bad foot???

[todd walker]

I kept one turkey from a group of 10 that I raised,he was just to cool he thinks he is one of the dogs,and the dogs like him(at least they leave him alone)yesterday he started to limp and one foot is swollen, picked up the foot bottom of foot looks good,any ideals? Friend said becuse he is a year old he is just falling apart he is one of the white turkeys and he says they are only designed to live for a few months then prossesed.I like my turkey but ant taking him to the vet,was thinking of soaking the foot in epson salt..???
Thanks

 

[ivan3]

Yes, you can use Epsom Salts for the soak. Are you moderating his diet, or is he still expanding on free choice?

You could also try an anti-inflammatory. Aspirin at 5mg/kg x3 per day; ex.: 30lb. tom: ~2.5mg per lb. so 30lb. tom ~75mg. three times a day. one 81mg. cardiac dose crushed into powder and delivered on grapes (or whatever he likes) will work (some will be lost in the transfer....).

If you could post a shot of his legs and feet that might be useful.

 

[geebs]

I wonder if it isn't a staph infection known as bumblefoot in chickens... You might ask around.... In which case a lancing and thorough cleaning and bandaging is in order... prognosis is great, however the animal needs to be quarantined away from others and treated rigorously from what I understand.

 

[msdoolittle]

I'm assuming that you have a broad breasted turkey. I have a Bronze BB and he, too, has a swollen foot/leg, but does not have bumblefoot. This is because the breast muscle in these birds have been genetically tweaked to grow to a huge size quickly. Unfortunately, the legs just don't do a good job of supporting this massive weight for very long. My tom will be a year old in March. As much as I love Tom, we will be processing him soon. I don't see any reason for me to medicate as I know that his condition will never get better, due to his breed. I knew this going in, and had expected to process he and the hen earlier this year.

If you want pet turkeys, you need to look into the 'heritage' breeds. These are breeds which do not get so monstrously large, and can live normal lives, and breed naturally.

This will be the route I'll go next time.

 

[todd walker]

I tried what is listed and just could not watch him he looked like he was in pain,will be going on the smoker tomorrow.
Thanks

 

[msdoolittle]

I'm sorry about that

I really like my tom, too. If I ever get BBs again, I am DEFINITELY going to have a set processing date. Hate to watch anything suffer.

 

[todd walker]

He was my first fun bird,raise allot of birds be he whould always run to me in the pen,and he was also the first bird my dogs would not kill,going to get another looking at breeds now for a pet,my house is fenced off from the rest of my ranch so he will be free ranged in my yard,even thinking about getting some eastern's,but worried they will not stay around.
thanks