Help my hen wont eat...

[Blueyedmomma26]

I have a black rare breed turkey. All she wants to do lately is just lay on the ground. The Tom's try to breed with her, but she just keeps turning on her sides. The Tom will eventually give up. She hasnt been eating right since her laying on the ground started. I would say about a week ago. She is almost a year old. At first I thought she was trying to breed, but now she wont eat unless I feed her in my hand. But she isnt taking in much. I cant see anything wrong physically. What could be wrong with her? By the way I have been raising turkeys ,duck, and different chickens for awhile now. But I'm still learning things as I go. I keep the turkeys separate from all the other poultry.

 

[SulkyBantam]

Sounds like she is ill or internally injured.
Unless she has had a recent v. traumatic experience I can't think of anything else.

 

[Tonyroo]

Can you do a physical exam on her, from head to toe. Just incase she might have a parasites, open wound, or other irregularity. Also collect her poop and dissect and check for worms.

 

[Blueyedmomma26]

Sounds like she is ill or internally injured.
Unless she has had a recent v. traumatic experience I can't think of anything else.

She could be ill. She hasnt had any traumatic experiences. Unless one of the Tom's has done something to her that I didn't see. Other than a few pecks to the head, nothing else that I can see. There isnt a vet around me that will see her.

 

[Blueyedmomma26]

Can you do a physical exam on her, from head to toe. Just incase she might have a parasites, open wound, or other irregularity. Also collect her poop and dissect and check for worms.

Other than a few scratches to the head from the toms biting at her, that's all I can physically see. I will keep watch to check for worms in her poop. If there is, what type of medication can I give her? None of the vets around me will see her. Tha k you for your help.

 

[R2elk]

Other than a few scratches to the head from the toms biting at her, that's all I can physically see. I will keep watch to check for worms in her poop. If there is, what type of medication can I give her? None of the vets around me will see her. Tha k you for your help.

Check under her wing and in front of her leg for a cut.

The first thing you need to do is to separate her from any toms before they kill her. Toms will take a hen laying down as an invitation to breed. These unwanted breeding attempts can result in severe injuries and in a worst case, the death of the hen.

 

[Blueyedmomma26]

Check under her wing and in front of her leg for a cut.

The first thing you need to do is to separate her from any toms before they kill her. Toms will take a hen laying down as an invitation to breed. These unwanted breeding attempts can result in severe injuries and in a worst case, the death of the hen.
[/QUOTE
She has some cuts on her back from the Tom's. I had her separated from the others for about 3 days now. But she seems to be getting worse every day. At first she would lay on the ground, when she would walk it would be very slow, now all she wants to do it lay down. She will not walk to the water or food. I have to keep her water right beside her and go out to hand feed her. Her intake is getting less and less everyday. This is the first year she has tried to breed. Do you think my Tom's have hurt her and now she is passing?

 

[R2elk]

She has some cuts on her back from the Tom's. I had her separated from the others for about 3 days now. But she seems to be getting worse every day. At first she would lay on the ground, when she would walk it would be very slow, now all she wants to do it lay down. She will not walk to the water or food. I have to keep her water right beside her and go out to hand feed her. Her intake is getting less and less everyday. This is the first year she has tried to breed. Do you think my Tom's have hurt her and now she is passing?

Without being able to personally inspect her, I would be very surprised if the toms had not hurt her. I do believe that you are going to lose her.

It is never a good idea to keep multiple toms in with hens once the hens are of breeding age.

 

[Blueyedmomma26]

Without being able to personally inspect her, I would be very surprised if the toms had not hurt her. I do believe that you are going to lose her.

It is never a good idea to keep multiple toms in with hens once the hens are of breeding age.

Ok thank you so much for your help. All my hens and Tom's are inbeetwen 1 and 2 years. I will keep them separated from now on.

 

[R2elk]

Ok thank you so much for your help. All my hens and Tom's are inbeetwen 1 and 2 years. I will keep them separated from now on.

Depends on how large an area you have and how many hens vs toms you have as to whether it is necessary now. If the injured hen is going to have any chance to recover, she needs to be separated from everyone else. This is also a good idea in case she does have a disease.

During breeding season, I keep one tom with a group of hens. One tom can easily handle 10 hens. I try to keep at least 4 to 5 hens for one tom.