Baby turkey leg problems... HELP

[thechickenwoman]

Hi everyone,

me and my father in law just recently hatched some turkey eggs in an incubator. One of the baby turkeys were born earlier this morning and now it is late evening and the chick still has no balance and it's legs are spread... it's doing the splits. Just wondering is there anything that we could do to help the chick, or if there isn't anything and we need to dispose of the poor chick... please get back to me soon, it's a problem we are very worried about.

If anyone has ANY infomation or can help me out at all please get back to me.

thank you soo much!

 

[lil'turkeymama]

hello,I would keep in the brooder/incubator awhile longer.They need a good surface to be able to walk without sliding.Never use newpaper.I use woodchips or straw covered with paper towels for the first few days.You can make a device out of string to help keep it for spreading out but you can wait alittle while for that.I can tell you what I've had work and I'm sure other folks here can too.Congrats and good luck.

 

[Frogdogtimestwo]

We just had a couple turkeys hatch out and it took one of them a good 6 hours to not stumble and fall over on it's legs. It is fine now. I just made sure I put paper towels down over my brooder floor and it seemed to get it bearings. I would wait and be looking up posts on spraddle leg and what you can do if you need to for it. Hope someone else with more expertise will chime in for you.

 

[ivan3]

You might try this (cup method): https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=88155&p=1

Also, Polyvisol enfamil (without iron) vitamins. Three drops a day.