Banged up turkey

[CaptainDuckman]

Okay, I recently(yesterday) was given a free turkey by a friend who found it along the highway. It's very young. It's probably in the 2 to 4 pound range. We think it fell out of a moving truck on the highway or was hit by a car. I've patched up the turkey and it moves around. Yesterday, it had normal poop, there's no bleeding from the beak or around the nostrils. This morning, though, I noticed most of it's poop was tarry and black. So, that may be some internal injury.

It moves around it's cage, but I can't tell if it's eaten yet. I'm trying to feed it a mix of medicated chick starter, all-flock pellets and cracked corn. I'm also not sure if it's gotten in to it's water, which is laced with Flock-Fixer and mashed garlic. So, today, I'm planning on using a syringe with a tube to give it some of that water.

Anyone got any advice on this bird?

 

[R2elk]

Okay, I recently(yesterday) was given a free turkey by a friend who found it along the highway. It's very young. It's probably in the 2 to 4 pound range. We think it fell out of a moving truck on the highway or was hit by a car. I've patched up the turkey and it moves around. Yesterday, it had normal poop, there's no bleeding from the beak or around the nostrils. This morning, though, I noticed most of it's poop was tarry and black. So, that may be some internal injury.

It moves around it's cage, but I can't tell if it's eaten yet. I'm trying to feed it a mix of medicated chick starter, all-flock pellets and cracked corn. I'm also not sure if it's gotten in to it's water, which is laced with Flock-Fixer and mashed garlic. So, today, I'm planning on using a syringe with a tube to give it some of that water.

Anyone got any advice on this bird?

The turkey is most likely a wild turkey which is illegal to have.

Your feed is not appropriate for a turkey poult and definitely not for an injured one. It needs a high protein feed of at least 24% protein. It does not need medicated feed. Cracked corn is a low protein, high fat food that is only appropriate for finishing them off prior to processing them.

Toss the water with garlic. Give it fresh clean water. It is okay to add something like Rooster Booster or Nutridrench. Do not add garlic or ACV.

If it has internal injuries, it will most likely not survive. Turkeys are very resilient and heal from external injuries very well without any interference from people.

 

[CaptainDuckman]

The turkey is most likely a wild turkey which is illegal to have.

It's not a wild turkey, it's coloration is all wrong for a wild turkey. It's mostly feathered out, and it's a solid cream color. After thinking of what you said there, I'm leaning toward it falling off a truck.

Your feed is not appropriate for a turkey poult and definitely not for an injured one. It needs a high protein feed of at least 24% protein. It does not need medicated feed. Cracked corn is a low protein, high fat food that is only appropriate for finishing them off prior to processing them.

Good call. I don't think it's eaten yet, the food isn't disturbed. The feed I've been giving it was only 18% protein. Any feed you suggest?

Toss the water with garlic. Give it fresh clean water. It is okay to add something like Rooster Booster or Nutridrench. Do not add garlic or ACV.

Okay. I'll give the water to the ducks. Any reason why not to add the garlic?

If it has internal injuries, it will most likely not survive. Turkeys are very resilient and heal from external injuries very well without any interference from people.

I figured it would be an up hill battle when I was given the turkey. So, I went in to it thinking I might only be able to keep it running for a few days. However, when I checked on it just about twenty minutes ago, it was moving around which is more than it did yesterday.

Hey, thanks for the reply! I have ducks, chickens and guinea. I know nothing about turkeys. I hadn't even planned on a turkey.

 

[R2elk]

Good call. I don't think it's eaten yet, the food isn't disturbed. The feed I've been giving it was only 18% protein. Any feed you suggest?

If you can find it, turkey or game bird grower. If not meat bird feed will have to do.

Okay. I'll give the water to the ducks. Any reason why not to add the garlic?

Garlic can be harmful to poultry. I wouldn't give it to the ducks either.

 

[CaptainDuckman]

Just figured I'd give an update. The turkey poult is up and about in it's crate. It's eating on it's own and drinking on it's own. It's droppings are typical poultry droppings now, the color of it's food for the most part. No longer that black, tarry stool.

It also really does not like being handled much, which is understandable considering it's got some road rash. What's crazy is the amount of fight such a tiny animal can put up, though!