drunk turkey hen!

[monty 3]

can anyone help me with ozzy? she is a 7 months old turkey originally raised for christmas but never made the weight (clever turkery) she now lives with my chickens but is free range with the ducks also during the day. 7 days ago she became lethargic, preferring to sit with wings partially out and reluctant to move about. when she does become mobile she has a drunken gait with her wings partially out almost to steady herself if you like. she is eating and drinking well and is responding to stroking in her usual way ie. 'chuckling' and going red. have looked up blackhead but apart from the lack of mobility there are no other symptoms, gloopy yellow poo or sleepy eyes? and blackhead would appear to kill fairly quickly and she's still with us! i so don't want to dispatch her but nor do i want a vet to become rich off of me!! (not that i'm knocking vets, i hasten to add). incidently, she has not yet started to lay, if that is any use. perhaps one of you guys has experience of this sort of thing, i would very much apprecitate any help you have to offer.

 

[Scottingitup]

I have not seen these exact symptoms but birds tend to act very odd when they have any form of head injury. I had a hen acting strange and sleeping on her feet quite often. Upon closer inspection she had lost a pecking order fight and probably had a small concussion. That hen recovered the next day or so and is doing just fine now. Are there any signs of injury on your hen? Look closely.

 

[greymane]

I would definitely repost this in the Emergencies / Disease / Injuries and Cures section. I am sure you will find answers there.

 

[monty 3]

thanks, i have given her a thorough checking over and there were no signs of injury at all, i have posted on the emergency/sickness forum also but so far no luck, maybe i'm being a bit 'wet' as she seems fine and contented in herself. i'm at a bit of a loss as she was so active a week ago!!

 

[monty 3]

thank you greymane, i did that also and am awaiting responses. maybe i will get lucky

 

[monty 3]

I have not seen these exact symptoms but birds tend to act very odd when they have any form of head injury. I had a hen acting strange and sleeping on her feet quite often. Upon closer inspection she had lost a pecking order fight and probably had a small concussion. That hen recovered the next day or so and is doing just fine now. Are there any signs of injury on your hen? Look closely.

hey scottingitup! have been doing more research and as i say i am new at this game but.... she has become slightly more mobile this afternoon and she is certainly eating plenty! she walked with a very lumbering gait, more so then usual (is this usual for a turkey). her feet are place wide apart but her thighs are close together....is she spraddle legged???? or am i barking up the wrong tree entirely?

 

[Scottingitup]

Spraddle leg is something that develops in young birds usually. (poults/chicks) That is going on what I have read on here and otherwise - I have no personal experience with it. My hen would just kinda walk around slowly with a blank look and just fall asleep standing up. She still responded to stimuli so I just let her be and she is doing well today.

 

[monty 3]

Spraddle leg is something that develops in young birds usually. (poults/chicks) That is going on what I have read on here and otherwise - I have no personal experience with it. My hen would just kinda walk around slowly with a blank look and just fall asleep standing up. She still responded to stimuli so I just let her be and she is doing well today.

thanks for your help

 

[Frosty]

Are you sure she isn't just assuming the position for breeding?

What kind of turkey is she?

 

[monty 3]

Are you sure she isn't just assuming the position for breeding?

What kind of turkey is she?

she could i suppose, if i knew what that looked like, haha! but would that explain her being so wobbly on her legs? as for breed, someone called her a bronze, she is 'black' with white tips on her tail and wings