Depressed or sick hen after unsuccessful clutch?

[that-orpington-life]

My 2 year old female turkey sat on a clutch of 7 eggs for about 5 weeks and wouldn't let us touch the eggs during that time. (I know incubating only takes 4 weeks but I'm telling you she would not get off those eggs for anything. Food, water, treats, nothing. We had to leave food and water in her enclosure right next to her so she wouldn't starve to death.) Yesterday she came off of them and sat in the other corner of her enclosure, away from the eggs. None of the eggs had hatched, and they were all dark and smelled really bad. I got the eggs out and candled them and my best guess is none developed past about 21 days. Now she won't stand up or walk and she refuses to eat or drink water. This was her second unsuccessful clutch. Could she be sick or depressed? What can I do for her?

 

[cheekychick3]

Hi There.
So sorry she lost her eggs. Not sure about Turkeys, as we have layers.
I also been having trouble, with our Maggie, for 10 days she been sitting on the
eggs, we always take them away, (not even her eggs. lol) She grabs whoever just laid.lol
We take them as we have not got a cockrel as not allowed in where we live. So that is
why we take them, from her. Although she hates me doing it, i put her out with the rest.
As even though we place food and water close to her, we know she she has not touched it. Joke is once she is outside, very first thing she does, is scoff herself silly, drink herself stupid, and then enjoys a dustbath. lol Maybe i am doing it wrong, as next day she is
back on the eggs. Maggie is the only one who is real broody. The rest could not care less.
lol. Then if i go in with treats, she comes up to me, looks up at the coop door, as if to
say, please let me back in now. lol She is a crazy girl. But i feel better knowing she has
eaten and had a good drink. Her coop is on the top, soon as the ladder is up, she is
up and back in. She do not miss a trick. It sounds as if she is depressed, bless her.
What is her fave treat, Not sure about what Turkeys eat, as a treat. Maybe plain yougurt
and a few fresh herbs chopped up in it. ???? All you can do is hope she snaps out of it.
Just keep an eye on her. You could also ask on here, who knows who has Turkeys.
Good luck, and hope she snaps out of it.

 

[sarahbeth006]

We have the same issue. One of our hens disappeared and we actually thought she had been eaten because we found a pile of feathers. Suddenly, three days ago she showed up at breakfast time, but she's not acting "right" yet. She smelled horrible so I am guessing at least one egg exploded under her. She is weak and wobbly, so I penned her up separately from everyone else with food and water, which I can't see that she's touched. She goes into the coop willingly on her own at night. But during the day she paces and cries, and won't put her head up or eat food even though she seems vaguely interested when I feed everyone else - it's like she has a neck injury that's keeping her from putting her head down to eat. Otherwise, she keeps it down on her "shoulders." Our other broody turkey hen always stays in the coop, and eventually snaps out of the broodiness. I've never seen this kind of behavior before. Is she depressed? Or is it an illness?

 

[sourland]

Check her closely for mites or lice, and try tempting her with anything in order to start her eating.

 

[R2elk]

The other problem is that she can be suffering from a Calcium deficiency. Calcium deficiency can cause loss of motor control which makes it impossible for the victim to stand or move around.

She has definitely been on the nest too long and could even be suffering from a little bit of Hydrogen Sulfide poisoning from the rotten eggs.

If available, give her some high protein turkey or gamebird starter or even grower along with some calcium supplement.

 

[sarahbeth006]

Thanks for the tip! We only use high protein food since we have turkeys and guineas, but it's definitely not high in calcium. I'll add that in. Should I hose her down to get the rotten egg smell off?

The other problem is that she can be suffering from a Calcium deficiency. Calcium deficiency can cause loss of motor control which makes it impossible for the victim to stand or move around.

She has definitely been on the nest too long and could even be suffering from a little bit of Hydrogen Sulfide poisoning from the rotten eggs.

If available, give her some high protein turkey or gamebird starter or even grower along with some calcium supplement.

 

[R2elk]

Thanks for the tip! We only use high protein food since we have turkeys and guineas, but it's definitely not high in calcium. I'll add that in. Should I hose her down to get the rotten egg smell off?

If you can gently clean her up without her fighting it too much, I would go that route but I certainly wouldn't "hose" her off.

Adult turkeys and guineas do fine on a 20% protein all flock feed with oyster shell free choice.

When a turkey gets in as poor shape as your hen, a higher protein feed can be beneficial in getting them back in shape.

Good luck.

 

[sarahbeth006]

I just noticed that it looks like the road crew came by and sprayed Roundup a few days ago - probably about the time she showed up. If she got sprayed, I don't know what to do for her. She's still not eating that I can tell.

If you can gently clean her up without her fighting it too much, I would go that route but I certainly wouldn't "hose" her off.

Adult turkeys and guineas do fine on a 20% protein all flock feed with oyster shell free choice.

When a turkey gets in as poor shape as your hen, a higher protein feed can be beneficial in getting them back in shape.

Good luck.

 

[R2elk]

I just noticed that it looks like the road crew came by and sprayed Roundup a few days ago - probably about the time she showed up. If she got sprayed, I don't know what to do for her. She's still not eating that I can tell.

Other than give her a gentle bath and possibly offer her chopped up hard boiled eggs, I don't know what you can do. The most important part is to make sure she is eating and drinking.

@casportpony has several threads about tube feeding if you want to try that.

 

[sarahbeth006]

Oh, chopped up boiled eggs. What a great idea! I'll give that a shot!

Thank you for your suggestions!

Other than give her a gentle bath and possibly offer her chopped up hard boiled eggs, I don't know what you can do. The most important part is to make sure she is eating and drinking.

@casportpony has several threads about tube feeding if you want to try that.