed which is 12.5% protein and even at that the quantity needs to be limited.

If culling for food, I would want him in better condition. Right now, he won't taste very good.

Don't worry about the tail feather loss. If he survives the feathers will grow back.

He was being fed layer feed. Which was frustrating. I switched them to all flock blend.

I don’t want to cull him for food. I’d cull him so he wouldn’t be miserable. He’s a big guy so I’m not sure we will be able to do soaks. I’ll add a picture of him in April and now

 

[R2elk]

He was being fed layer feed. Which was frustrating. I switched them to all flock blend.

I don’t want to cull him for food. I’d cull him so he wouldn’t be miserable. He’s a big guy so I’m not sure we will be able to do soaks. I’ll add a picture of him in April and now View attachment 4145032View attachment 4145033

If you use a shallow tub (about 4" to 6" in depth), help him get in and he will stand there on his own.

The feathers look a little worse than normal for this time of year but really not that bad.

He still feels good enough to be displaying.

 

[Rocknominoe2]

If you use a shallow tub (about 4" to 6" in depth), help him get in and he will stand there on his own.

The feathers look a little worse than normal for this time of year but really not that bad.

He still feels good enough to be displaying.

So I’m not sure if that’s a feasible option.

I should have mentioned that he’s been living with chickens. He doesn’t have a coop or anything like that. He’s been on the ground for quite some time so he’s actually missing a lot of feathers. He’s a naked breasted turkey at this point.

I tried to move him and he’s currently sitting under the coop.

 

[R2elk]

So I’m not sure if that’s a feasible option.

I should have mentioned that he’s been living with chickens. He doesn’t have a coop or anything like that. He’s been on the ground for quite some time so he’s actually missing a lot of feathers. He’s a naked breasted turkey at this point.

I tried to move him and he’s currently sitting under the coop.

Most domestic tom turkeys are naked breasted at this time of the year. I suspect it has to do with trying to keep cool. They do need a cool shaded area at this time of year.

You should give him a bale of straw or hay that he can use as a roost. It isn't good for him to sleep on the ground.

It also isn't a good idea to keep a lone tom with chickens. You may end up with flat chickens if he tries to breed them.

 

[Rocknominoe2]

Most domestic tom turkeys are naked breasted at this time of the year. I suspect it has to do with trying to keep cool. They do need a cool shaded area at this time of year.

You should give him a bale of straw or hay that he can use as a roost. It isn't good for him to sleep on the ground.

It also isn't a good idea to keep a lone tom with chickens. You may end up with flat chickens if he tries to breed them.

All things I know and agree with. I plan on making him his own little coop area. But I need him to survive.

I think the previous owner liked the idea of having him until she didn’t anymore and then just let him go.

 

[Pearlescent]

View attachment 4145435

I don’t have anything helpful to say, but he looks like such a sweet boy it’s a shame the last owner didn’t take good care of him.