Help! 3month old turkey with leg problem

[Mees]

I think I'll try to tape her legs tomorrow. I wish I had known what I was looking at sooner! One week and she went from a straight leg waddle to a 45 degree turned foot.

When she's resting or eating (while on her "elbows") she doesn't mind my straightening and tucking her leg in and under her. I really hope it works! Poor baby (teenager) bird. She's so lovable too! I must fight for her. Shirley will be sad without her Laverne!

 

[Mees]

 

[Mees]

She loves to cuddle

 

[Mees]

My understanding is a slipped tendon will render the leg pretty much useless. The chicks I've seen with a slipped tendon, couldn't stand on the leg, a twisted tibia can support weight, but the more they use it the worse it becomes until it eventually is facing backwards and they are completely lame.
 Here is a link read this and see what you think. 

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/941270/slipped-tendon-that-turned-to-twisted-tibia-my-treatment

Has anyone "shackled" the ankles with just a few inches slack so they can still walk during the day?
Something needs to be done ASAP but I work 8am-8pm and I can't watch her all day...

 

[DylansMom]

When I taped my birds legs, they were only taped from sundown to sunup, they were free to walk during the day, but taped into the correct position overnight.

 

[lakecounty]

Hey there. My birds are about two months old now and my female has a slip. I can feel the knee cap on the side of the bend of the leg. I can straighten her leg out but I'm afraid of breaking her leg. Any suggestions?

 

[Mees]

When I taped my birds legs, they were only taped from sundown to sunup, they were free to walk during the day, but taped into the correct position overnight.

Any tips on how to tape properly? I'm not sure I know what I'm doing...

 

[DylansMom]

Did you read through the thread I posted the link to? The bird treated in that thread was older like you bird is, but my advice would be the same. Get some foam, like a mattress topper or the inside of a chair cushion. Cut yourself some foam wedges to put between the taped portion of the legs to keep the joints from rubbing and developing painful sores. Wedges should be long enough to pad the hock joints and the foot joints. The wider end of the foam wedge will go between the hocks, this spreads the hocks apart, when the tibia is twisting it forces the hock joints together giving that knock-kneed stance, and you want to put force against in the opposite way. We found that vet wrap worked best and did not stick to skin or feathers. It takes 2 people to really do it well, one to hold the bird and 1 to wrap. Place the wedge between the legs and start wrapping just above the feet, the feet should be even beside each other and as close as possible without overlapping. Wrap up from tnere, you should end up with the feet close together and at least an inch or 2 of foam separating the hock joints. Do this right at dusk and your bird, while not happy, should settle down and go to sleep, untapped after daybreak the next day and give her her freedom of movement, this will keep her spirits up. Plan on doing this EVERY night for 4 weeks, she is older so temper your expectations, a complete recovery is not likely. This has has better results in younger birds because their bones are more piable. You should also probably put her on a diet, low fat feed and lots of fruits and veggies.

 

[DylansMom]

So sorry. I would be so upset if this happened to mine. Could it have anything to do with the wire she's walking on?

Not the wire, this was actually taken the first day they were in the wire bottom pen. Prior to this they were in a brooder with a solid floor, the wire bottom pen is much higher off the ground and gives a better view of the legs and that is when I spotted the trouble.

 

[Mees]

Nothing I could do would help so I took her to the vet (who happens to have worked with large birds like Eagles). They took X-rays and discovered that both bones in both legs were twisted. They tried all sorts of hobbles, splints etc and nothing would keep the leg twisted back.
I had to make a heartbreaking decision and send sweet Laverne to heaven.
I'm new to chickens and turkeys. I never expected that if get so attached and see so much carachter and individual personalities in those precious girls!!
Thanks for all your help on here!