eighthrowpawn
In the Brooder
- Jun 1, 2021
- 5
- 21
- 34
Disclaimer. Sorry I'm so wordy. I'm a writer at heart, and I have trouble not describing everything.
Okay, this is one of my recently acquired turkey chicks. I only have a couple, and they get plenty of time outside when it's warm enough, but sleep inside in a box under a heat lamp. I have a Broad Breasted Bronze and a Broad Breasted White. The White is the one with the problem right now. It's always been a little bit smaller than the other one. I noticed it right off the bat when I bought them, I got them from a Rural King which is kind of like a tractor supply store, I think. Anyway, they sell a bunch of different types of chicks in bins, and I haven't done turkeys yet so I wanted to try it out and see how it went with a couple that I could keep a special eye on. I don't know for sure how old they are, but I'm assuming less than a week, or they could be about a week old now, I'm honestly not sure. I meant to ask if they know how old their chicks are. But they're very small, they both can still fit in the palm of my hand and fall asleep, all their little baby fluff, although their wing feathers are starting to come in on the tips of their wings.
So with all that said, I was playing with them this morning and noticed the White was not as mobile and it usually is, and I was a little busy this morning so I was like, "Okay, I'll just take them outside when I finally get to going in the garden and see how they're doing." So I got outside and noticed she was favoring one leg. Like really favoring it. (I keep calling her a she but I don't actually know.) She doesn't want to put any weight on the leg at all. I confess that I don't know how she was yesterday night because I had such a busy day that I didn't pay enough attention to see if she was favoring it last night until such a time that they like to lay down and settle in for the night, anyway. But I noticed it this morning, because they're usually more active in the morning. The Bronze has always been more active and more energetic than the White, so that was what helped me notice. The Bronze was not as active as usual this morning because it doesn't like to wander around without the White, and the White was not wanting to move and looked like she hadn't all night. She doesn't want to move, doesn't want to walk or do anything with that leg.
So I put her on her back, she's gotten more used so it so it only freaks her out until she's settled into a comfortable position, then she can fall asleep like that. That's when I noticed it looks like her leg is reddish and swollen near what I'm going to call the hock for reference, but I am not an expert by any means. I will provide pictures as best I can. I'm really baffled as to what could have happened, because I was with them the whole time they were in the garden and nothing ever happened that would have hurt her like that, but there's also nothing in the box that could have hurt her unless she somehow got her foot caught on the edge and twisted it trying to get out, or if the other one stepped on her wrong. As I mentioned before, the White has always been just a little bit smaller than the Bronze, and I'm aware that could indicate a number of things, including a pre-existing condition I may not be aware of that was always stunting its growth a little. I wasn't picky at the time, I just wanted one of each color. But in hindsight, I'm beginning to wonder. But that said, I also can't think of any genetic conditions off the top of my head right now that would account for the reddish color and swollen leg.
The Bronze, as I said, has always been healthy. Again, no idea on sex, I've just been calling him and he because he's more lively and loud and curious.
The White has also been curious and was right there with the Bronze in the garden, but at the same time, I have been observing that she's more laid-back, quieter, doesn't move quite as fast or as much in general, and did seem a little clumsier. When I first got her, I wondered if she was younger, but in hindsight, it doesn't make sense, because most likely all the chicks would have been hatched and sent out on the same day.
So, sorry for the small novel, but any help is much appreciated, and I've added the best photos I could take of the situation. She doesn't want to put any weight on it, and when I gently (very gently!) squeeze her leg, she is definitely reacting with a pain response in that area. It makes me feel like she somehow broke it. Could her sibling have stepped on her? Could she have hurt herself in the garden and I just didn't notice until a day later?
Thank you for your time!
'turkey' is an example of both legs together, and you can see one is redder.
'turkey2' is an example of the chick not wanting to put weight on it. she's leaning fully into my hand and only using the good leg.
'turkey3' is another shot of just the inflamed side.
Okay, this is one of my recently acquired turkey chicks. I only have a couple, and they get plenty of time outside when it's warm enough, but sleep inside in a box under a heat lamp. I have a Broad Breasted Bronze and a Broad Breasted White. The White is the one with the problem right now. It's always been a little bit smaller than the other one. I noticed it right off the bat when I bought them, I got them from a Rural King which is kind of like a tractor supply store, I think. Anyway, they sell a bunch of different types of chicks in bins, and I haven't done turkeys yet so I wanted to try it out and see how it went with a couple that I could keep a special eye on. I don't know for sure how old they are, but I'm assuming less than a week, or they could be about a week old now, I'm honestly not sure. I meant to ask if they know how old their chicks are. But they're very small, they both can still fit in the palm of my hand and fall asleep, all their little baby fluff, although their wing feathers are starting to come in on the tips of their wings.
So with all that said, I was playing with them this morning and noticed the White was not as mobile and it usually is, and I was a little busy this morning so I was like, "Okay, I'll just take them outside when I finally get to going in the garden and see how they're doing." So I got outside and noticed she was favoring one leg. Like really favoring it. (I keep calling her a she but I don't actually know.) She doesn't want to put any weight on the leg at all. I confess that I don't know how she was yesterday night because I had such a busy day that I didn't pay enough attention to see if she was favoring it last night until such a time that they like to lay down and settle in for the night, anyway. But I noticed it this morning, because they're usually more active in the morning. The Bronze has always been more active and more energetic than the White, so that was what helped me notice. The Bronze was not as active as usual this morning because it doesn't like to wander around without the White, and the White was not wanting to move and looked like she hadn't all night. She doesn't want to move, doesn't want to walk or do anything with that leg.
So I put her on her back, she's gotten more used so it so it only freaks her out until she's settled into a comfortable position, then she can fall asleep like that. That's when I noticed it looks like her leg is reddish and swollen near what I'm going to call the hock for reference, but I am not an expert by any means. I will provide pictures as best I can. I'm really baffled as to what could have happened, because I was with them the whole time they were in the garden and nothing ever happened that would have hurt her like that, but there's also nothing in the box that could have hurt her unless she somehow got her foot caught on the edge and twisted it trying to get out, or if the other one stepped on her wrong. As I mentioned before, the White has always been just a little bit smaller than the Bronze, and I'm aware that could indicate a number of things, including a pre-existing condition I may not be aware of that was always stunting its growth a little. I wasn't picky at the time, I just wanted one of each color. But in hindsight, I'm beginning to wonder. But that said, I also can't think of any genetic conditions off the top of my head right now that would account for the reddish color and swollen leg.
The Bronze, as I said, has always been healthy. Again, no idea on sex, I've just been calling him and he because he's more lively and loud and curious.
The White has also been curious and was right there with the Bronze in the garden, but at the same time, I have been observing that she's more laid-back, quieter, doesn't move quite as fast or as much in general, and did seem a little clumsier. When I first got her, I wondered if she was younger, but in hindsight, it doesn't make sense, because most likely all the chicks would have been hatched and sent out on the same day.
So, sorry for the small novel, but any help is much appreciated, and I've added the best photos I could take of the situation. She doesn't want to put any weight on it, and when I gently (very gently!) squeeze her leg, she is definitely reacting with a pain response in that area. It makes me feel like she somehow broke it. Could her sibling have stepped on her? Could she have hurt herself in the garden and I just didn't notice until a day later?
Thank you for your time!
'turkey' is an example of both legs together, and you can see one is redder.
'turkey2' is an example of the chick not wanting to put weight on it. she's leaning fully into my hand and only using the good leg.
'turkey3' is another shot of just the inflamed side.
